Organic Alternatives for Garden Pesticides
by writecorner on Apr 25, 2009 with 0 Comments
Eliminating pests without using harsh chemicals or pesticides can be difficult. A few gardeners use the tips below to help keep pests at bay and protect their vegetables.
Keeping insects and other small pests from devouring your vegetables can be a challenge, especially if you don’t want to use pesticides or other chemicals on your plants. Many gardeners have applied the natural or non-pesticide methods below to remove or discourage pests from visiting their plants.
Sprinkle Sulphur
The smell of yellow sulphur may rankle your nose, but keeps bugs at bay, too. Many gardeners sprinkle this powdered on and around their plants to discourage insects from nibbling on plants or their fruit. While the rotten egg smell can be strong, the powder can be easily rinsed from vegetables after harvest.
Diatomaceous Earth
Like sulphur, diatomaceous earth is a powdery substances that drives pests away — the white powder actually penetrates the skin of visiting insects and kills them. Wear gloves and a mask while sprinkling the substance over your plants, to avoid inhaling the substance. Small traces are relatively harmless to humans and pets, and the powder is easily rinsed from harvested vegetables.
Soapy Water
Soap and water (particularly a small amount of detergent) can be spritzed on and around plants to discourage bugs. While many insects can withstand the combination, others can be killed by the effects of sudsy water.
Like all alternative methods, these tips may take some practice or tweaking to find a solution that’s best for your garden or circumstances. Experiment and keep an open mind when searching for more natural gardening methods.
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Published in: Gardening
