Organic Pest Control: Chemical-free Methods for Keeping Your Plants Healthy

Organic pest control for your garden is safer and sounder than the typical chemical-laden methods. Consider the organic approach. Although it takes more thought and commitment of your time, the benefits are well worth it.

A Major Rule

  • One of the major rules in garden insect pest control is to keep your plants healthy!
  • Plant them in healthy soil and use healthy compost
  • Watch for early indicators or warning signs of insect invasion.

An Effective Technique

  • Watch out for insect eggs all through the summer
  • The best time for garden insect pest control is during the larvae phase. You can simply remove them by hand and discard the eggs.
  • While it is an effective technique, it is also the simplest and the easiest method!

Disease-Resistant Plants

  • If you want help in organic garden pest control, choose disease-resistant plants
  • Garden insect pest control means regularly discarding the infested ones. Some plant diseases can wipe out your plants in days!

Fungi Growth Prevention

  • Another garden insect pest control is to prevent fungi growth
  • Avoid overcrowding your plants and thin your seedlings.

Pollinators and Useful Predators

  • Not all insects are your garden’s adversaries. For effective organic garden insect pest control, know which are pollinators and which are useful predators against harmful insects
  • Some of these friendly insects are the ladybugs, spiders, and praying mantis.
  • Be careful when using natural insecticides. They can kill useful insects like honeybees.

Protect the Ecosystem

  • If you are using biological agents for garden insect pest control, consult with your local nursery for specific recommendations
  • Be aware that using unsafe chemicals to quickly eradicate your garden pests will also be disruptive of the ecosystem.

Alcohol Spray

  • Alcohol sprays are good as organic garden insect pest control, especially against aphids, whiteflies, and mealybugs
  • If you are using rubbing alcohol spray, use the 70% isopropyl rubbing alcohol type. One quart of water mixed with one to two cups of alcohol is a good solution.
  • Never spray your plants with undiluted alcohol. Spray a few leaves and check for damage. The injury should be apparent within a few days.

Alkaloids

  • Tomato leaves have alkaloids that are water-soluble and good for organicl garden insect pest control
  • Chop them, soak them, and make for yourself a good homemade spray against aphids.

Nicotine Sprays

  • Nicotine sprays are permitted in organic garden pest control, and is also effective. They are only toxic for a few hours and help control leaf-chewing insects.
  • Do not use  nicotine sprays on peppers, tomatoes, or eggplants.

Plant Covers

  • To further aid your organic garden insect pest control, know when to cover your plants and when to remove those covers
  • Insect larvae can over-winter inside those covers.

Clean Up

  • As part of your organic garden pest control, clean up at the end of harvest season
  • Leaving your old plants in their containers through the winter is an open invitation for insects to over-winter in the debris
  • Be alert and watchful, if you want an organic garden insect pest control program to a smooth launch!

A Reminder

Keep your plants healthy. It is a major rule in organic garden insect pest control and cannot be over-emphasized!!

Organic Pest Control Chemical-free Methods for Keeping Your Plants Healthy - Easy Balcony Gardening

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