Natural Pest Control
Your Hands
The most effective pesticide and herbicide is your own set of hands. Pick up damaging aphids, japanese beetles, etc. off of your plants with your hands and place them in soapy water. Take a good look at the leaves of your plants as well as vegetables and fruit for pest damage at least weekly. Pull weeds at the root every few weeks.
Plants Bugs Hate
Plant the following herbs and flowers in your garden to ward off various kinds of garden pests (e.g. deer rabbits, voles, nematodes, beetles, etc.):
Marigolds
Four O'Clocks
Chives
Nasturtium
Basil
Garlic
Wormwood
Mint
Hyssop
Beneficial Insects
You want to encourage certain insects to set up shop in your garden as they defend your organic valuables - at little or no cost. In particular, lady bugs, parasitic wasps, hoverflies, dragonflies and lacewings eat a lot of harmful garden pests.
Beneficial Wild- and Tame-life
Birds, bats, frogs, cats and dogs are defenders of the backyard. Install bird houses, bat boxes, toad homes and out out fresh water at the periphery of your property.