Find organic solutions by identifying the good, the bad and the ugly qualities of bugs.
Organic bug control is a choice gardeners can make to help the environment by not spreading potentially toxic commercial mixtures into the soil and air. Products can be made at home or commercially purchased so that everything used is organic. Does this Spark an idea?
Traps and Lures
Get traps and lures from your garden center. Stage them around infected plants so you can identify the "who's who" of bugs invading your garden. Once you know who's "bugging" the plants in your garden, you can create homemade remedies or purchase commercial organic products to control and eliminate them.
Mosquito Control
If you live in a wet or humid area, mosquitoes can be a problem for you and your garden. But there's an organic remedy: Plant catnip and lemon balm at the borders of the garden. Both plants contain essential oils that ward mosquitoes away from the garden that you can used as an alternative to DEET. Simply crush the leaves so that the oils are emitted. Dab crushed leaves on your hands and body to prevent bites.
Caterpillar Remedy
Caterpillars can be damaging to vegetable plants. One homemade remedy is to create a spray bottle mixture with 1 liter of hot water, 1 tbsp. molasses and 1 tsp. liquid detergent. Spray both the tops and bottoms of leaves on a weekly basis to eliminate and deter caterpillars from attacking your plantings.
Cutworm Repellant
Sprinkle 1 tbsp. white or yellow cornmeal around the base of plants. This natural remedy will repel cutworms, organically.
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