Before you take any pest control steps you need to be sure if the bugs that inhabit your garden are really harmful. As a matter of fact, only about 5% of the bugs in your garden are harmful to your plants and the rest are either harmless or actually beneficial as in the case of butterflies which aid fertilization. The majority of the insect you see crawling or buzzing around may not be beneficial but they are harmless. Of course, there are still many insect species that can ruin your garden and which have to be kept away.
As an organic gardener you should not have too much of an insect problem since what you are doing is already part of a natural system of organic gardening pest control. But half the battle is not enough and you cannot use commercially produced chemicals or your garden will cease to be an organic one. The answer lies in using organic gardening pest control – creating pest sprays from safe organic materials. Besides keeping your garden organic, these organic garden pest control measures are both safe to use and can result in a large savings over the use of commercial chemical products.
You can find details of how to make these organic pesticides in any detailed organic gardening guide but in general they come in five types. Sprays made of a mixture of water or alcohol and strong smelling materials like tobacco leaves, garlic, onions, and even fish can be sprayed onto plants to drive away insects that are sensitive to smell. A lot of plants give off odors that humans cannot smell but are strong enough to drive away insects and a spray made up of water in which these plants have been soaked is an effective organic gardening pest control method. An organic gardening pest control spray made from plant based soaps and detergents will repel many insects without harming the plants. Spays made with mineral and vegetable oils will coat the insects they are sprayed on and cause them to suffocate to death as the oil affects their ability to breathe. If that does not work you can make an organic gardening pest control spray out of a mixture of hot chilies and neutral alcohol that, when it comes into contact will the insects, will burn them.
Any detailed resource on organic gardening will provide detailed information on how to make and use organic gardening pest control sprays and powders. Be warned that over using these sprays can be counter productive. Simply because they are organic does not mean that they are harmless and can be used in large amounts – they need to be potent to work and measured use is the best. Also keep in mind that some of the stronger organic gardening pest control sprays can, if used in sunlight, have a chemical reaction that could cause your plants to burn and these must be used only after sunset or when the garden is in the shade.
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