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Natural and Harmless Alternatives to Garden Pesticides
Posted by Elizabeth Bublitz at 5:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (11)
A common discussion topic among gardeners is how to keep out “unwanted” critters. Because I specialize in keeping gardens safe for humans and animals, I come at this challenge from a different perspective.
While I do not want my plants to be eaten by insects and don’t want my yard to become a mouse colony (even though my dog might disagree!), I am adamantly against using any chemicals or methods that might harm any of these beings.
Unfortunately, many people choose to use cruel methods that either injure or kill garden visitors. I think the problem is that most people are not aware that there are other ways to protect your garden that don’t require you to harm any living beings.
The good news is that there are various fragrances and plants that can be used as deterrents against the following critters:
- Aphids (plant lice): Plant chives, marigolds, mint, basil, or cilantro or place aluminum foil at the base of your plants. The foil reflects light onto the undersides of the leaves, which scares away aphids.
- Ants: Put out cucumber peels or slices (bitter ones are best)— ants won’t cross them. You can also try keeping ants away with coffee grounds, garlic, soap and water, or a string soaked in cayenne pepper, citrus oil, clove oil, or lemon juice. Place, sprinkle, or spray these items wherever you don’t want ants to go.
- Cockroaches: Create sachets of catnip and place them throughout the infested area (your cat will love you!). Cockroaches like high places, so put a few sachets on top of shelves and other elevated surfaces. Bay leaves, cucumbers, and garlic can also help to keep cockroaches away.
- Codling moths: Use a cheesecloth square full of lavender, chives and garlic, or cedar chips. Try adding cedar oil, rosemary, dried lemon peels, or rose petals.
- Deer: Place some soap shavings or used cat litter along the ground to create a boundary between their grazing area and your garden. Also try hanging a salt lick in their path to distract them from your plants.
- Grasshoppers: Simply spray garlic oil where you don’t want them, or plant calendula, horehound (a bitter herb), or cilantro.
- Japanese beetles: Try chives, garlic, rue, and catnip.
- Mice: Use mint plants, especially peppermint plants! Mice really dislike peppermint and will avoid any areas where it grows.
- Mites (spider and clover): Try planting alder, coriander, or dill, and use rye mulch and wheat mulch.
- Rabbits: Sprinkle chili pepper around plants (it must be reapplied if it gets wet). Install oven racks around plants. Rabbits tend to dislike their texture and the way that they feel on their feet. Other natural rabbit repellants include bellflowers, astilbes, asters, yarrows, cranesbills, hostas, lavender, sage, and other textured or thorny plants.
- Slugs: Place mint, lemon balm, human hair (remove excess hair from hairbrushes and place in gardens), pine needles, cosmos, sage, or parsley in your garden.
- Ticks and fleas: Plant mint, sweet woodruff, rosemary, and lavender. Also try placing cedar chips in your garden. They smell great to you … but not to fleas and ticks!
I find that it’s best to introduce these deterrents by planting them directly in your garden whenever possible. However, if some plants are not available in your area, you can also use essential oils. Marigolds— especially French marigolds— are easy to grow, are available in just about any climate, and attract many beneficial insects who will help protect your garden.
Please remember that you can keep your garden in top shape without harming any of our animal friends.
Posted to Home & Garden | Posted to Tags: Elizabeth Bublitz, gardening
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Travis Johnson says...
July 9th, 2009, 3:06 pm
What about my arch-enemy, gophers? I wouldn’t ever harm them, but I want to eat my squash and chard also!! My cat is of no assistance in this area, as well.
Jeramie Dreyfuss says...
July 10th, 2009, 12:59 am
While in the graden, please change and clean your birdbaths constantly and disinfect your birdfeeders with a 10% bleach/water solution for 15 minutes and soak with Dawn and water for 15 minutes then rinse well andd let them air dry. Salmonella is spread by dirty feederss and the hardest part is cloeaning up under the feeders. the birds poop down on the seed, the shells and seed get wet from the sprinklers and spread disease. What I can’[t pick up I cover with new soil or gravel. A lot of work but after losing 65 birds to salmonella this spring it is the only way to feed the birds. Either do the work or don’t feed them. Finches and pine siskins died all over America this spring but getting the word out about why they died has been so difficult. Thank you for this chance to spread the word and save our song birds.
