It may be that we have fewer pests, especially large ones, in the UK but pest control isn't necessary if good hygeine is used. There are also commonly used plants, such as marigolds, geraniums and antirrhinums, which deter pests like aphids and slugs and snails. Fertilizing is unnecessary if you make compost out of debris, leaves etc, or even if leaves are allowed to overwinter and rot on the ground, as perhaps happened in the children's garden. Wood ash from bonfires is also a fertiliser and deters slugs. I know of many gardens here that thrive and look pretty with very little attention - it is one of the beauties of a typical English country garden such as the one described in the novel or seen here. I have a mature English garden and do very little in it other than mow the lawn and prune, nor do I use pesticides or chemical fertilisers.
However, The Secret Garden is an idealisation of a garden, an Eden, so perhaps we shouldn't expect the children to deal with such prosaic matters
Everyman wrote:
One thing I think is that the success of the garden was completely unrealistic. This is fine for children reading the story, but as adults we know that a successful garden requires a lot more than weeding. Where's the fertilizing? Where's the pest control?
