A garden teeming with blooming flowers or healthy-looking vegetables and herbs is something to behold. But abundant greenery also attracts various types of pests that can easily devour everything in an area. So, before pests get a chance to inhabit a certain location, it is better to face the problem as soon as it is detected. However, this doesn?t mean that you should grab the nearest can of pesticide and spray all of its contents on an affected area. There are actually hundreds of Earth-friendly ways to eliminate common garden pests without loading the environment with harmful chemicals.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous Earth is an organic substance made from the fossilized residue of diatoms. This is used in several industries like filtration and DNA purification. It is also a safe insecticide that?s often used to eliminate various kinds of bugs, such as ants, fleas, bedbugs and cockroaches. DE adheres to the waxy exterior of insects and then sucks up the animals? lipids; hence, dehydrating insects in time. Since DE appears like fine baby powder, users should take the proper precautions when utilizing the substance. Wearing masks and gloves is essential. This avoids DE from getting into the respiratory tract through inhalation from the nose or mouth. To use DE, sprinkle powder on sites where pests collect or pass through. There are also pest pistols that are useful when puffing powder into crevices on walls or floors.
Essential Oils
The strong scents of concentrated oils are often deterrents to several varieties of insects. Citronella and other citrus scents, like orange and lemon, help in warding off mosquitoes. Lavender and peppermint help in keeping spiders at bay, while eucalyptus can repel flies and other bugs. Other essential oils used for bug control include patchouli, clover, cedarwood, lemon, rosewood, and many more. It?s important to remember that strong oils can affect pregnancy and lactation. Therefore, pregnant women and nursing mothers should talk to their doctors if they can use oils. Dabbing a small amount on the skin before handling concentrated oils is also important in determining sensitivity since many kinds of oils cause skin irritations.
Companion Planting
Companion planting is all about planting two kinds of plants that help each other. Here, plants benefit one another in terms of pollination, pest control, and overall growth and development. For instance, beans help strawberries, corn, carrots and cucumbers; and beans are helped by eggplants. Plus, beans also aid in repelling California beetles. So many combinations exist and you can check out which kinds of plants help the flower, vegetable, fruit or herb that you want to plant. Companion planting also encourages crop rotation, which helps the soil in regaining the nutrients lost from previous crops.
Bug-Repelling Plants
Various kinds of plants aid in repelling insects too. Onion is a popular choice in keeping away carrot flies and aphids. Garlic also fends off aphids and other animals, such as cabbage maggots and rabbits. Tansy is known to fend off bees, and marigolds are also used to hold off mosquitoes and nematodes.
Other Non-Toxic Substances
Baking Soda ? This can kill off cockroaches as this substance encourages gas production. Since roaches do not have the physiological mechanism to release gas, their digestive tracts can break down.
Garlic and Pepper Powder ? Such powders can ward off ants, ticks, lice and other bugs. Just sprinkle on known pest territories or near doors and windows to keep insects out.
Cucumber Peels ? Wasps, ants, mites, and many insects hate the scent and the taste of bitter cucumber peels.
Lemon ? Squeeze some lemon on anthills or on areas where ants gather. Once ants get distracted due to strong smells, they get lost and can eventually die from starvation.
Claire Breyer provides online?professional pest control advice and she suggests safe techniques to control or eradicate certain varieties of pests. She is a keen environmentalist who is also an authority on issues about?pest control in Pasadena.
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