Garden Pest Controls

Most of the things we are taught to think of as pesticides, are insecticides, in that they also kill many more insects than the targeted species.  Poisons meant to kill Japanese Beetles, will also kill ladybugs that eat aphids, and bees and butterflies that pollinate our crops.  Poisons that drip on the ground can kill worms. 

In my garden, I have been using the organic gardening product Fungicide 3, Garden Safe brand.  It is a fungicide, insecticide and miticide, which contains Extract of Neem Oil, and can be used up to day of harvest.  It has effectively controlled Cucumber Beetles and Japanese Beetles.

Here are some other garden pests and organic controls:

Aphids:  Yellow sticky traps, water spray, green lacewings, ladybugs, garlic spray, hot pepper wax, insecticidal soap (I have also used as a spray), neem, neem oil soap.

Hornworm:  Handpicking, spined soldier bugs, neem oil soap

Slug/Snail:  Copper tape of foil barrier, sawdust, wood ashes

Tomato fruitworm:  Beneficial namatodes, green lacewigs, ladybugs, trichogramma wasps