Non-Toxic Garden Pest Control Products

Natural pesticides are safer for you and your family.

Since it simply isn't feasible to stand in your garden all day with a flyswatter shooing away pests, you will need something to deter them when you aren't there. Chemical-laden pesticides aren't safe for your family or animals, but, fortunately, there are safer nontoxic alternatives to keeping these pests out.

Diatomaceous Earth

Sprinkling diatomaceous earth around your garden is a safe and nontoxic way to keep pests from getting too far. The microscopic sharp edges of this substance shred pests as they attempt to traverse across it. Diatomaceous earth is made of of tiny fossilized plants that are ground up into a fine powder, so fine that it's safe to use around your family and pets.

Pyrethrum

With the main ingredient derived from the chrysanthemum plant, pyrethrum is a nontoxic way to keep pests out of your flower beds. Though safe to use around your family and most animals (except cats), pyrethrum is deadly for pests, sometimes stopping them in their tracks when they get too close. Pyrethrum is available in dust, spray and aerosol forms. Follow the manufacturers' instructions carefully for best use. Never expose cats to any form of pyrethrins.

Sulfur

Perhaps one of the oldest forms of pesticide, this natural product is safe for people and pets, though it can potentially irritate eyes and skin, so use it with caution. Purchase sulfur in dust, liquid or paste forms and follow the manufacturers' instructions carefully. Sulfur can possibly do some damage to your plants in temperatures over 90 degrees, and it doesn't work well with other pesticides.

Neem

Good for not only a wide variety of pests, but also helpful with powdery mildew, neem is a natural repellent that can keep pests away from your garden without harming people or pets. When opting to use products that contain neem, follow the manufacturers' instructions closely for use of the product. Neem isn't like to cause skin irritation when handled, but it's best to err on the side of caution and protect yourself with gloves just in case.

References

• University of Florida IFAS Extension; Natural Products for Insect Pest Management; Eileen A. Buss, et al; June 2009
• Colorado State University Extension; Some Pesticides Permitted in Organic Gardening; Laura Pickett Pottorff; January 2010
• University of Missouri; Least-Toxic Control Methods to Manage Indoor Plant Pests; Bruce A. Barrett; June 2008