![Prevention better than cure](https://magarticles.magzter.com/articles/5171/461846/5edd9eb94afc6/Prevention-better-than-cure.jpg)
WHETHER you are dealing with pests or diseases, there are similar rules that apply to both.
Make sure equipment is kept sharp and clean, especially cutting tools that have been used to remove diseased plant material or pots that have held plants and compost you fear might have been contaminated by pests or diseases.
We aim to grow our plants as organically as possible and only resort to chemicals in worst-case scenarios. This style of gardening doesn’t appeal to everyone, but I would urge anyone who does use chemicals to do so sparingly, sticking to the manufacturers’ instructions.
Never use pesticides on plants in flower or trees in blossom because you will kill pollinating insects, not to mention the lacewing flies, wasps, ground beetles, ladybirds and hoverflies that will help you in the fight against insect pests.
Your garden is a natural habitat and if you strip away one layer of nature – ‘unwanted’ insects, for example – the birds, bats and other mammals that feed on them won’t pop by and your patch will be all the poorer for it.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 06, 2020 من Amateur Gardening.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة June 06, 2020 من Amateur Gardening.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 8500 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
![To dig or not to dig?](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5171/1457533/srY9Bgqgg1696077695176/TO-DIG-OR-NOT-TO-DIG.jpg)
To dig or not to dig?
Should we be carrying out a full dig on plots now? Bob considers the pros and cons of the 'autumn dig' debate
![The box ball blues](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5171/1457533/MSiW9S-3s1696077564674/THE-BOX-BALL-BLUES.jpg)
The box ball blues
As if his beleaguered box hadn't already taken a beating, Toby now has to deal with some hungry box caterpillars
![Save your own seeds](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5171/1457533/gxMCpsinZ1696077466987/SAVE-YOUR-OWN-SEEDS.jpg)
Save your own seeds
Masterclass on: seed saving
![Strange sightings](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5171/1457533/ddasMklZP1696077318893/STRANGE-SIGHTINGS.jpg)
Strange sightings
Three unusual insects turn up in Val's garden in one day
![A bolt from the blue!](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5171/1457533/7nMhGuBLn1696077232526/A-BOLT-FROM-THE-BLUE.jpg)
A bolt from the blue!
Cornflowers are perfect for garden and vase
![Winter moth prevention](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5171/1457533/uaMLSKKf61696077078880/WINTER-MOTH-PREVENTION.jpg)
Winter moth prevention
Ruth shows you how to avoid maggoty tree fruits
![Create a winter container](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5171/1457533/Jd1C8L2Ax1696076912753/CREATE-A-WINTER-CONTAINER.jpg)
Create a winter container
There are as many options as in summer
![Lightweight gardening tools](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5171/1457533/2M8ifxUcL1696076768203/LIGHTWEIGHT-GARDENING-TOOLS.jpg)
Lightweight gardening tools
AS well as being good for our mental health, gardening is also great exercise.
![Autumn price round-up](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5171/1457533/8CDp1hNq-1696076665397/AUTUMN-PRICE-ROUNDUP.jpg)
Autumn price round-up
AG finds better bargains in lesser-known brands
![Rudbeckias](https://reseuro.magzter.com/100x125/articles/5171/1457533/n0XuNlGYP1696073214532/RUDBECKIAS.jpg)
Rudbeckias
Rudbeckias are ideal for sunny summer patios and borders, with some able to survive our coldest winters