Natural pest control is one of the safest and most efficient ways to protect your garden plants from tiny insects. Gardeners are typically reluctant, for good reason, when it comes to putting chemicals and pesticides on their plants and herbs. Natural pest control methods are generally healthier for humans and the surrounding environment.
The organic methods of killing pests and insects do not damage the plant or its soil texture and can help improve the plant’s growth and strengthen it. Natural pest control aims to balance organisms in your garden and yard. In a diverse ecosystem that utilizes natural pest control, pest populations are regulated naturally without the aid and introduction of engineered chemicals.
Natural Pest Control Methods
For garden pests, the least toxic methods should be considered and used first to achieve the goal of a pest-free garden. Moreover, natural pest control is often expensive and risky for the garden, humans, and the surrounding ecosystem, compared to pesticides.
Many of the pest control methods are fun and enjoyable with your family and friends. With these methods, you satisfy your want to have a beautiful and outstanding lawn and garden where you would love spending time.
If you are looking to kill bugs with a natural pest control method, here are a few techniques and methods that will work for you without causing any harm to your plants and the surrounding environment.
1. Biological Control
It is observed that not all insects are harmful to your plants as well as the surroundings. Indeed, there are a few that help you maintain the garden by eating or killing the bad ones. Insects such as wasps, ladybugs, dragonflies, lacewings, etc., prove beneficial and are gardener’s allies. With natural methods, you can get these good insects to your garden for getting the work done.
2. Birds
Birds not only add to the enrichment of your garden or yard but are also helpful as they love and enjoy eating insects. So, you simply need to attract birds to your yard by placing features such as bird baths, feeders, and houses.
3. Organic Insecticide
When sprayed directly on the insects or the leaves of plants, organic insecticides prove very effective and advantageous. If you want some household solution, you can try making soap sprays, peppermint sprays, and garlic ones as well. Such sprays deter insects that spoil and stay on your garden plants.
4. Cover the Plants
This is the easiest way of keeping your garden free from various insects, weeds, and animals. You just need to choose the finest net, wire fencing, or fiber to cover your plants and the surroundings to protect your plants from deer, rodents, insects, and other animals.
5. Cultivation
A good cultivation of everything is essential, as it allows your plants to grow well in various conditions. Till your garden and then cultivate the crops or plants to make sure that no weeds are produced, as weeds are the major reason for insects to get attracted to the plant. Don’t forget to add organic fertilizers to your garden or yard and have a chemical-free garden. Earthworms help you to keep your garden fertile and to make good compost.
Advantages of Natural Pest Control
Pest problems have made their way into urban and suburban areas. Things have gotten so bad that even homes, businesses, and high-end hotels must call for exterminators to prevent infestations.
There are many ways to avoid such pests, either by homemade remedies, chemicals, or even environmentally friendly alternatives. Several types of natural pest control methods will prove beneficial when carried out properly.
Here, we’ve put together a few advantages of these methods to help you choose the best method for your garden or yard. Integrated Pest Control (IPC) or Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is basically an umbrella term covering various pest control solutions.
Their main aim is to use the selected amount of pesticides, which will lessen the overall amount of insects that harm your crops and plants without harming humans and the environment.
1. Utilizing Traps
It is experienced that pesticides are not essentially required for every type of pest problem. Before directly trying chemicals and pesticides, one can also try eco-friendly alternatives such as traps and other luring devices designed for the targeted pests.
2. Steam Solutions
A good, environmentally friendly exterminator will first observe the situation with minute details. And then think about what methods should necessarily be carried out. Often, high-pressure steam heating will play the trick, eliminating the pests. Without using any insecticide, steam can be used to kill bugs. This will also help in alleviating allergies as well as asthma.
3. Need of Pesticides
First, determine the problem thoroughly and then think or take the exterminator’s help whether there is any need for pesticides. If it’s crucial, only go with pesticides or eco-friendly techniques for killing pests.
Pest Control For Your Organic Garden
When we say pest control, we assume it to be done with the help of some chemicals, pesticides, and other alternatives. But it isn’t essentially the same. Pest control for organic gardens doesn’t poison the environment as well as the crop; instead, it gets rid of the pests.
One thing that should be remembered is there is always an alternative solution for every pest. There are beneficial insects as well, which eat the other unwanted insects and add to the richness of your farm or garden. Depending upon the plants you have planted, you can buy beneficial insects such as praying mantis or ladybugs that will prey on other pests. This is thus one technique of having pest control in your organic garden.
1. Good Bugs for an Organic Garden
In organic gardening pest control, one should always utilize the good bugs for eating the bad ones and protecting the environment and the original contents of the plants without adding any chemicals or toxic elements that will destroy your garden, along with your hard work and time.
The ladybug is a well-known and commonly preferred bug for every garden. What fall prey to these bugs are the harmful mites, chinch bugs, white flies, and aphids. Bees and wasps are also essential for every garden to maintain its purity and richness. While some of these bugs can be purchased and added to your garden, others can be attracted.
2. Incorporate Beneficial Plants Into the Garden
Moreover, you can also use beneficial plants in your garden that will attract the “good bugs” who will work to keep your gardens pest-free. Some of these plants include:
- Marigolds
- Clovers
- Alyssum
- Dill
- Wild Carrot
- Fennel
- Yarrow
- Butterfly Weeds
3. Suffocate Pests with Soap Water
Another pest control method for your organic garden is to suffocate them with the help of soapy water. Making soap water is quite straightforward enough, but you’ll want to put it into a bottle, spray it on the plants, and cover the whole plant without leaving any surface uncovered. You can even spray it near holes to remove mice and moles if you have them.
Exterminators can help identify pests in your garden and accordingly take suggestions for your organic garden. With good organic gardening pest control, you can grow your own healthy and outstanding vegetables, fruits, and other eatables.
In Summary
These are just a few organic garden pest tips and tricks. These will help you create an amazing environmentally friendly organic garden without harming the plants and the surroundings. Follow them and preserve the organic nature of the fruits and vegetables grown in your garden without adding any sort of toxins or chemical products.