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There’s nothing more frustrating than spending countless hours tending to your garden, only to have pesky yard-invaders move in and start munching on all your hard work. While professional pest control experts like this can help you rid your home and garden of common pests, such as roaches, ants, fleas, and spiders, you also can supplement those services by employing some natural DIY pest control solutions.
Regardless of your method of choice, if you want to try to eradicate slugs, whiteflies, aphids, and more before calling someone like an exterminator in georgia out then try out some of the natural garden pest control methods below.
Plant natural repellents
One of the best ways to naturally eliminate garden pests is to harness the power of the plants and flowers already flourishing in your garden. There are a number of different plant species that will divert harmful pests. By utilizing them in your garden, you can naturally repel those unwanted visitors.
For example, if you have a slug or snail problem, try planting some fennel, chives, or onions in your garden. Similarly, certain flowers, such as lavender and marigolds, can repel mosquitoes, flies, and aphids. In the case of annoying whiteflies settling on your plants, incorporate thyme into your household plant life to discourage whiteflies from setting up camp in your garden. Flowers Across Melbourne have a guide that goes into more detail.
Use horticultural oils
Horticultural oils are composed of mineral oil or refined petroleum, which is then mixed with other natural emulsifiers and water. These oils can then be sprayed on your garden plants, including fruit trees and ornamental plants, to help kill a wide variety of pests: from mites to aphids.
Attract helpful insects
Another way to remove unwanted pests is to introduce your pest’s direct predators. Certain predators, such as bees, spiders, and wasps, can actually help clear pesky intruders from your garden by consuming them. For an added bonus, these predator insects can also help with pollination, keeping your garden healthy.
To attract helpful predators, try planting native flowers, including zinnia, marigolds, and tansy. Carrot, dill, parsley, and other comparable plant life can also be inviting for those crucial predator insects.
Setup bug barriers
There is a wide selection of garden barriers engineered to ward off pests. Don’t leave your garden unprotected, invest in the right technology. Gardening nets are a great solution if you don’t want to use spray or hazardous pesticides. These nets are placed around your plants and keep larger pests like beetles, birds, and squirrels away from your fruit trees and any other tempting plants in your garden.
For smaller gardens, you can also use floating row covers. These barriers are made out of thin, woven material or plastic and cover one or multiple rows of plants. Floating row covers create a barrier that restricts pest-access, while, simultaneously, allowing in life-giving sun and water.
Pressure wash them away
There’s nothing quite as powerful as the force of water. Power washing your garden, as long as you don’t own delicate plant life, is a good way to manually remove pests. A standard garden hose may be the only pest control equipment you need in your artillery. Using a steady stream of water, you can dislodge insects, such as spider mites and aphids, in minutes.
Unfortunately, this method won’t permanently kill these lingering pests. With these limitations in mind, you’ll need to regularly power wash your garden to keep pests at bay.
Make your own soap spray
Another natural method for removing pests are diluted soap sprays. To make your own DIY spray, all you’ll need to do is add five tablespoons of soap for every one gallon of water.
In order to keep your pest control all-natural, you’ll want to use a soap that has no additives, such as castile soap. Avoid using detergents or dish soaps, which contain synthetic chemicals that could potentially harm your plant life.
Raid your kitchen
If all else fails, your kitchen may hold the secret ingredient to finally ridding your beautiful garden of pesky garden invaders. There are several all-natural spices and foods that can actually repel certain insects.
For example, you can bury orange peels and banana peels in your garden’s soil to repel aphids and ants. Even more surprising, eliminating ravenous slugs and snails that are indulging in your plants can be as simple as purchasing a six-pack of beer. Pour beer into a shallow container, leave out the small container, and wait for those slippery enemies to stumble into your trap. Beer is known to render slugs and snails immobile and cause them to drown in minutes.
For non-insect pests, such as fungus and mildew, sprinkling a little bit of cinnamon on seedlings can help you exterminate any existing fungus disease. If you’re experiencing a mildew problem, mixing equal parts water and milk can reduce the growth of said mildew.
Conclusion
Natural pest control solutions are time-saving and cost-efficient. The best way to incorporate natural solutions for your garden is to recruit the services of professional pest control experts. Not only are these experts well-trained, but they can employ a wide range of natural solutions in a way that maximises these alternatives’ effects.