Organic Gardening Pest Control

Organic Gardening

For the natural gardener, pest control might seem to be a frightening task. In fact, you are committed to not using harmful chemicals in your garden, yet these chemicals can shed pests quickly and easily. There are still some ways you can take command of your garden without resorting to chemical treatments. But we must remind you of the central principle of organic gardening : growing plants in balance with Nature.

And insects, even those that eat your plants, are a crucial part of that system. When you see insects in your garden, take a little time to truly watch what they are doing. Are they really destroying the plant or merely chewing it a bit? Several plants can outgrow minor damage. Also, in a lot of cases, insects attack wired plants. The best defenses against insect attack are preventative measures. Grow plants suited to the site and they'll be less stressed. Do not let them be too wet, too dry or too shaded. Design a various garden, so that pests of a specific plant will not decimate a whole section of the garden.

There are dissimilar tactics you can control pests naturally. There are some natural botanical sprays and powders available in garden centers. These come from plants and not made in a lab. We'll look at a couple of the commoner ones available to you. Insecticidal soap is sodium or potassium salts mixed with greasy acids. If you use soap, it must come in direct contact with the insect and it has to be wet. It is not effective once it's dried. The greasy acids in the soap penetrate the insect's outer covering and cause the cells to crash.

Watch out soap can burn or stress plants, so don't use it in full sun or high temperatures. Bacteria spray is also usually known as Bt ( Germ thuringiensis ). There are far more than eighty sorts of Bt used as insecticides. It's a stomach poison that releases poisons in the stomachs of insects that causes them to stop eating and starve to death. It is usually available in powdered form that is splattered or dusted on a plant. It may also kill some of the beneficial insects in your garden. Neem is a spray that springs from the seed kernels of the neem tree fruit.

It is sprayed onto the plant's leaves that will upset the insect's hormonal system and stops it from developing to its grown up stage. Neem is best on juvenile insects and species that go through complete metamorphosis. Be cautious with Neem as it can be damaging to pets, so keep them away from freshly sprayed leaves till the liquid dries. Horticultural Oil is highly refined petrol oil that is mixed with water and sprayed onto foliage. It coats and suffocates insects or interrupts their feeding. There's a low toxicity to humans, pets, and birds and does not leave behind any poisonous residue. Be careful you don't burn the leaves of your plants when you use this oil. Rotenone and Pyrethrum are most widely available ones and are commonly employed in combo.

They come from the roots of tropical legumes. It usually comes in powder form that is dusted onto the plant. These will inhibit the cellular process therefore depriving insects of oxygen in their tissue cells. This may be a broad spectrum insecticide and can be used with many sorts of pests. If you are employing a spray, water down it in water and use only as required. The best time to apply sprays and powders is in the evening or in early morning. And always read the labels of anything you purchase commercially. Simply because an insecticide is organic doesn't suggest it is not toxic. You do not have to use anything on your plants if you rely on other animals to help control pests.

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