INSIDE YOUR ZOO

Have you visited the butterfly garden ( donated by the Compassionate Friends of Louisville ) near the Zoo ’ s main parking lot ? It contains butterflyfriendly plants . Butterflies face many threats including habitat destruction , pesticides and other chemicals , and the spread of invasive plants . That ’ s why we support the Butterfly Conservation Initiative . Learn more at louisvillezoo . org / wildlifepartners .

With the return of the warm , sunny days of Spring , so returns the excitement of planting your next ( or maybe even your first ) home garden . The joy of growing your own food can provide a feeling of immense satisfaction . However , starting your own garden can seem daunting due to the prospect of dealing with garden insects . Insects and other destructive garden animals ( like aphids , snails and slugs ) are a fact of life for most gardeners . What to do ? Chemical insecticides are toxic , require careful handling and storage , can be expensive , may leave residues on your food and will kill both harmful as well as beneficial insects . Don ’ t lose heart yet ! Some methods of treatment help minimize the unwanted garden visitors without the use of chemicals . The famous quote from Benjamin Franklin , “ an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure ” holds true for the home gardener to reduce destructive insect problems .

Here are ten natural techniques to use on your next garden :

1 . Choose an appropriate garden site based on the needs of your plants . Also , avoid planting your garden in ground that was in sod / grass

within two to three years . Soil insects are more likely to be numerous in this situation .

2 . For best results , dig or plow your garden in the fall and then again in the Spring , at least three weeks before planting . This exposes many harmful insects to dry , cold weather as well as predators .

3 . Properly dispose of any plant waste from the previous year ’ s garden . Many insects and diseases will over-winter in plants they fed on .

4 . Choose varieties of plants that are recommended for your area .

5 . A soil test is a great way to check if the soil in your garden is deficient in nutrients before planting . Contact your local county extension office for information .

6 . Plant at the proper time for best growth . It is better to plant too early than too late ; large insect populations develop by late summer .

7 . When buying garden plants , inspect the plants to make sure they are not already infested with insects .

8 . Always follow plant spacing recommendations . Proper plant spacing allows the plant canopy to shade the ground and helps to prevent weeds from growing . Plants spaced

too far apart will allow weeds to grow ; those spaced too closely could be stressed due to competition for light , water and nutrients .

9 . Constant weed control is essential . Some insects are first attracted by weeds and then move onto your garden plants . Dense weeds increase humidity among plants which may result in a more severe outbreaks of insects . Mulching your garden is a great way to control weeds as well as provide nutrients to the soil .

10 . Harvest your vegetables when ripe . The longer a vegetable is in the garden , the more susceptible it is to attack by harmful insects . Furthermore , overripe vegetables are more attractive to many insects .

By following these tips , you can look forward to a happy harvest and the joy of knowing you created your beautiful garden in way that is safe for our helpful insect friends ( like bees , butterflies and spiders ).

Happy gardening !