Control Garden Pests Naturally

SLUGS & SNAILS
These little slimy creatures love mulch to hide under where it’s damp and shaded. Mulching after your plants are well established and the temperature has risen can help. To control garden pests naturally, add wood ash, sand, gravel or Epsom salt to your mulch which can help ward off these annoyances. If you catch them you can put them in beer, or place a tray of beer near your garden in a shaded spot and they will find it and die. Another method wit beer is to place a half buried container in the ground with beer in the bottom, and cut outs just above ground, the slugs will find their way in and die. You can also use salt or powdered ginger sprinklings throughout your garden and yard to dehydrate them.

BORERS, HORNWORMS & OTHER YUCKY WORMS
Living in Florida, I've had to deal with my share of squash vine borers, pickleworms, tomato hornworms, among others. Handpicking can be a good solution to start for many types of worms, but others require more desperate measures to control garden pests naturally. You can expect if you find you have borers or pickleworms that your plants will not produce as well, but you can get beneficial nematodes to inject into the holes they've made in your vine helping to kill them off. Protecting plants ahead of time can also keep them safe. Since borers lay their larva near the base of the plant, try wrapping it with pantyhose before it gets to large. I highly recommend you get some Bulls-Eye Bioinsecticide to target most worms and beetles.

LEAFMINERS
These pesky flies are seldom seen but you can see their damage almost immediatley. They lay eggs on plant leaves and you soon see a squigly line. You should trim off and destroy these infested leaves as soon as possible to prevent more from hatching. Pyola spray is a safe and effective way to prevent them from coming back.

RACOONS
If you’ve got a corn field, you know the likes of these black faced bandits. Raccoons eat just about anything. Make sure your trash can has a lid and you don’t leave cat food where they can get to it. You can try scaring them away by leaving a radio on or having motion sensored lights or even a scarecrow. Another thing that may do the trick is to bury empty glass bottles half way in the ground surrounding your garden . The whistling noise scares them off. In larger fields, leave your dirty laundry about or spread doggie poo. Sprinkling baby powder has also been known to work.

RABBITS
These furballs are scared off by their predators so if you have a dog, put him on patrol.. just don’t tie him up. You can also use human or dog hair scattered to imply his scent. The buried empty bottles as mentioned for raccoons also works for bunnies. Scattering wood ashes, crushed lime or ground hot peppers can ward off Peter as well. Try using fake snakes but rearrange them frequently. Fences, plant cages and traps can work too.

APHIDS
These pests seem to always find my plants. Solution? Ladybugs! While it’s not easy to keep these in your garden when you let them go, you’ll find greater success if you let them go in the evening just after you watered as they tend to rest instead of migrate. Also, when you release them, do so gently. Spiders also eat aphids so don’t be so quick to stomp on Charlotte. You can also make a trap crop so they don’t get to your veggies. Try planting sunflowers, garlic, chives, anise, coriander, petunias or nasturtiums. If you’ve spotted infestations of them, use a citrus spray to kill them. Blend lemon, grapefruit or sour orange rind with water, strain and spray directly on aphids.

SPIDER MITES
Like aphids these pests eat up your leaves and suck the juice out of plants. They spin angel hair webs making them a little easier to identify. Often times you’ll see them on houseplants which can more easily be washed with water than garden plants. To control garden pests naturally, once again ladybugs are a great answer as well as planting onions, garlic or chives. You can also make a tea from rhubarb leaves and spray it over your garden.

DEER
As lovely as Bambi is, we don’t want her destroying our trees and garden. Spread or hang mesh filled bags of human or dog hair by areas they like to visit. You can also hang soap bars as long as they’re not cocoa based. Sprinkling baby powder may deter them as well as rattling pie pans. You can purchase lion urine granules or pick up some lion manure from your local zoo. Electric fences seem to do the trick also. For a little harsher treatment, soak rags in bone tar oil or use mothball bags. Blood meal is said to disgust them as well.

MOLES
Cats can sometimes catch these ugly creatures.. well mine caught one once. Moles will relocate if you scoop used kitty litter into their holes.

SQUIRRELS
Another great reason to get a cat or dog is to scare off these rodents. Squirrels can destroy your garden and your attic plus they are usually full of disease. I have a friend who says she’s tried everything and has come to the conclusion that trapping them is the best way to go. You can also try scattering cat or dog hair throughout the garden and yard. I have two that live in my trees and don’t bother my garden, but I throw them corn cobs and pecans in the front yard to discourage their presence around the garden. They are territorial so it's rare that you'll see to many in a group, although they're quick to take over if one set leave an area.

FIRE ANTS
Getting bite by a fire ant is an experience not soon forgotten. It’s not easy to get the queen, but if you don’t those workers will just rebuild their cities. I once heard that grits will get them ny swelling up inside them when they eat it. Pouring lots of boiling water down the hole while jamming a stick inside seems to do good. You’ll probably want to do this for 3 consecutive days to get them all. For the best luck in getting the queen, try doing this trick between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. on a hot day when she’s more likely to be active. The link below can take you to a site where a natural spray treatment is available.

GNATS
Inside or outside, these pests always find your fruit. Place a small shallow bowl containing water and apple cider vinegar near fruit or compost.

FLEA BEETLES
Blend garlic cloves and hot peppers in the blender. Strain and spray on plants like cabbage where you see damage from these creatures.

CATS
To keep Snowball out of your garden, try planting one for her alone. I plant cat grass and catnip in a semi-shaded area to help keep her away from my plants.

DOGS
Ahh, Does Fido like to dig up your garden? Ok, getting a fence helps but another thing that can help keep him where he doesn’t belong is to give him a place of his own. Try filling a baby pool with sand and bury his treats and toys for him to find.

OTHER GREAT IDEAS TO CONTROL GARDEN PESTS NATURALLY
Encourage toads and frogs to your garden. They need water, so leaving a shallow bowl on the ground will help keep them around. Water will also help keep the good insect eating birds coming your way.

Use diatomaceous earth (available at garden supply stores) to kill all types of insects. This natural formation grows from algae and will do wonders to rid insect problems.

Blend garlic cloves and water, strain and spray. This works great to deter all kinds of pests.

Try mixing up a batch of Bug Salsa. This can do wonders to kill, repel and control garden pests naturally.
Blend together the following:
2 ripe tomatoes
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
3 cups fresh chili peppers
½ tsp. Pepper
1 cup vinegar
Strain through fine sieve or coffee filter and spray onto plants.

Didn't find the specific bug you've got? Click the link below to learn more about how to control garden pests naturally.

There are also some great commercially available sprays that are organic and get the job done. Click here for more information to control garden pests naturally.