Eco-friendly pest control products have become a popular trend among many gardening enthusiasts. If you’re also looking for effective natural pest control products that avoid harming the ecosystem, here are some good options.
Insecticidal Soaps
The combination of salts and fatty acids is what makes insecticidal soaps one of the best eco-friendly pest control products for gardening. It is an excellent item to kill a variety of soft-bodied pests such as mealy bugs, aphids, earwigs, and white flies in the early stages.
The powerful ingredients in this pest control formula penetrate pests’ outer shells and damage their cell membranes. Gradually, pests start starving, which leads to dehydration. It is worth noting that insecticidal soaps can be phytotoxic to some plants. You need to test them on a small area of plants to ensure that it works for your garden. Once you’re sure that it won’t negatively affect your yard, you can start applying it to larger areas.
One downside of using this eco-friendly pest control product is that it is non-selective. They often end up killing helpful insects as well. Therefore, make sure that you only use it in minimum quantities, along with other organic pesticides.
Fortunately, pesticides are not harmful or dangerous to human health.
Natural Seasoning
Did you know that a variety of seasonings are suitable as eco-friendly pest control products?
It’s likely that you already have these in your cabinet. The following kinds of seasoning work effectively against pests and bugs.
- Black pepper
- Salt
- Turmeric
- Paprika
- Cayenne pepper
- Cinnamon
When sprinkled along the window sill, these seasonings work as a powerful barrier against pests. Or, you can fill small pouches with cinnamon, bay leaves, and cloves and place them on bookshelves, cupboards, closets, and other corners of the house to kill or prevent pests from spreading.
Neem Oil
Neem oil is a popular option as an easy, eco-friendly pest control product. The oil acts as a powerful repellent, deterrent, and poison for pests. It not only kills many types of pests but also stops or slows down their growth cycle.
As the name suggests, neem oil comes from the neem tree, which primarily grows in the subcontinent. The oil is easier to use as a foliar spray or soil drench to kill a variety of pests such as loopers, aphids, mealybugs, and whiteflies.
A unique feature of neem oil is that it works systematically. When you use it on plants for pest control purposes, they consume it through their foliage and roots. It travels to the plant tissues. Neem extracts are also effective against miners if non-systematic foliar sprays don’t work on them.
Pyrethrin
Pyrethrin is another eco-friendly pesticide people use to prevent bugs and pests. The organic pesticide comes from the plant “chrysanthemum.” The natural pesticide is safe for humans and mammals and a fast-acting deterrent when you apply it sparingly.
Many flying insects and pests drop when exposed to Pyrethrin. However, it doesn’t always kill the bugs, so manufacturers combine it with a fatal solution to kill insects.
Spinosad
If you have fruit and vegetable crops, spinosad is a good deterrent to keep pests at bay. Typically, spinosad is a soil-based bacteria that can kill garden bugs and pests such as spider mites, loopers, beetles, tent caterpillars, bagworms, and borers.
Spinosad kills insects and pests once they ingest the compound. It can also reduce the risk of harming helpful insects and bees if you spray it in the evening. Spinosad is more effective on pests when they aren’t moving.
You can use this eco-friendly pest control product in liquid and dust forms. You can find both on the market, available under different names. Be sure to look for eco-friendly products that include some active ingredients.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a high-grade powder formulated of small aquatic creatures and ground-up fossils. It contains a percentage of powerful substances and minerals. You don’t need to purchase additional supplies to apply this pest control mixture. Organic pest control is great for preventing creepy crawlies.
Essential oils
Cleaning is a crucial aspect of controlling pest growth in your garden. However, chemical-based solutions can have adverse effects on plant health, making natural solutions a suitable alternative. For instance, vinegar and essential oils are effective solutions to clean your yard.
If you don’t have essential oils, you can make an organic solution using citrus peel and vinegar. Let the solution cool for a few days. Once the solution is stained, add some water and spray it on the bugs or use it as a DIY cleaner.
Summing Up
Using organic pest control products is always better for plant health. The given natural bug repellents can help kill or reduce the number of bugs, insects, and pests in your garden.