Safe Pest Control Tips
Pest controls should be used with the utmost safety considerations, safety in terms of the plants, animals and humans. This holds especially true for those with vegetable and organic gardens.
The main purpose of organically growing vegetables is useless if they become covered in pest control chemicals.
Here are a few long-term maintenance tips to make pest control less damaging and more environmentally friendly.
1. Use the physical pest control process.
This may be accomplished through picking grubs off by hand, creating barriers and traps and plugging holes. Snails can be found hiding in damp places under rocks and towards the base of plants. A good stream of water from the garden hose is usually enough to dislodge leaf hoppers, aphids and whiteflies.
2. Use a biological pest control.
Encourage predatory insects such as green lacewings and dragonflies to feed on aphids and other pests that attack your plants. You can do this by placing a shallow bowl of water in the garden. Dragonflies especially, will hover around water. Bacterial insecticides such as B. thuringiensis could also be used against caterpillars.
3. Only as a last resort should we turn to chemical pest control.
Organic pest control methods can be successful and the ingredients for many of the recipes can be found in the kitchen cupboards. If chemical sprays are really necessary, try and find the least-toxic. These include insecticidal soaps, horticultural oils, dehydrating dusts, etc.
4. Consider the use of safer pest control substitutes.
Recipes for a few alternative pest control include the following:
To control Green Aphids and Mites - Mix 1 tablespoon of liquid soap and a cup of vegetable oil. Dilute a teaspoon of this solution in a cup of water and spray on aphids and mites.
To control Cockroaches - Dusts of boric acid can be applied to cracks or entry points of these insects. Bay leaves on pantry shelves could also help in warding off these critters.
General Insecticide Garlic Spray:
Ingredients:
1 Garlic Bulb
2 Cups Water
1 Gallon Water
Instructions:
- Take an entire garlic bulb and two cups of water and blend in blender.
- Mix at high speed for 1-2 minutes.
- Pour into a container and set aside for up to one day.
- Strain liquid through a cheese cloth.
- Mix liquid with one gallon of water.
Apply liberally on top and bottom of leaves.
Basic Insect Repellent Soap Spray:
Ingredients:
Liquid Dish Detergent
Instructions:
- Put one tablespoon of dish detergent per gallon into a sprayer.
- Apply liberally on top and bottom of leaves.
Re-apply after rain or one to two weeks.
Basic Hot Pepper Spray:
This can be used to repel, deer, rabbits and other pests from your flowers and some vegetables. Note, use caution with vegetables as a peppery taste may remain on the fruit.
Ingredients:
6 Hot Peppers, the hotter the better
2 Cups Water
1 quart Water
Instructions:
- Put hot peppers and two cups of water into a blender.
- Mix at high speed for 1-2 minutes.
- Pour into a container and set aside for up to one day.
- Strain liquid through a cheese cloth.
- Add liquid into a one quart container. Fill container to top with water.
Apply liberally to plants. Re-apply every week to two weeks or after a rain.
Make sure that the chemicals you use are made specifically for the insects you are targeting. Also take a look at our category of Organic Insect Controls