Ms. Fred Boucher says...
July 10th, 2009, 2:59 pm
I’m the world’s worst at yard maintenance, and with my black thumb, I can’t do a garden. But my back yard is filled with chest-high weeds, vastly outnumbering what grass there is. They are all going to seed at this time of year, meaning that it will be even worse next year. I will not use a commercial herbicide, since I fear it would harm or kill the feral cats who share my domain. Any advice on a pet-safe weed killer?
Jennifer Moskowitz says...
July 10th, 2009, 4:08 pm
Does ANYONE have any idea’s about distracting woodchucks from the garden. We have had 1 for the past few years, which i was not at all worried about. This spring she turned into 4, now we have a problem! My cats are no help as they don’t go outside, and my old dog couldn’t care less, but at the same time, i don’t want them bringing anything in that will make him sick either. I’m desparate.
Pamela Coburn says...
July 10th, 2009, 6:06 pm
Pillbugs,rolly pollys or whatever you call them what can I do to keep them off my strawberries, they love them. I also have them in other places in my garden, any suggestions on how to control them?
Lisa Armstrong says...
July 13th, 2009, 11:32 am
RE: Ms. Fred Boucher’s request for advice on her weeds-I also will not use chemicals in my yard and garden. Killing weeds is not too bad. Cut them all down fairly low. Then boil water, add a bunch of table salt, and some dish soap. Pour or spray this mix onto all your weeds, and that will kill them off. I know you say you have a “black thumb”, but maybe you will consider planting some trees and/or shrubs in your yard to take the place of your weeds. This will prevent the “baddies” from returning. Talk to your local garden center to find out about some good, low-maintenance trees and shrubs.
Ms. Fred Boucher says...
July 18th, 2009, 2:34 am
Lisa, thank you for your excellent suggestion. I will try that. I already have many trees and shrubs. Unfortunately, I have an almost half acre back yard, so more trees and shrubs won’t work. Besides, they seem to be taking care of that for themselves, especially the mimosa tree(s).
Elizabeth says...
July 20th, 2009, 9:03 pm
Hi Travis: Gophers are quite a problem! Especially in the spring and fall when temperatures are cooler and the ground is soft from wet snow or rain. But they can be rascals just about any time of year. Unfortunately, there are not too many solutions. However, you could try Narcissus bulbs but they are toxic (all parts) to pets or you could sink mesh wire or chain link where they’re burrowing. However, many times they will simply burrow another tunnel. I’ve also heard soaking rags in bleach and placing them in their tunnels will deter them as well as distributing cat feces (their enemy) in/around their tunnels - this acts as a “warning” to them that there is a predator close by.
Keep me posted and good luck! - Elizabeth
Elizabeth says...
July 20th, 2009, 9:18 pm
Hi Ms. Boucher: I understand how weeds can be a nuisance! The best advice is to prevent them with good soil prep. When you started your garden or sod, it’s always best to scrape out the first inch or so and haul it away so seeds will not stay on site and germinate. Then you can till in seed free compost or soil amendments. If “scraping” your yard is not an option at this point, you can deter weeds with household vinegar - any type will work. Be sure it’s above 70 degrees when you apply it. It might take a week or so to see results and you can always reapply if you feel it’s necessary.
Good luck - let me know if I can be of any more help.
Take care, Elizabeth
Elizabeth says...
July 20th, 2009, 9:28 pm
Hi Jennifer: If the woodchucks are affecting a garden area you can try these tips: install a fence around the garden - be sure to sink it down a foot or two so they cannot burrow under it. You can also soak ammonia rags and place them around your garden. If you have high grasses in the area, be sure to mow those down. You can also tie a balloons or leave a windmill/scarecrow in the area since they also deter them.
Good luck and keep me posted! Thank you! - Elizabeth
Elizabeth says...
July 20th, 2009, 9:34 pm
Hi Pamela: Rollie pollies thrive in moist areas. If you can thin out your plant material to promote better air circulation, you might see fewer rolly pollies since the area will dry out. You can also sprinkle cayenne pepper around your plants to deter them.
Please keep me posted on your situation.
Thanks! - Elizabeth