Many pests and diseases can be minimised by good gardening practices such as careful feeding and watering, crop rotation, and choosing plants that suit the conditions.
Use barriers such as mesh against flying creatures and products such as copper tape, rings, grit or mats against slugs and snails.
Try biological controls such as nematodes which use one living organism to control the pest without harming humans, pets and other beneficial creatures. These work very effectively but require a minimum temperature to work, and are expensive for using on large areas.
Encourage natural predators, such as ladybirds and lacewings, by creating wildlife habitats and hiding places in your garden.
Try companion planting to deter pests.
Choose plant varieties that show resistance to pests and diseases.
Avoid overfeeding young plants – lots of lush growth will attract slugs and snails.
Use chemicals as a last resort, making sure you use the right product for the pest, disease or weed. Don’t buy more than you need, and dilute exactly as directed on the label. Apply it at the right stage of a pest’s lifecycle. Spray in early morning or late evening, when beneficial insects are not foraging. Do not spray if it is windy or about to rain.
Store chemicals in their original containers in a cool dark place, out of reach of children and pets. Spray surplus diluted product on level, bare soil or over an uncultivated area such as gravel or a driveway, away from drains, ponds or watercourses.