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Natural Techniques to Outsmart Garden Pests

Natural Techniques to Outsmart Garden Pests

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Is there anything more infuriating than seeing your garden turn into an all-out buffet for unwelcome guests?

Thankfully, you don’t need harsh chemicals to deal with those pesky critters. Here are some natural pest control tips to keep your produce safe (and all to yourself!).

Beneficial Insects

Not all insects are bad guys; some are garden heroes! These tiny warriors are your best allies in eliminating common garden pests.

Set aside a small plot for flowers to attract them to your garden or order them online. It’s a safe, natural way to keep your garden pest-free.

Here’s a rundown on who does what:

1 – Ladybugs

Ladybugs Are Aphid-Eating Machines

These spotted cuties are aphid-eating machines. They also snack on mites, whiteflies, and scale.

Invite them over by planting daisies, tansy, or yarrow.

2 – Lacewings and Hoverflies

Lacewings Help To Eliminate Aphids In Garden

These bad boys are the ultimate aphid predators. Both the adults and their larvae can’t get enough of those sap-sucking pests.

Make your garden a haven for lacewings and hoverflies. Grow these flowering plants: asters, goldenrods, yarrow, and black-eyed Susans.

3 – Parasitoid Wasps

Parasitoid Wasps Target Many Pests In The Garden

Brachonids, chalcids, and ichneumon wasps—don’t let their names scare you (or their stingers, because they don’t have any!).

They target every gardener’s worst nightmares. Aphids, beetle larvae, cabbage worms, cucumber beetles, corn earworms—the list goes on.

4 – Praying Mantises

Praying Mantises Will Gobble Up Pretty Much Any Pest

Their peaceful posture may deceive you, but they’ll gobble up pretty much any pest.

You can order their eggs online and set them out in your garden. Soon, you’ll have adult mantises patrolling your plants.

5 – Nematodes

These microscopic worms take out billbugs, cutworms, grubs, thrips, and root weevil larvae. Insect-parasitic nematodes come packed by the millions in an itty-bitty sponge or a packet of dry granules!

Mix the nematodes thoroughly in water and apply them to the soil. If a few end up on your plants, just wash them back down to earth where they can do their thing.

Homemade Solutions

Sometimes, you need to take matters into your own hands. That’s when I break out my DIY pest control concoctions.

Let’s cook up some trouble for these garden pests!

1 – Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous Earth To Deter Pests In Garden

Let’s start with the big guns: diatomaceous earth. Sprinkle the powder around your plants and watch earwigs, slugs, and other creepy crawlies with exoskeletons drop dead.

The tiny, sharp particles attach to their hard shells and dehydrate them. Because the powder kills mechanically, insects can’t become immune to it.

2 – Boiling Water

Ants themselves won’t hurt your plants, but they invite trouble. They farm aphids to harvest their sweet honeydew.

Locate their nest in open soil areas and pour boiling water into the openings. Be careful not to splash it on yourself or any plants.

3 – Garlic Spray

Many garden pests, including aphids, caterpillars, and leafhoppers, can’t stand the smell of garlic.

Mash two bulbs of garlic with one cup of water and let it steep overnight. Strain it into a jar, then add ½ cup of oil and a teaspoon of liquid soap.

Fill the jar with water to the brim, and transfer the contents into a spray bottle. Spray on your troubled plants—the tiny terrors will get the message.

4 – Hot Pepper Spray

Your hot peppers can do more than just spice up your dinner. They can also deter many garden pests, as well as rabbits and deer.

Mix one tablespoon of dried chili powder with a quart of water and a teaspoon of dish soap. Then, give your plants a good dousing.

Got a bumper crop of hot peppers? Boil half a cup of pureed peppers with a cup of water and use the cooled liquid full-strength as an insect spray.

5 – Cooking Oil and Soap Spray

Got soft-bodied bugs having a party in your garden? Here’s a simple spray mixture to crash it: a tablespoon of oil, a tablespoon of liquid soap, and a quart of warm water.

Now, spray your plants from top to bottom, making sure to get under those leaves, too. Don’t forget to rinse with plain water after a few hours.

6 – Beer Trap

Setting Up A Beer Trap May Help Control Snails And Slugs In Your Garden

Set up a beer trap to control snails and slugs. Bury a small container up to its rim in the garden and fill it with beer.

These pests can’t resist a good brew, but this happy hour will be their last.

Insect Repellent Plants

Like us, many insects find their food through scent. You can throw them off-trail by planting strong-smelling plants among your crops.

Here’s a quick rundown of which plants to grow to deter specific types of bugs:

  • Basil: Asparagus beetle, carrot fly, flies, mosquitoes, and whitefly
  • Borage: Imported cabbageworm and tomato hornworm
  • Catmint: Aphids, cabbage looper, cucumber beetle, flea beetle, and squash bugs
  • Chives: Aphids and Japanese beetles
  • Dill: Cabbage moths and spider mites
  • Garlic: Aphids, cabbage moths, peach borer, Japanese beetles, and rabbits
  • Mint: Aphids, cabbage moths, flea beetles, squash bugs, whiteflies, and ants
  • Parsley: Asparagus beetles
  • Radish: Cabbage maggots, squash bugs, and cucumber beetles
  • Rosemary: Cabbage moths, carrot flies, Mexican bean beetles, slugs, and snails
  • Thyme: Cabbage moths, corn earworm, and tomato hornworm

Final Thoughts

Your garden need not be a chemical warzone to fight pests.

Know your enemies, and you can hit them where it hurts with these non-toxic solutions. It’s time to show who’s boss!

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