Natural garden maintenance: being eco-responsible

More and more, our concept of garden maintenance must be in tune with a new reality. Gone are the days when pest problems were solved with chemical pesticides. Now, it’s time to be natural!

This new and noble tendency should be followed by amateur and professional gardeners. On the other hand, as with any new resolution, it will require time and effort, but will be rewarded by the pride of owning a garden that contains no chemical pesticides.
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Integrated pest management
Develop more resistant plants
If a problem occurs
Methods of intervention

Integrated pest management

Harmfulness of pesticides is not to be demonstrated anymore and a good eco-responsible gardener must employ a strategy based on a minimal use of these products. Thus, any situations that arise must be analyzed by asking what the cause is. By understanding the source of the problem, we will prevent it from recurring. In fact, the goal is not to eradicate all noxious pests but to maintain an acceptable threshold. Integrated pest management is primarily focused on prevention. By choosing the right plants and providing them with appropriate growth conditions, many problems can be avoided.

Develop more resistant plants

To have plants more resistant to insects and diseases, we must primarily select plants according to the environment that we have to offer (sunlight, soil fertility, hardiness, humidity). Then, we have to keep plants healthy with the appropriate maintenance. Furthermore, during regular maintenance, it is important to be in the habit of checking the plants to detect the presence of insects, diseases or other suspicious symptoms. This allows intervening early before the damage becomes out of proportion. In addition, a careful observation will help identifying plants that are in the wrong place as they are more susceptible to pest attacks. They will need to be moved in a proper environment, if not you can give them to a neighbour or a friend with the required conditions.

When planning your landscape, take the time to observe your environment. Determine sunny or shady locations, soil type, physical barriers such as electric wires, locations where snow accumulates, etc.

Secondly, after making the necessary adjustments, you may want to incorporate new plants to your landscaping. Good idea, since a few years the horticultural industry surpasses itself by proposing several new introductions or improvements of existing varieties. Although it is tempting to purchase them all, one must be careful! Not all the new varieties have been tested in your climate; you must ensure that the given information corresponds to your reality.

If a problem occurs

When a problem occurs, you will have to identify and assess the damage before choosing the appropriate interventions. You must also try to determine the causes of the spread of the pest.

  • Is it always the same plants that are affected? It is possible that these varieties are not resistant to insects or diseases if the environment is inappropriate;
  • Is the type of soil adequate and does it provide the essential nutrients for a vigorous growth? A soil analysis can help avoid many inconveniences. Knowing that plants do not require all the same growing conditions, knowledge of the soil structure will be crucial in the selection and fertilization of plants;
  • Are all your plants compatible? One should ask if all the plants in your garden require the same care. For example, if a plant grows better in a dry soil and it is planted in association with varieties better suited for humid conditions, one can guess the outcome. Plants, whose cultural requirements are not met, weaken and become more susceptible to insects and diseases;
  • Do your plants have sufficient space? A common error committed by many gardeners is to plant too closely together. After a few years of growth, air circulation is reduced and this promotes the development of diseases such as powdery mildew on the foliage;
  • Are your plants getting enough sunlight? An important element in the development of plants. Ensure that this condition is respected when planting;
  • Is your maintenance adequate? Regular maintenance is one of the first measures of prevention. It will help in an early detection of problems, in reducing proliferation of insects and diseases and in keeping your plants healthy. If you are unsure of the steps to follow, consult an adviser to establish a maintenance program adapted to your needs.


Once the cause(s) of the damage is determined, it is possible to find a sustainable solution, often simply by adapting your cultural practices.

Methods of intervention

If an intervention is needed, first, give preference to mechanical methods (pruning affected parts, etc.) or physical (sticky traps, mulch, etc.) before using a phytosanitary product. For example, mulch reduces the establishment of weeds in flower beds as well as maintaining soil moisture. It can also play an important role in reducing the incidence of fungal diseases that overwinter in the soil surface because of its acidic properties (cedar, hemlock, spruce). Furthermore, by limiting splashing water on the ground, mulch reduces the spread of fungal spores on the foliage of plants.

In the event that these methods do not work and the use of a pesticide is unavoidable, then choose an eco-responsible or RONA ECO product. These products are low impact or low risk in the short and long term for the human health and the environment. They have little impact on non-target organisms such as bees and are rapidly degradable. For example, RONA ECO Btk bioinsecticide is a natural product containing beneficial bacteria (Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki) which is used to control larvae of lepidopteran family such as tent caterpillars and winter moths. Also, RONA ECO beneficial nematodes are used to control white grubs in the lawn. This product contains nematodes which live in the ground searching for larvae of white grubs. When nematodes find a larva, they penetrate and parasitize it, causing its death a few days later. What’s more natural than these two products! Consult an adviser at your store to know the different eco-responsible products.
Before using an amendment, a pesticide or a fertilizer always read and comply with the product label. Pay special attention to instructions, precautions to be taken before, during and after using the product and storage conditions.
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