Summer is over and so is bug season thankfully. However, there are still a few insects that lurk around in the fall; the more you learn about tackling them, the better.
Dangers of Chemical Pesticides
Chemical pesticides can stir up more trouble than getting rid of insects as they are unhealthy for the environment. Synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and insecticides are no better. There are several different varieties that are used in homes, gardens, offices, sheds, and farms but many of them are hazardous to human health and other living creatures. They are known to contaminate crops, enter waterways, affect the health of pets and animals and cause death to live creatures.
Pesticides and chemical insecticides come in solid (powder, crystals or granular forms), liquid and aerosol spray, contaminating land, water, and air. They need to be used with caution, complying with the instructions on the label.
On the other hand, natural and DIY organic pesticides get rid of pesky pests, bugs, and critters without causing health risks to humans or animals. Homemade herbicides can help you get rid of plant-munching bugs without ruining the rest of your garden. It is important to choose them with care and use them sensitively to prevent the garden ecosystem from being affected adversely.
Vegetable Oil Sprays
Made from vegetable oil mixed with a mild soap, homemade organic insecticides can exterminate dangerous aphids, mites, and thrip. They coat the insects, block their breathing pores and effectively bid them goodbye.
- Mix one cup of vegetable oil with 1 tablespoon soap.
- Cover and shake vigorously until it is well blended.
- Add 2 teaspoons of the oil spray with 1 quart of water.
- Shake well and spray on plants that are affected by insects to keep them away.
Soap Sprays
Quite like oil sprays, soap sprays prevent mites, aphids, beetles, and whiteflies from taking over your garden.
- Mix 1 1/2 teaspoons of regular liquid soap (such as castile soap) with 1 quart of water.
- Spray the mixture on infected plants.
- Do not apply under the scorching sun but towards the evenings or early mornings.
Neem Oil
Biodegradable oil from neem tree seeds is a potent natural insecticide that can disrupt the life cycle of insects, no matter what stage they are in – eggs, larvae or full-grown. They are a gift to a gardener as they keep the bugs from feasting on leaves coated with oil without killing the plants. It is non-toxic to humans and other living creatures and is a natural fungicide that combats mildew and fungal infections on plants.
- Mix 2 teaspoons neem oil with 1 teaspoon of mild liquid soap and shake well.
- Mix with 1 quart of water, shake again until well blended.
- Spray on the affected plants or before they are affected to prevent the bugs from colonizing the branches.
Diatomaceous Earth
Made from sedimentary rock created by fossilized algae (diatoms), this abundant resource that makes up 26% of the earth’s crust by weight acts as an organic insecticide by smothering insects by absorbing the waxy lipids from their exoskeleton, dehydrating them to death. Look for diatomaceous earth at garden stores.
- Grind the substance into a fine powder and sprinkle on the ground around the plants.
- It can help control slimy snails, slugs and other creepy crawlies.
- As it is dried into a fine powder, it is effective for application after the rains, keeping the bugs from prancing around them.
Garlic Spray
The pungent smell of garlic can gag insects to death. It is not clear whether they serve as repellents or poisonous insecticides but the strong scent protects plants but keeps bugs away.
- Take 2 whole bulbs of garlic, puree them in a blender with a little water.
- Leave the mixture to rest overnight
- Strain into a glass jar and add 1/2 cup of vegetable oil (optional), 1 teaspoon of mild liquid soap, water to the brim of the jar.
- Use 1 cup of mixture with 1 quart of water to spray liberally on infested plants.
If the infestation is more than you can handle, call Contact Pest Control in Scarborough. We guarantee the highest standards of service using the safest, most effective pest control treatments available. Call us for help.
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