Tips For Using Natural Pesticides In Your Garden

Whether you want to create a flower and plant garden for beautify or want to grow edible plants, avoiding chemical pesticides is a good idea. Chemical pesticides kill all insects, both the ones that are bad for your garden and those that are beneficial. Other wildlife that may eat from your garden, even if they are unwelcome visitors, can be killed by these pesticides as well. Even though you don't want these creatures in your garden, you probably have no desire to end their lives. Also, if you grow plants as food sources, chemicals can enter the plants and have the potential to cause cancer and other health problems. Water can be contaminated by the improper use of chemical pesticides; impacting the environment that everyone depends on to survive.

There is a broad spectrum of solutions to use in your garden to remove and discourage insects that can damage your plants. Some of these involve planting plants that cause insects to seek other places to live while others involve the application of a natural solution or compound.

One way to use natural pesticides in your garden is to purchase non-detergent insect-discouraging soaps. These inexpensive alternatives to chemical pesticides are based on a combination of naturally occurring plant extracts that deter the bugs from feasting on your plants. Another choice is to add one teaspoon of liquid dishwashing detergent to one gallon of water and spray this solution on your plants. You can also use dishwater that has already been used to wash your dishes for this purpose. A strong stream of water from a hose can dislodge insects; just be sure the force is not so great that it will harm the plants also.

Purchase hot pepper sprays that use the extracts of pepper to act as an insecticide. This natural product will not harm the environment but will deter insects and many animals from eating the plants. The residue from this spray will be washed away when you wash any food products that come from your garden. If you use this solution on flowers and then cut the flowers for home decorating, be sure to wear gloves and not to place your hands near your eyes, mouth or nose or you may be in for a hot surprise. To create a similar solution at home, place one cup of fresh, crushed or sliced hot peppers into a boiler with about two quarts of water. Boil the peppers for 30 minutes or more to extract the hot oils from the peppers. Strain and place in a spray bottle, adding water to create one gallon. Spray the plants with this solution when there will be time for the pepper solution to dry on the plant. This can work very well to deter pests of all kinds.

Garlic-based natural pesticides are also available. This product is sprayed on plants to discourage pests and can be quite effective. Adding the juice of several large garlic cloves to a gallon of water can be effective also. It may not smell great to you, but the pests feel the same way and will stay away.

You can grow plants in your garden that will deter many insects. These plants are often useful as well. For example, if you want to keep ants away, plant mint and then use it as an herb or make tea from the harvested mint. Tansy and pennyroyal work well in fighting ants as well.

If you have roses, aphids can be a problem. They can attack other plants as well. Plant mint, garlic, chives, coriander or anise around the plants and aphids will be discouraged. If mice tend to be a problem in your garden, plant some onions. They'll be great to eat and the mice will stay away from them. These plants make nice border plants for a vegetable or herb garden too.

If you are growing beans or other plants that bean leaf beetles attack, plant onions or turnips to deter these pests. Another bean pest, the Mexican bean beetle, doesn't like onions, garlic, radishes, petunias and marigolds. The Colorado potato bug can be driven away by planting coriander and nasturtiums. If you grow tomatoes, the hornworm is a likely invader that can wreak havoc. Marigolds, sage and borage will drive these pests away from your juicy red fruits. The cucumber beetle doesn't like radishes or tansy. Cabbage worms avoid mint, sage, rosemary and hyssop.

Slugs can damage a garden, whether vegetables, decorative plants or flowers. These pests will stay away if you plant prostrate rosemary which stays close to the ground and makes a nice ground cover border. Slugs also avoid wormwood.

The insect known as a stink bug can infest any type of garden. Drive them away from your plants by planting radishes. Spider mites can be deterred by adding onions, garlic, cloves or chives to your garden.
Marigolds, attractive as flowering plants, are effective against several types of insects and even nematodes. Root nematodes will not be prevalent if you plant the French variety. The squash bug will avoid these plants as well as radish, tansy and nasturtiums. Thrips and whiteflies also avoid marigolds.

As you can see, there are ways to use natural pesticides in your garden. These natural alternatives are good for your garden and good for the environment. They are also much less expensive and much safer than chemical pesticides and insecticides.