[Home] [Previous] [Search] [Garden Questions] [Garden Tips] [Companion Planting]
Check out “Companion Planting” page on our web site
CONTROLS
Bug Zapper – Studies have shown that the bugs that are attracted to zappers are not the ones you are probably trying to get rid of, like mosquitoes for example. In fact the bugs found dead in zappers are ones that probably don’t even bother you. Worst finding of all is what happens to the insect’s bodies as they are zapped. They explode into tiny bits and fly a great distance. So if you are sitting around a bug zapper you and your food, if you are eating, are being showered with tiny bits of insects. Ready to put that zapper away?
Water – A strong spray from your garden hose will knock down and drown aphids, mites and some caterpillars. Be sure to spray the undersides of the leaves where you will find a lot of them hiding.
Insecticidal Soap – This product combats a wide variety of pests including white flies, aphids, spider mites, scale, leafhoppers, earwigs, and grasshoppers. Read directions since some plants can be damaged by it. You must use soft or conditioned water with insecticidal soap.
Bt-Bacillus thuringiensis is one of the most important pest combaters available for the organic gardener. The strain for most caterpillars is B.t.kurstaki. The strain B.t. tenebrionis is used to control leaf eating beetles including the Colorado potato beetle. There are other strains of Bt.s with these two being the most common for the home gardener. These products are very safe to humans; other mammals, birds and non-target insects. Gardens Alive sells an improved type of Bt that has a residual effect, even after a rain.
Homemade insecticide
Put at least 4” of cut up stinging nettles into a bucket.
Soak in water.
Strain and spray on plants and the bugs you want to get rid of.
Birds and Insects - Encourage birds to come to your yard. They eat a tremendous amount of insects and worms, worms meaning the little caterpillar type, not earthworms. You want earthworms, you need earthworms! Without earthworms your soil won’t be fertile, well fed and aerated. If you never see an earthworm in your gardens, it is a sign of poor soil health.
Critter Scare Away – 8oz. Murphy’s oil soap, 4oz. Castor oil, 1 T. Alum, 5oz.hot sauce
Mix and put in hose end sprayer. Setting: 1 cup to 20 gallons of water. Spray around your gardens.
Chickens and Ducks – If you have the room and desire for chickens and ducks around they can eat a ton of insects and slugs. When your seedlings are small keep them out of your newly planted beds because they will eat them also. I have heard that ducks will even pull up small weeds! You will also have the added benefit of their droppings to fertilize your yard.
Organic Products
Peaceful Valley Farm Supply 888-784-1722 or groworganic.com
PESTS
Ants – To make a solution that will attract ants and kill them, mix 1 teaspoon of boric acid (available at a drugstore) and 6 tablespoons of sugar to 2 cups of water. Completely dissolve crystals. Soak cotton balls in this solution. Punch holes in the side of margarine containers. Put soaked cotton balls inside and put lid on bowl. Place bowl where you have ants. Clean bowls and freshen ‘bait’ at least once a week. After a few weeks reduce the boric acid in the solution by half. Use this as a long-term control. The ants come to the ‘bait’, take it back to the nest to feed the other ants.
Sugar Ants – This recipe will attract ants also; 2-T. molasses, 1-T. sugar, 1-T. dry yeast; Mix ingredients together and place in little containers such as soda bottle caps or on small pieces of cardboard. The yeast in this formula is the killing agent. It swells in their stomachs and they die.
Ants on hummingbird feeders – You can deter ants from the feeders by making little bags from cloth that contain lavender and whole cloves. Using string attach to the branch leading to the feeder.
You can also make a ‘moat’ by taking a cap, such as from a spray paint can, drilling a hole in the center and putting in on the hanger for the feeder. Upside down, you keep it filled with water. To use right side up you need to coat the inside with castor oil. Either way the ants will not cross over to the feeder.
We will also be offering an ant deterrent for hummingbird feeders. If you are interested please let us know.
Asparagus Beetles - I can finally say, after this spring, I have found success on fighting these very determined pests! Use Pyola frequently along with hand picking the beetles when you see them. Usually the little black larva attached to the spears and deformity has ruined my crop after 2 weeks. But this spring I'm still picking after 4 or 5 weeks. Pyola can be purchased through Gardens Alive!.
Cats – Sometimes cats can be helpful and other times they can be a pain out in your gardens. Cats will catch rodents and unfortunately sometimes birds. But having your rodent population under control is probably worth it. On the other hand sometimes they can use your gardens as their litter box, which you don’t want. To keep them out grind or grate citrus peels and sprinkle in the gardens. Save your peelings by freezing for use when needed. You can also try spreading Vick Vapo Rub on a board or piece of cloth, they don't like the smell and will stay away from it. They don't like rough, rocks so you could place them as a covering over your flower beds. The perennial "Rue" will also repel cats.
