How to Kill Bugs in Herb Gardens
Herbs like chives, basil, rosemary and thyme can lend an exciting spark of flavor to your favorite meals or baked goods. Most herbs are easy to grow indoors and outdoors. Unfortunately, herbs also make a tasty snack for many types of bugs. Not only can bugs make your herb plants less pleasing to the eye, but they can also damage or kill your herbs. Take steps to kill bugs in your herb garden today before they have a chance to destroy and eat your entire garden. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Garden pesticide
- Organic garden pesticide spray
- Bug traps
- Head of garlic
- Blender
- Plastic spray bottle
- Liquid dish soap
Instructions
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Use a commercial bug spray formulated for use on vegetables and herbs. Such products are intended to be as low-toxic as possible while still eradicating and killing herb garden pests like worms, fruit flies and beetles. Spray problem areas on plants with a light layer of mist. Example products include Sevin's Ready-to-Use Home & Garden Bug Killer Spray and Ortho Bug-B-Gon MAX Lawn & Garden Insect Kill Spray.
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Spray your herbs with an organic garden insect killer if you are worried about the potential side effects of chemical-based sprays. Administer as you would a standard garden spray, misting problem branches and leaves where bug pests congregate. Most are made with natural plant oils and are safe to use up to the day you harvest your herbs. Example products include Safer Brand's 3-in-1 Insect Control Organic Garden Spray, Green Light's Organic Lawn & Garden Insect Control Spray, and Monterey's Spinosad Organic Garden Insect Spray.
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Set up sticky plant traps if you have a problem with flying pests in your herb garden. These are less labor intensive than sprays and are a food-safe alternative. Various traps are marketed for different types of flying insects. For example, SpringStar's Fruit Fly Lures attract and kill fruit flies, while Victor's Yellow Jacket & Flying Insect Trap works best with yellow jackets, fruit flies and house flies.
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Shoot down your herb garden with a strong jet of water from a sprinkler or garden hose. This temporarily dislodges problem pests like worms and aphids. Though this will not kill the insects, it is the most all-natural method available for repelling problem bugs.
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Make your own natural insect repellent that is safe for use on herbs and doesn't require toxic chemicals. Blend an entire head of garlic with two cups of water. Pour into a plastic spray bottle and allow to soak for 24 hours. Add a teaspoon of standard liquid dish soap and empty into a plastic spray bottle. Shake vigorously to mix thoroughly.
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Spray the garlic and soap mixture on your herb plants. Cover all exposed plant surfaces. The dish soap will suffocate and kill most soft-shelled bugs. Meanwhile, the garlic flavor and smell will repel most bug species. Repeat once a week or after watering or a rainy spell.
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Tips & Warnings
Always read the label of any products you use on plants intended for consumption. Even some organic products require special treatment, such as washing, before the herbs are used.
