Hand Lens - A small, folding magnifying glass. Indispensable for getting a close-up look at pests and potential damage.
Garden Sprayers - You'll need several sprayers even if you don't use conventional insecticides or herbicides.
Insecticidal Soap - Use insecticidal soaps for small, soft-bodied insects and mites. This is the low toxicity alternative to conventional insecticides.
Neem-based Insecticide - Use neem
as a general-purpose insecticide to prevent damage from leaf-feeding insects. Neem is very low toxicity and is generally safe for beneficial insects.
Botanical Insecticides - Plant-based insecticides that are both low toxicity and have low environmental impact. These are generally safe enough to use indoors as well as in the garden and landscape.
Row Covers - Use row covers to protect young plants from insect pests as well as to extend the growing season.