In the battle against plant pests, the best minds are inventing more and more new methods. The latest biological and chemical products have been invented, and for some people at least, all means are considered legitimate.
It is difficult to calculate and decide for sure how harmful these products are for the environment and what are the likely consequences after using a particular pesticide. Equally difficult, is to weigh up how many lives are being saved from starvation on the one hand, while assessing the environmental damage caused by biological and chemical means of pest control, on the other.
It is not the purpose of this article to establish the parameters and justification for biochemical pesticides. But whether it is necessary to deal with pests in one's yard with the same intensity as in farming - the answer is clearly, no.
In the home garden's area, as well as in nature as a whole, huge layers of life are hidden. Insects and microorganisms use these islands of nature in the ocean of urban life as a last resort from death and extinction. Birds, bees and flies, snails and spiders, aphids, caterpillars – for all these organisms, plants are their habitat. They eat plant leaves, gnaw through tree trunks, eat fruits or use them as a medium for laying eggs, eat plant roots, and pollinate flowers, amongst many other functions.
All this tends to cause panic among garden owners. Many, due to a lack of time and energy, prefer to simply pave or deck the entire area of an already small garden. Another popular solution today is synthetic grass. Even if we do not take into account the high price of artificial grass what will remain of living things in the garden?
( To be continued...)