Garden Pests and Weeds
Using pesticides and herbicides need not be synonymous with toxic chemicals that harm our health and our gardens. There are many natural techniques, home-made recipes and commercial organic sprays that are effective without harming the surrounding environment.
The problem with pesticide sprays, besides introducing yet more chemicals into our system, is they often kill the “good” insects that would otherwise help us combat problem pests. The spray that kills aphids could also kill dragonflies, butterflies and honeybees. In fact, 95% of all insects in your garden are either harmless or actually help your plants. With that in mind, spot-treating is much better than going over your entire garden with a spray.
As organic gardeners, we need to find natural and safe products to keep the bugs away and control weeds from messing up our gardens. Fortunately, they are available, and they are often already stocked in your kitchen! Commercial products are also becoming increasingly available, all made of organic ingredients that are safe for your health and your garden.
Natural Pesticides
Safer Yard and Garden Insect Killer - 32 oz.
Broad-spectrum insecticide soap mixed with pyrethrin, an extract of the pyrethrum flower, or chrysanthemum. Completely safe to all mammals, though it can harm fish. Spot-treat directly against aphids, whitefly, mites, and many other pests.
Orange Guard - 32 oz spray bottle
Great for indoor use, and even around food! Orange Guard’s active ingredient is d-Limonine, which is steam-distilled orange peel oil. Insects absolutely hate it, such as cockroaches, ants, fleas, locusts and weevils.
Pesticides in the Kitchen and Garden
Garlic
Garlic wards off vampires, and it also repells insects like aphids, and even prevents the spread of certain diseases! In fact, it is a great all-purpose pesticide for your garden. Plant edible garlic between rows of vegetables or roses to repel aphids and other insects. Use garlic powder mixed with water to use as a spray on plants - careful though, too much will harm them. Keep it to one spray.
Anise
Plant anise nearby to ward off aphids, fleas and cabbage pests.
Catnip
Catnip deters many pests such as Colorado potato beetles, squash bugs, weevils and even ants.
Hot peppers
Many people can’t stand hot peppers, but insects absolutely loathe them! Keep some bugs out of your garden with a small amount of pepper juice or pepper seeds and water, then lightly coat your plants.
Natural Herbicides and Fungicides
Nature’s Avenger Organic Herbicide - 24 oz
Made of natural citrus oil (d-Limonine) and Castor oil, this non-selective herbicide eliminates broadleaf, crab grass and other unwanted weeds naturally and quickly. It works by stripping away the plant’s waxy cuticle, dehydrating it. Annuals are killed, perennials may need a few applications. Completely safe for children, animals, and the water supply.
Rose Rx - 1 Quart RTU
Rose RX is made from neem oil, a vegetable oil of an evergreen tree in the Indian subcontinent. In India it has been traditionally used in cosmetics, and is a herbal medicine against skin ailments. Recently is has been proven effective against aphids and mealy bugs, does not harm beneficial insects like ladybugs and honeybees, and controls fungus and black-spot, and eliminates powdery mildew. Because of this, it is great for roses, and can be used on all other plants, fruits and vegetables, right up to the day of harvest.
Sulfur Plant Fungicide - 1 lb
This organic fungicide is specially prepared for use with apples, beans, blackberries, raspberries, cherries, citrus, grapes and more. Use against such pests and diseases as rust, thrips, scale, two spotted mite, powdery mildew, leaf spot, and scab. Apply with a sprayer, using 1 - 3 tablespoons per gallon of water. Repeat every 7 to 10 days.
While there are many natural products that will combat fungus and molds, general weed control involves the long-term planning of encouraging your plants to crowd them out, and keeping your grass healthy and thick so weed seeds can’t develop. Just like the plants in your garden, weeds (that is, “any plant that shouldn’t be there”) needs air and sunlight to flourish, so preventing them to grow by covering the soil with newspaper, mulch, bark, stone and, of course, your big, healthy, bushy plants will block them from growing and spreading.
However, there are a variety of techniques and organic products that kill weeds:
Corn Glutten Meal
For weed seeds, such as dandelions, spread corn gluten meal over your lawn to prevent seeds from germinating. Corn gluten meal is a natural byproduct of corn starch, and is used in animal feed, taco shells and chips, and pet foods. As a bonus, it is a great source of nitrogen fertilizer. It does not harm existing plants, only seeds, so spread liberally in your flower gardens, but not in your lawn if you are reseeding. Apply in early spring, and then reseed your lawn six weeks later.
Tests show corn glutten meal reduces crabgrass by 86% the first year and 98% the second year, using proper applications in the spring and fall. In a 4 year test, dandelion infestation on a test plot was reduced by 100%. (University of Wisconsin)
More information and a list of manufacturers
Home-made Herbicide and Fungicide Recipes:
Baking soda
Used to combat fungi that attacks plants, such as mildew. Combine 2 tablespoons of baking soda, 1 gallon of water, and t teaspoon of vegetable oil. Mix thoroughly and place in a spay bottle. Spray on contact.
Tea tree oil
All oils have the potential to burn plants, so use sparingly. That being said, insects hate vegetable-based oils, and olive and tea tree oil prevents and actively combats fungus on leaves.
Soaps
Like oil, use soap sparingly. A small portion of liquid or tea tree oil soap, mixed with lots of water and spray, is an effective fungicide and insecticide.
My organic gardening book lists sixteen products to use as natural pesticides and herbicides!
Arbico Organics sells a large variety of organic insecticides, herbicides and fungicides. They even sell live beneficial insects and plant mixes to help keep them in your garden. Raise an army of natural defenders!