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!!