Cultivating a healthy, fruitful garden or lawn of any kind requires constant labor. Experiencing its deterioration caused by pests such as aphids and other plant-eating bugs can result in deep exasperation. However, while it is important to drive these pests away, pesticides generally contain chemicals that can harm the environment, as well as your children and pets. Organic ingredients and living organisms exist that can effectively ward off garden pests.
Nematodes
Parwinder Grewal, Ph.D., an Ohio State University nematologist, has conducted extensive research on the use of nematodes as an alternative to chemicals for garden pest control. According to Dr. Grewal, nematodes are roundworms that kill insects by invading their bodies and releasing bacteria once inside. He says that any insect attacked by a nematode will die within 48 hours. The nematode then eats the dead insect and bacteria so it can mature and and reproduce. This means that placing nematodes into your garden will lead to constant pest control, as the nematodes will multiply and forever hunt bugs to eat. Dr. Grewal suggests purchasing nematodes and using them with a standard sprayer.
Ladybugs and Other Beneficial Insects
According to Eartheasy.com, an informational website dedicated to green living, ladybugs are a valuable asset to gardeners. These red and black beetles consume garden-destroying pests such as aphids, mites, whiteflies and scale without causing any damage to your garden themselves. Eartheasy suggests planting members of the daisy, tansy or yarrow family to attract ladybugs.
Other pest-killing insects detailed by Eartheasy include lacewings and hover-flies, both of which consume aphids, the praying mantis, which consumes various pests, and brachonids, chalcids and ichneumon wasps that kill leaf-eating caterpillars. You can purchase ladybugs and these other beneficial insects, or their eggs, from garden centers and catalogues.
Insecticidal Soap
Eartheasy suggests using a natural, additive-free soap for your insecticidal soap mix. According to the gardening section of Washington State University's website, insecticidal soaps kill insects by rinsing away the protective layer on their exterior surface and upsetting their internal functionality. The university recommends using a mixture that is 2 percent soap and 98 percent water. They also cite the hardness of your water for potentially reducing the soap's insecticidal potency. A high level of minerals such as calcium, magnesium and iron can render the soap entirely ineffective for killing insects. Washington State University details a method for checking the hardness of your water. Mix a small amount of water and soap, adhering to the 98 to 2 percent ratio, in a glass jar. If, after standing for 15 minutes, the mixture has an even, milky appearance, then your insecticidal soap should effectively kill pests. However, if the mixture develops a film on the surface, then you must condition your water before the soap will function correctly. The university says you can use Calgon or a similar water conditioner. Insecticidal soap kills by contact, so you need to spray the pests directly.
Canola Oil
Eartheasy cites the effectiveness of canola oil in killing soft-bodied insects, such as mites and aphids. They suggest mixing one tablespoon of oil with insecticidal soap. You then pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray plants from above. According to Eartheasy, the canola oil will effectively smother insects. As this kills any bug it covers, you should use it as a spot treatment to avoid killing any beneficial insects. With any natural pesticide spray, test it on one leaf before spraying your garden to avoid causing any damage to plants.
References
- Washington State University: Gardening: Gardening.WSU.edu: Guidelines for Insecticidal Soap
- American Institute of Physics: AIP.org: Discoveries and Breakthroughs Inside Science: Pest Control Au'naturale: Research Entomologist Prescribes New Form of Pest Control
- Eartheasy: Solutions for Sustainable Living: Eartheasy.com: Natural Garden Pest Control
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