Deer and Raccoons – Consumer Reports has rated products for repelling deer and has rated "Hinder" number 1. I have personally used "Hinder" for many years and can attest to it's effectiveness. Gardens Alive! sells a deer repellent although I haven't tried it. Literature claims to remain effective up to 3 months which is a great feature. I had great success with a product called “Bye Deer.” You hang these little bags in your garden and the critters don’t like the smell so they stay away. We didn’t loose one ear of corn when using these bags. I can’t remember where I bought “Bye Deer”, sorry. Let us all know if you find it.
Earwigs – (U-Pick)
1. Using a hole punch, put holes in a plastic container around the upper rim. Add 1-cup oil to 4 T. soy sauce. Put 1” of mix in each container. Put lid on and place where you have earwigs. They are attracted to the solution and die. Clean out dead earwigs and use again.
2. Cut up 1-foot sections of old hose. Leave them where you see earwigs. They will crawl into the hose. Everyday knock them out and then step on them.
Japanese Beetles – Gardens Alive! Sells Japanese Beetle Traps. This company sells many organic products. You can also reach them at 812-537-8650.
Rabbits and Deer – Fencing that is made for keeping out critters can't be beat. You don't need to deal with it after a rain and it is so handy. Many years ago we made individual cages about 2 to 3 feet in diameter. We have used them during all the seasons, moving them around as needed. During the winter we used tent stakes to keep them in place around saplings so they wouldn't blow away.
There is a product called “Hinder” that is effective; it has been rated #1 by Consumer Reports. It is a liquid that you dilute and spray on. One minus is that you have to reapply after a rain or watering the garden.
Gardens Alive sells a repellent, literature claims it remains effective up to 3 months, which is a great feature. To save your tulips, hostas and other plants start using your repellent as soon as you see them coming up. Don’t give the animals a chance to get interested; it is much harder to control them once they have had something yummy from your garden.
Raccoons – A barrier of Hydrated Lime will keep raccoons away. Also see "Deer"
Slugs- (U-Pick)
-
One of the easiest ways is to use coarse swimming pool filter sand. It must be the coarse kind. Make a ring around the plants you are trying to save, hostas in particular. It is easier to do this early in the season just as you see the plants coming up. They will not cross over this barrier and you won’t need to replace it for the rest of the season.
-
Put beer in little saucers, like jar tops, and place in garden. They will crawl in and drown.
-
Place melon rinds filled with water in your garden. They crawl in and drown.
-
After a meal of corn on the cob, put the cobs in the garden. The slugs will visit the cobs where you can easily find and kill them.
-
If you find slugs under rocks or boards or see them out at night you can sprinkle salt on them to kill them. Be careful not to use too much salt around your plants.
-
Gardens Alive! sells Escar-Go!, which is a bait that will attract those slimy critters out of their hiding places, cause them to stop eating and then die. It is not harmful to wildlife, pets or humans and can be used around vegetables.
Sow bugs don’t like bone meal. Dust plants with it.
Squash bugs – Our biggest pest is squash bugs. I have been researching organic ways to fight this nasty off and this year I will be growing borage, nasturtiums and tansy around the squash plants. I will also cut mint from another place in my yard and sprinkle this around the plants. I have read reports of growing peppermint and chocolate mint with the squash and having good success. Plants from the mint family are very invasive so I don't recommend growing them in the garden. Grow mint in another location, cut stems and leaves and sprinkle it around your plants. I started using a product last year called Pyola from Gardens Alive! that was effective also. As with a lot of products you need to re-apply frequently.
Squash Vine Borer - Plant marigolds around cucurbits to deter squash vine borer.
Voles - There are several methods for fighting voles, one of the ones being getting a cat. Since my recommendations will be organic I can't recommend some of the commercial products. Hardware cloth or 1/4 inch galvanized steel mesh cylinders will keep voles from young trees or seedlings. There are some commercial products that contain capsaicin (hot pepper extract) that repel voles. There are also a couple mixtures you can mix up that they don't like. Take hot peppers (Jalapeno or Habenero) grind them in a blender along with some water and chili pepper. Liquefy and strain this mixture, add a little dish soap and spray over problem area (wear rubber gloves, this can burn your hands) . Castor oil and peppermint oil have repellant qualities also. Mix equal parts of the oil with dish liquid. Mix in blender until foamy. Spray around affected areas. You could also try applying the oil to objects (board, rags etc.) and put them where the voles are. Mouse traps baited with peanut butter will get you some critters. Place a bucket or pot over top of the trap, propped up for the voles to get in, so you won't hurt a child, dog or cat that comes across it.
Sign up to get the "Tip of the Week" newsletter sent to you every week. Click here for further information.