Human beings have been growing gardens for thousands of years. It’s a primitive skill necessary for survival, yet it brings many of us a certain satisfaction we couldn’t get anywhere else.
However, as our methods for growing beautiful vegetable, fruits, and herbs have evolved, so have the pests that can devastate them. Over time, mankind has created various insecticides and pesticides that take care of these pests. Unfortunately, however, they don’t target certain types of bugs, they kill all of them.
Instead, we recommend using natural insecticides that target certain types of bugs while keeping beneficial insects alive and thriving. This will also help you avoid coating your fantastic garden with harmful chemicals and poisons!
Keep reading to find out more.
Table of Contents
Natural Pesticides to Keep the Bugs out of Your Garden
As we mentioned above, insecticides have a nasty habit of wiping out any and all bug species that come in contact with them. This including bees, which have been steadily declining for decades.
Kyle Ricks from NaturaPestControl.com says that keeping flowering plants free of pesticides is crucial in protecting and preserving the bee population. However, natural insecticides do a lot more than protect bees. The protect ladybugs, praying mantises, spiders, and other helpful bugs in your garden.
Follow along for some at-home remedies!
1. Herbal Remedies and Essential Oils
Using potent herb and essential oils mixed with water can be a great way to dissuade bugs and other pests such as rodents, rabbits, and other ground-dwelling animals. Using hot peppers, potent mints, strong cloves (such as garlic), and other scents can really help your garden thrive. Play around with varying types and levels of solvents in your concoctions!
2. Neem
Neem is a type of mahogany tree that has been used for hundreds of years as a natural insecticide. Neem oil disrupts the hormones in bugs and is an effective deterrent for your garden. As an added bonus, Neem also has several antifungal properties.
3. Soapy Water
You can use soap and oil with water or just soap and water for this natural insecticide. All you need to do is create a mixture of soap and water in a spray bottle and coat the plants that are being ravaged by bus.
The mixture will also coat the insects, clogging the pores through which they breathe, therefor suffocating them.
4. All-Natural Pest Control
Fortunately, if you feel like none of the natural insecticides you’re trying are working, there are more options! For example, there are plenty of all-natural pest control companies out there. You can give them a call and let them handle it.
Otherwise, you can find pre-made natural insecticides at select stores.
5. Diatomaceous Earth
Finally, Diatomaceous Earth is a natural insecticide found in sedimentary rock (don’t worry, you can buy it at the store). It works by absorbing the waxy substance that keeps bugs alive by keeping their body’s moisture sealed in. It basically causes bugs to dehydrate to death.
Good Luck
Be patient while experimenting with natural insecticides. Make sure you take notes on which ones work best and maybe you can create your own super solution!
Either way, good luck with your garden! Remember to check out the rest of the articles in our blog for more lifestyle and DIY tips!
