5 tips for DIY organic pest control

Nature's products deter pests

By Tiffany Olsen

It's understandable that if your home or garden is being taken over by damaging and annoying insects you would want to implement some kind of pest control right away. However, you don't have to compromise your health and well-being to do so. 

There are plenty of green pesticides out there that can work just as efficiently as those products that scream hazard and danger on their labels. If you're concerned about your family's health and have an interest in preserving the environment, it may just be worth it to know exactly what ingredients are used in your pesticides by making them at home yourself. Many recipes are designed to repel pests with a mixture of household items that are quick, easy and cheap to whip up.

Soap and water

For smaller infestations of insects, simply mixing a few tablespoons of your everyday organic dish soap or liquid detergent with a gallon of water can be useful for controlling your pest problem. Some experimentation with different brands and types of soaps may be necessary before finding the one that seems to be most effective for your situation and that won't harm your plants. Make sure to spray the mixture directly onto the offending insects and immerse them in the liquid for best results. Pests most susceptible to soap treatments include spider mites, mealybugs, aphids, slugs and ants.

Neem

Neem oil is one of the most popular and effectual forms of organic pesticides. The seeds from the plant produce an oil that can conveniently be turned into a spray by adding a little organic liquid soap and water. It is safe to spray on plants and trees and to have around humans, pets and any insects you aren't trying to get rid of, like ladybugs and earthworms. The insecticide acts as a deterrent to plant feeding and disrupts the process of growing and laying eggs. Neem is a good pest control product for insects such as whiteflies, Japanese beetles and moth larvae, and an added advantage is their inability to build up a tolerance to it.

Essential oils

Combining water with the natural ingredients that are in essential oils like eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender and cedarwood creates a solution that will work to dehydrate insects, dissolve their protective exoskeletons and repel them from the scent. A few drops of the oil can also be sprinkled in nests. A little research will explain which oils are best at taking care of which pests, but they work well for several species that include wasps, snails, flies, fleas and ticks.

Chrysanthemum tea

The popular flower actually contains an all natural chemical that surprisingly works for pest control. Boiling a few ounces of dried chrysanthemums in a liter of water, straining it and then letting it cool before spraying it on your bug problem will produce a concoction that terrorizes the nervous systems of the insects and leave them immobilized.

Garlic and pepper

A good mixture of crushed garlic, chopped onion, cayenne pepper and biodegradable dish soap is sure to create a spray potent enough to fend off the most irritating leaf-eating pests. Make sure to let the ingredients steep for a couple of hours to get the maximum effect.

Whether it's inside your home or out in the garden, keeping the insects at bay can be a big project at times. Regular pest control using these homemade recipes can grant you immediate relief from little invaders, but if you're facing a much larger problem, it may be a good idea to call in the professionals and request organic pesticide methods.

About the author: My name is Tiffany Olson and I live in Northern California. I blog regularly on home topics including pest control, home insurance, and home improvement. I've received great pest control information from Killroy. They are located in the Bay Area and specialize in pest control in Hayward.

Image attribution: Handlegirl; CC BY-SA 3.0