Know your bugs
Did you know there are thousands of insects in a single square yard of soil? Fortunately, only a small number actually bother your plants. Unfortunately, those that do can breed quickly and do a lot of damage. The worst culprates are sucking insects, such as aphids and leafhoppers, and chewing insects, such as caterpillars and certain kinds of beetles and worms. Observe your garden closely to see which insects are present, and learn to tell the good from the bad. Find an illustrated guide that can help you identify geographically local insects so you'll know what you're up against.

Rotate plantings
Insects like to feed on a plant and then lay their eggs in the soil below. With the same plant in the same spot every year, the emerging larvae get a convenient food supply. However, if you move plants around from year to year, you make it more difficult for the larvae to find food. Moving a plant even a few feet helps. That's a big distance for a creature just a fraction of an inch long. When possible, you shouldn't put annuals or vegetables from the same family in the same location more than once every three years.

The truth is that the safest and most effective pest-control methods often have more to do with persistence, than with chemicals, technology, or money. Little has changed over the past 50 years in the way gardeners deal with pests. That's because there are no quick fixes. The old-fashioned, low-tech ways are often best. You can't make your garden 100 percent pest free, but you can take steps to make it a less inviting target. These strategies focus on insect pests, but the same principles can be used to outwit larger, furry critters, as well.

Begin with good soil
Experts say healthy soil can prevent about 80 percent of insect damage. Healthy soil breeds healthy plants that are more equipped to resist pests. Find out what is in your dirt besides rocks, rusty nails, shells, and that bone your dog buried a year ago. You can have your soil tested for pH level, essential nutrients, and the presence of organic material. You can buy soil-testing kits by mail or from garden centers. Your local county extension office may offer soil-testing services,as well, or at least be able to refer you to a lab. The results will indicate what you need to add.