A diverse planting also makes it harder for pests and diseases to find vulnerable crops. Nothing succeeds like success. As soon as you start letting a few simple nontoxic techniques go to work against insects, other steps will fall right in line and pest problems will dwindle. If you're using chemical pesticides, the first thing to do is to stop, cold turkey. Without these poisons permeating your air, soil, water, and plants, some of nature's intended protection has a fighting chance to work.
Helpful insects can go back on the job.
Plants themselves respond to the advantages of a natural and balanced environment as well. They develop stronger root systems, and they regain their inherent resistance to pests that healthy plants have. Even birds come back on the garden scene to lend a hand and an appetite.