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SignatureMT | 59 Lady beetles are voracious aphid feeders and an adult beetle will eat 50 or more aphids a day. with a few of these eco-friendly strategies. Tolerate a bit of damage and wait for the birds, lady beetles, praying mantis and other beneficial insects to move in and eat the bad bugs in the garden. Use barriers like row covers to keep cabbage worms off your cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts. Sink shallow containers filled with beer into the soil around hostas and some of the other favorite plants of slugs and snails. ese pests are aracted to the fermenting yeast, crawl inside and die. Certified Montana Master Gardener, Marcia Bundi, suggests sticking with native plants in your garden and landscaping as they need less maintenance than non-native plants, once they are established. "Native plants are beer suited to han - dle extreme temperatures," says Bundi. "ey can tolerate disease and pests and can survive on the natural rainfall in the area and are already resistant to local insects which means you won't need to spray toxic chemicals for pest control," she says. If the bad guys persist, step up your eco-friendly control. Knock small popula - tions of aphids and mites off plants with a strong blast of water. Apply insecticidal soap or Summit Year-Round Spray Oil if nature needs a helping hand. ese organic insec- ticides are effective at managing pests, while gentle on the good guys when used properly. Keep mosquito populations to a min- imum. Drain water from toys, buckets or any object that can hold water and serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Change the water in birdbaths several times a week. Toss a Mosquito Dunk (SummitResponsi- bleSolutions.com) in rain barrels and water features. is organic insecticide only kills the larvae of mosquitoes, black flies and fungus gnats. It won't harm bees, buerflies, birds, pets and people. Bundi says, "Picture perfect produce is achieved by pesticides but it is important to point out that most insects you see are nei- ther helpful nor harmful, they are just there. "My advice is to live and let live. A lile damage isn't going to hurt your plants. You just have to decide what you can live with". Evaluate your success and make need- ed adjustments. Write a note in next year's calendar to watch for the return of these pests. You'll be ready to step in and lend nature a hand if needed. As you begin to work in harmony with nature you will find more birds, bees and buerflies visiting your garden. Together you can grow a beautiful and productive garden for all to enjoy. MT S ~ Gardening expert Melinda Myers has wrien over 20 gardening books, including Small Space Gardening and the Midwest Gardener's Handbook. She hosts e Great Courses "How to Grow Anything : Food Gardening For Everyone" DVD set and the nationally syndicated Melinda's Garden Moment TV & radio segments. Myers' website is www.melindamyers.com. Insects and diseases are attracted to stressed, damaged or otherwise unhealthy plants, so the key to preventive control is taking good care of your plants. That means paying close attention to them and providing the conditions they need for healthy, vigorous growth. Native plants are usually best for native bees, and can be used in both wild areas and gardens. There are also many garden plants—particularly older, heirloom varieties of perennials and herbs—that are good sources of nectar or pollen.