Pests are a common issue all gardeners face at some point, and with all the pest control options that are out there, you may be left wondering where to start! The latest video in our Victory Garden YouTube series features organic gardener Doug Oster’s best recommendations for fighting back against detrimental insects with safe, organic practices.
Chewing Insects
With the combination of weather we’ve been seeing from wet spring, to dry summer, to wet early autumn, chewing insects have been a real nightmare in the garden. This is the most recognizable form of insect damage, presenting as holes chewed through the leaves of your plants. When left untreated, Japanese beetles, cabbage worms, and insects of the like will chew your vegetation skeletal! To fend of these pesky feeders, Doug uses Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew. By spraying the product directly on the leaves of the affected plant, the bugs will ingest the liquid which will render them unable to feed by attacking their nervous system. Use Captain Jack’s Dead Bug Brew on bagworms, borers, caterpillars, gypsy moths, codling moths, beetles, thrips, loopers, spider mites, leaf miners, tent caterpillars, and more. The active ingredient in the product is a naturally occurring bacteria called Spinosad, a leading pesticide used worldwide in the production of organic produce. Note that this product is not for controlling piercing/sucking insects like aphids! Spinosad is not absorbed into the vascular system, so insects that feed this way will not be affected.
Bonus tip: Attract insectivores like wrens next spring by hanging a bird house or nesting box near your garden! They love cabbage worms and will do the bulk of the work for you!
Hot + Humid = Slugs
Slugs feed on vegetation of all kinds- plant leaves, vegetables, fruit, and even fungus. They especially love hostas, sunflowers, zinnias, dahlias, and larkspurs. If you have had slug invasions in the past, consider researching slug-resistant plant families! Geraniums, roses, hydrangeas, and poppy are just a handful of lovely alternatives that will not only attract pollinators to your garden, but deter these uninvited dinner guests.
If you love your zinnias and hostas as much as the slugs, however, don’t fret- there are ways to stop them in their slimy tracks! Sluggo is a great product that, when ingested, overdoses the slug on iron. What doesn’t get eaten then goes into the soil to benefit your plants with some extra micronutrients! The application of this product is simple- you will want to sprinkle it under the plant so that when the slugs come out to feed, they find the powder first.
Aphids
Aphids feed on the sap from plant leaves and stems in astronomical amounts to obtain nutrients essential for their survival. A good way to prevent aphid infestations is by starting with a healthy soil so that your plants do not find themselves in a vulnerable state. Another preventative method is incorporating aphid-repellant plants in your garden. Plants in the allium family such as garlic, chives, and leeks are natural deterrents of aphids. Marigolds also have a scent known for driving off pests of all kinds.
If you already have a bad infestation, Doug recommends products like insecticidal soap or horticultural oil. The soap will dry out the exoskeletons of soft body insects like aphids, mealybugs, spider mites, and whitefly, causing their cells to collapse, and the oils in the soap will interrupt their ability to breathe. Insecticidal soap is also effective against arthropods like mites, spiders, earwigs, millipedes, ants, and flies. Unfortunately, it will also eliminate the soft-bodied larvae of beneficial insects such as ladybugs. Horticultural oil also effects small, soft-bodied insects, as well as fungal diseases like powdery mildew and sooty mold. They work by clogging the insects’ spiracles, which are the pores that they use to breathe. Both products are only effective when sprayed onto the pests or where they will come into direct contact with the solution.
General Notes
For all pesticides, it is best to read the application directions for proper use and to make sure you do not need to dilute the solution. Only use as much as directed.
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