How to Use Natural Alternatives to Pesticides
Pesticides protect crops, homes and humans from infestation from bugs and other pests. Medline Plus, a division of the National Institutes of Health, says that pesticides do much more than just kill and repel insects; they also control unwanted vegetation, prevent germs from proliferating and keep mildew from spreading. Chemical pesticides may harm desirable plants, animals and people but natural alternatives are available for controlling specific pests that target your vegetables, flowers and indoor plants. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Citronella grass
- Catnip
- Marigolds
- Rosemary
- Bone Meal
- Ladybugs
- Green lacewings
- Boric Acid
- Diatomaceous earth
- Insect-repelling plants
- Corn oil
- Dishwashing liquid
- Cayenne pepper
Instructions
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Botanical Pesticides
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Mosquitoes leave an itchy welt when they bite, and they can carry dangerous viruses. You can repel them with botanical pesticides. Geomestic.com suggests planting citronella grass, catnip, marigolds and rosemary around patios and outdoor entertainment areas to repel these blood-sucking pests. Natural sprays made from the citronella plant are available for use on humans and animals.
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Stop an aphid infestation by sprinkling powdered charcoal or bone meal around the base of your roses, hibiscus and other blooming plants. Alternately, introduce ladybugs and green lacewing insects into your flowerbed. Available from garden nursery centers, these beneficial insects will feast on the aphids.
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Control indoor insects by sprinkling powdered boric acid around windowsills and doorways. Natural dust formulations, available from organic gardening centers, may include boric acid, silica and diatomaceous earth. To prevent ants and cockroaches, sprinkle the dust into cracks between the wall and the floor and other crevices.
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Use a companion planting garden plan to repel insects from your flowers and vegetables. Plants that repel insects include anise, basil, catnip, chervil, chives, chrysanthemum, clover, coriander, dahlias, dill, garlic, and geranium. Marigolds make a pretty border for the vegetable garden; GH Organics reports that they act as a barrier to nematodes. Ask your local garden center which plants will repel specific pests in your garden.
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Ban mealy bugs from your indoor plants by combining 1 gallon of water with 2 tablespoons of corn oil and 2 tablespoons of dish washing liquid. Spray evenly on all parts of the plant when mealy bugs are present. This formula, recommended by Joan Benjamin, editor of Great Garden Formulas, will not hurt your plants but it will destroy the mealy bugs.
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Rotate your garden crops annually. Some insect eggs can remain viable in the soil over the winter, hatching into pests the next spring. Certain pests target specific crops, such as onion root maggots that feed on onions, potatoes and other root crops. Switch crop location each year to thwart these determined pests.
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Discourage squirrels and other rodents from your garden by steeping 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper in 1 quart of boiling water. Once it is cool, strain through cheesecloth and use a spray bottle to apply the cayenne water around the border of the garden and the base of individual plants.
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Tips & Warnings
Inspect plants regularly and treat with natural alternatives to pesticides as soon as possible for the best results.
Wear protective eye wear when spraying any formula that contains cayenne pepper to prevent irritation to the eyes.
References
- Photo Credit aphids on a rose bud image by Renata Osinska from Fotolia.com
