Homeowners today understand the balance of nature, and that by spraying all those chemicals, you were not only hurting the harmful pests, but also the beneficial ones as well. The first step is to become familiar with your plants and understand what a healthy plant looks like. It is from this point that when a problem arises, YOU will be the first to know that there is a problem, and control is that much simpler. An inexpensive magnifying glass will do the trick. Don't worry about the number of pests that are about.
Many pests require a specific plant as a host, so identification is that much easier.
Check to make sure when purchasing a plant to check its cultural habits and conditions. This will help you in the future. Many homeowners just grab whatever pesticide the have on their shelf and use that. Be specific with what you spray, and use the manufacturer's suggested amounts. Larvae eats roots and may girdle crowns of broad-leaved evergreens, particularly rhododendrons, azaleas and yews.