How To Get Rid of Pests In Your Garden Naturally

Weekly, I hear a story about a vegetable garden is ruined due to pests. It’s definitely heartbreaking and can be discouraging as well to any level of gardener. For most, we started our garden to grow our own clean food, but a tough round with tomato horn worms for example can make anyone consider the alternative. Luckily, hope is not all lost when battling pest organically! Here are 3 methods you can fight and win the battle against pests using organic, natural, and healthy options.

An almost pest free option for gardeners who can’t stand bugs!

Neem Oil

The almighty neem oil is always a healthy option in preventing and treating pests in your garden. Neem oil is extracted from a neem tree and carries a compound that disrupts most bugs’ life cycle causing them to suffocate and die off. It’s an healthy option because it’s plant based, but it always smart to use safe precautions when handling and applying neem oil to your plants. Here are a few tips on using neem oil:

• Neem oil typically is concentrated so applying it directly to your plants is NOT ideal.
• Follow directions provided to ensure your plants are not burned or even killed from too much.
• It’s ideal to add 2-4 tablespoons of neem oil to every gallon of water and shake to mix well.
• Spray early morning or late evenings to prevent sunburn on leaves and long lasting effect on the pests.
• For large infestations, removed infected leaves and apply to the remainder of the plant on a 7 day schedule. If this is for preventive measures or a small account of pests, monitor plants and decided if you should apply every 7 or 14 days.

Companion Planting

Companion planting is a beautiful additional to any garden, space saver, and really good option for repelling unwanted pests! Here is a list of common plants and the pests that don’t like them.

Marigolds– it is the almighty tomato horn worm repellent. Marigolds also repel beetles, beet leaf hoppers, Mexican bean beetle and nematodes

Basil– It repels aphids, asparagus beetles, mosquitoes, tomato horn worms and white flies. It attracts butterflies.

Petunias– These bright-colored beauties are often planted to repel squash bugs, beetles and aphids.

Beneficial Insects

Lady beetles, green lacewings and praying mantis are but a few of the beneficial insects that will prey on the garden pests you don’t want. These “good” bugs can be lured into the garden with attractive habitat (food, shelter and water) or they can be purchased and released into the garden — you’ll still need a healthy habitat for them to survive.