eChipmunks

What kind of bug spray should I use for my organic garden?

I don’t want to use any harmful pesticides, especially since I’m going to be eating what I grow in my garden. I hear about people making their own organic insect control sprays, but I’m not sure if I have the time for that. Are there any organic insect killers that I can just buy? After some searching, I came across this Safer Brand EndAll: http://www.saferbrand.com/store/garden-care/5102. Has anyone tried this? It targets a variety of pests and kills them at all stages of the life cycle.

Public Comments

1. the good one
2. The way you write your question, it seems that you assume that you need spray to grow vegetables. Pesticides weren't invented until the twentieth century, and people were able to grow vegetables. A healthy organic garden doesn't need much spray. Every insect that feeds on your plants is food for a predator, and pesticide kills them both. If you stand twenty feet from my garden in summer, you see hundreds of insects buzzing about, and very little pest damage. The product you ask about looks fine. I like to have a "nuclear option" to save plants that are in trouble, and I use it about once per year. You should also look into organic pesticides that won't hurt the predatory insects that protect your garden. BT, diatomaceous earth, insecticidal soap, and neem oil are more specific in what they target. Creating a healthy garden takes time. You want a good variety of insects present, as well as insect eaters like toads and birds. If you've been applying poison, beneficial animals might take a year or two to recover. Until they do recover, use organic spray only when necessary. Also keep in mind that organic poison is still poison. Things approved for organic agriculture break down quickly so they will be gone in 24 -48 hours, but if you inhale spray or harvest early, they can still poison you.
3. Safer products are good. There is a link below with more options. Make sure you identify the problem before spraying and the best method of control or if control is even necessary. If the pest is a slug or a disease and you spray insecticidal soap it won't do help. If you spray for aphids and lady bug larvae is feeding on them then you will kill the lady bug larvae also. Keep your soil healthy and your plants will stay healthier and less attractive to pests. Use compost and if necessary organic fertilizers. The only problems I have had for years are aphids and slugs and they only bother certain plants.
4. Some methods of organic garden pest control on the small or large scale include introducing bugs that eat bugs. The ladybug is one good bug to have around your home garden or farm. The ladybug preys on aphids and other insects while it does no damage to the crops. The praying mantis is another insect that feeds on other insects large or small that can damage crops. Damaging bugs can be grasshoppers or whiteflies. There are bugs that will eat the eggs of pests and parasites that will kill the pests. These methods are natural and non toxic. While you have to monitor the introduction of these natural pest control methods you will find there are great benefits to using the organic garden pest control methods. Organic Pest Control - http://www.perennial-gardens.com/flower-articles/organic-garden-pest-control.htm