Natural Pest Controls

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Basil, left, ettagirl, middle, and marigolds, right, are three of some of my natural pest controls. (charlotte ekker wiggins photo)

Natural Pest Controls

We all know using man-made chemicals in our gardens should be a last resort but sometimes we don’t know good alternatives. I haven’t used man made chemicals in my one acre garden for over 40 years so here are some of my effective alternatives:

Plant Buddies

  • If you like it on your dish it most likely will get along in your garden. Basil around tomatoes, for example, will not only enhance tomato flavor but will protect tomato plants from bugs. Basil also repels mosquitos and flies.

  • Check your local library for the most recent updated books on companion planting.

    Composting

  • Keeping your soil healthy will eliminate the source of many of the issues gardeners develop during the growing season. Take the 40% of the food tossed out in this country and compost it; feed it back to the soil to keep it healthy and soil will keep bugs to a minimum.

    Dawn Detergent and Water in a Spray Bottle

  • If you need help getting rid of insects, try Dawn detergent and water in a spray bottle. In most cases this will take care of most small bugs you don’t want on your plants: aphids, spider mites, and whiteflies.

  • The soap breaks down the protective outer layer of insects, causing them to dehydrate.

    Neem Oil

  • When you need something more try Neem oil. Neem oil is derived from the neem tree and acts as an insect repellent and growth disruptor. It's effective against a wide range of pests, including aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites.

  • It's biodegradable and non-toxic to humans and animals but not recommended for use around bees and other pollinators.

    Handpicking

  • Ewww, right? Well, it works and it doesn’t harm the environment. Frankly it also helps bring us closer to nature so I highly recommend it. Don’t know where to start? Start with removing Japanese beetles early morning when it’s cool and they’re sluggish. Place a container with soapy water under a plant where they’re sitting and shake them in or hand-pick them and drop them in.

  • You can also manually remove larger pests like caterpillars, beetles, and slugs from plants. Regular inspection and removal can prevent infestations from spreading.

    Garlic and Hot Pepper Spray

  • Create a natural repellent by blending garlic and hot peppers with water and a few drops of dish soap. Strain and spray on plants. This mixture repels a variety of pests, including aphids, whiteflies, and beetles.

    Attract Birds and Other Wildlife

  • Install birdhouses and birdbaths to attract birds and frogs as natural pest controls.

    My cat Ettagirl (in photo) is good at keeping cicadas under watch but that’s about it.

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    Charlotte