Just Say NO to Bug-B-Gone

No matter how carefully you control growing conditions with healthy soil and proper watering, no matter how well-thought out your integrated pest management system, no matter how lucky you’ve been in the past, sometimes a pest problem arises in your garden that requires spraying the little buggers. What you spray and how you spray can make all the difference.

Most organic gardeners prefer sprays that break down quickly in the environment or opt for homemade remedies that make the plant unpalatable or difficult for the insects to populate. These organic sprays are often made of garlic, cayenne and other peppers, as well as strong scented herbs. The idea is to confuse the insect’s sense of smell (which is often located in their feet) and make them think they are where they don’t want to be. They’re often the organic gardeners first line of defense when pests are spotted.

IT'S ORGANIC!

Safer Soap

The original insecticidal soap! Concentrated formula makes 6 gallons of spray.

Read more

Got bugs? At Planet Natural we offer a large selection of organic pest control products that are proven SAFE and effective. Also, visit our Pest Problem Solver for pictures, descriptions and a complete list of earth-friendly remedies.

The second line? Citrus oils, diatomaceous earth, even compost tea are known to work on some insects. Then there are the manufactured products you can make at home that suffocate the pest or make their environment inhospitable. These include soap solutions, often made at home and horticultural oils. Then there are other solutions including those with baking soda, alcohol, and ammonia. Boric acid is a well-known deterrent for migrating insects, one that acts as a stomach poison. Bleach is used especially in greenhouses to disinfect and control diseases. These ingredients are toxic unless diluted and dangerous if not handled correctly.

Botanical pesticides derived from plants have been used since before the development of synthetic pesticides and new ones designed for the natural gardener seem to pop up all the time. One of the most effective natural spray solutions we’ve ever used involved the pest themselves. Taking a tip from a fellow gardener, we ground up a bunch of the beetles that were attacking our beans in an old blender (no more margaritas from that appliance!) and sprayed the involved plants. The beetles disappeared and the plants recovered. Since then, the EPA has warned that bug juice may contain pathogens and might be unhealthy for humans. As in many things involved in the organic garden, more research is needed. Err on the side of caution.

The list of organic pest controls is long and constantly growing. We’ll be looking at more of the things you spray in detail over the coming weeks. But for now, let’s talk about how to spray. Some precautions always need to be taken, no matter how safe the spray. And how you apply the spray has a lot to do with how effective it will be.

Consider the size of your job. A hand-held, pump sprayer like the kind window cleaner is dispensed from is perfect for small jobs. If you’re using sprays that aren’t poisonous, like garlic-herb concoctions, citrus oils, or soap mixtures as well as chemical-based or otherwise harmful biological pesticides, use different sprayers for each. And always wear rubber gloves when using the latter to prevent contact with the skin. Be extra careful to keep even natural sprays made with garlic or chile peppers from your eyes. Manual pressure sprayers — the kind you pump — work well for larger areas. Be sure to clean it thoroughly after each use.

If you’re using pyrethrins or another chemical dust, use a hand duster designed expressly for that purpose. They cover better and allow better direction of the dust. Just sprinkling these powders on plants isn’t very effective. Using a duster, with its puff of air, not only covers better but forms a miniature cloud around your affected plant leaves.

For non-chemical dusts like diatomaceous earth, place the dust in a small paper bag in which you’ve punched several small holes and shake it over the affected areas. You can also put the dust in an old sock and beat it with a stick but we’ve found this method tends to be less accurate as the sock swings wildly with each blow.

There are several good sources of information for using various plants, household products, and chemicals that work naturally, including Barbara W. Ellis and Fern Marshall Bradley’s The Organic Gardeners’ Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control, Dead Snails Leave No Trails by Loren Nancarrow and Janet Hogan Taylor and Natural Pest Control: Alternatives to Chemicals for the Home and Garden by Andrew Lopez. Better yet, share your experiences with us… please!

Eric Vinje

Eric Vinje founded Planet Natural with his father Wayne in 1991, originally running it as a grasshopper bait mail-order business out of a garage.

Eric is now retired, but is still a renowned gardener known for his expertise in composting, organic gardening and pest control, utilizing pesticide-free options, such as beneficial insects.

Eric believes when you do something good for the environment, the effects will benefit generations to come.

Recommended Products

Horticultural Oil

A superior type parafinic oil that degrades rapidly and has almost no toxicity.

Read more

Diatomaceous Earth

Contains diatomaceous earth, a fine powder made from tiny fossilized algae-like plants.

$14.95Read more

Take Down Spray

Combines the fast knockdown of pyrethrin and the residual activity of canola oil.

Read more

Boric Acid Powder

This ready to use powder kills bugs fast but is no more toxic than table salt.

$6.95Read more

Organic Neem Oil

For broad spectrum use on vegetables, flowers, trees and more - indoors or out!

$25.95Read more