Top Organic Methods for Pest Control

When dealing with pests, it is important to carefully consider the methods that you utilize to get rid of them. Organic pesticides are significantly less dangerous and a highly effective alternative to traditional pesticides. Although it is a safer method to use, one must be cautious and realize that organic does not automatically indicate that the pest control methods are non-toxic. Despite this consideration, there is documented proof that organic pest control has proven benefits for human health. Before you decide on organic garden pest control, you should become well versed in the methods and materials used along with any precautions you should contemplate.

The central purpose of using organic pest control is to avoid the damaging chemicals that have been proven to be dangerous by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Studies have shown that many of the chemicals found in lawn pesticides can be considered carcinogens and others have the ability to cause birth defects, neurological damage and liver or kidney damage. This is why many people are choosing techniques for organic lawn pest control that don’t involve these dangerous pesticides. If a gardener feels the need to spray for pests, it would be wise to seek out products that have been approved under the National Organic Program Standards. There are several websites on-line that can supply you with a list of approved products.

There are several different organic outdoor pest control methods that a gardener can use. One technique that many try is integrated pest management, which is considered to be a biological control. This method consists of the coordinated use of pest and environmental information with available pest control methods in order to prevent unacceptable levels of pest damage by the most economical means and with the least possible hazard to people, property and the environment. The other method would be to spray organic pesticides that are made from natural ingredients. These can be store bought or made using organic recipes for pest control. Home recipes utilize several household ingredients that have been determined to be natural repellents for organic outdoor pest control. These repellents include garlic, orange oil, hot pepper, tobacco, neem oil, among others. For the store bought pesticides, the products used are typically dependent on the type of pest that you are trying to exterminate.

The best organic treatment to be rid of caterpillars would be to purchase products made from a naturally forming substance called Bacillus thuringiensis which is often referred to as Bt. After the bugs ingest this substance, their insides rupture and they die. The main drawback of this substance is that direct sunlight weakens its effectiveness. For aphids, insecticidal soap has been demonstrated to be quite effective. This soap breaks down the aphids’ protective cuticles so that they become dehydrated very quickly. The drawback of this method is that leaf damage can occur. Organic pest control for mites use light horticultural oils that are either plant or fish based substances. These sprays need to be expended directly on the insects for it to work properly. The oils hinder their respiration and it causes the mites to suffocate and die. The disadvantage of this practice is that many beneficial mites may be killed in the process. For beetles, many gardeners opt to purchase products based on spinosad. This substance is a naturally occurring bacteria found in Caribbean soils. These pesticides cause the insects to have convulsions until they die from exhaustion. This substance is toxic to many beneficial insects, so it is important to keep treated plants covered in order to avoid exposure.

When using an organic method it is important to remember that some products and ingredients are prohibited to use. An example of this would be pyethroids, which is a substance that is shown to be harmful to any living thing that comes in contact with it. Extended contact with this substance has shown to pose many health risks including high frequency of skin rashes, difficulty breathing and long term reproductive problems. Additionally, it is important to keep in mind that you should be aware of how to safely use organic methods for pest control. Some organic pesticides are as toxic as the synthetic chemical pesticides that are widely used. It is important to research the ingredients in the pesticides and determine their level of toxicity. To prevent using a harmful material, a consumer should carefully read all labels. Product labels will carry signal words such as Caution, Warning and Danger. The pesticides with the word Danger written on it should be used with extreme caution.

By and large, organic garden pest control can be determined to be the wisest way to go when treating your lawn or garden. Home remedies and products with natural ingredients are less expensive and certainly less harmful to both humans and the environment. Organic pesticides are highly effective and are a sound investment for any gardener who is serious about proper lawn and garden care.