Pests can be a significant problem for any gardener. They will eat the leaves, break off branches and flowers, and generally make your garden look terrible. Pest control is an integral part of keeping a healthy and beautiful garden. It’s worth putting in the time and effort to find out what natural pest control treatments are available for your herbs. If you want to get rid of these pests without using chemicals, then there are some natural pest control remedies that you need to know about. These treatments use ingredients that humans have used for centuries in their gardens.
How to choose the right natural pest control treatment.
Pest control is a great opportunity to ask your neighbors what they use in their garden. But, if you happen to have any older family members who might know, it is helpful asking for their advice. There are many ways people handle pests, and some plants work better for one person than others or vice versa.
You’ll also need to consider the type of insect, as this will help determine how lethal the insecticide needs to be for it not to leave harm on the plants.
For example, mint can keep aphids away but will not kill them. Parsley and certified green thai kratom will drive most insects away from where it is planted because its properties are more potent.
There are different ways to identify the right natural treatment to keep pests away, but you will have to choose one suitable to your needs. Here are the other pest control treatments that you can use for your herbs:
Plant Marigolds in your garden
Planting marigolds around the perimeter of a garden. Marigold plants have natural insect-repelling properties, which will keep pests away from your herbs and plants. Plus they are beautiful flowers. Just make sure to plant them in well-draining soil and do not overwater or fertilize them, so their scent doesn’t become too diluted. Also, be aware that they attract some types of aphids, so monitor closely if this is an issue where you live year-round.
Vinegar solutions
Use vinegar solutions instead of pesticides on any leaves with spider mites or other small insect ills like thrips and whiteflies. Vinegar has been used as a pesticide since the 1800s and is still used today to control pests in gardens. Vinegar has anti-insecticide properties that can be used to control pests.
Insecticidal soap
Use insecticidal soap if you have slugs or snails on your plants. Insecticidal soaps are commercially available as well as homemade concoctions. You can use castile soap and a few other ingredients such as liquid dish detergent, vegetable oil, and cayenne pepper if you need to create a homemade one.
Plant flowers around the garden
Planting flowers around your garden can be an effective way to make it unattractive to certain insects that prey on herbs like aphids. Such flowers may provide more nectar sources for them away from the area where they might harm your plants.
Use lemon and thyme
Both lemon and thyme are used for pest control because they contain essential oils that help repel pests. You could use these plants as a border around your garden or even hang them from the roof of your porch if you need more protection against insects like ants.
These two herbs are also well suited for pots, so if you don’t have much space but still want to put up some barrier, there’s no reason not to plant lemon or thyme in containers on windowsills indoors.
Use garlic cloves and onion skins.
In addition to the plants that can be used as borders, other herbs like garlic and onion skins have properties that help repel pests. Garlic cloves will keep insects such as caterpillars from eating your leaves, while onion skins work by making them unpalatable for insects.
Use rosemary and Parsley.
Rosemary is a perennial plant that you can grow in your garden and use as an indoor pot herb. Rosemary will repel aphids, ants, flies, mosquitoes, and other insects from the area where it’s planted. Parsley has similar properties but is even more effective at repelling pests like cabbage worms which are dangerous to cruciferous plants such as broccoli.
Use Mint and Oregano
Mint is an herb that not only repels insects but also aids in a plant’s fertility. Mint will keep aphids, ants, cabbage worms, and flies from eating your plants by either repelling them or making their food taste harmful to the pests. Oregano can be used as both a border for sensitive vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers. It also keeps away slugs that are notorious for ruining gardens with their slime trails.
Conclusion
There’s no need for pesticides when there are natural pest controls right at hand. If you prefer a more natural approach, planting some of these different flowers or even using lemon or thyme may do wonders in keeping away unwanted guests from your garden. You’ll need to experiment with what works best for you, but if nothing else, just remember to avoid chemicals because they could do more harm than good.
