Organic Remedies for Garden Pests

Top Product Choices Aphids Row covers; beneficial insects including ladybeetles, lacewings and syrphid flies; reflective mulches Insecticidal soap, diatomaceous earth, horticultural oil Armyworms Row covers; beneficial insects including braconids and other small wasps Bt, spinosad, kaolin clay Asparagus beetles Predation by poultry; winter cleanup of debris Spinosad Cabbage loopers Row covers; handpicking; predation by birds Bt or spinosad Cabbageworms Row covers; handpicking; predation by birds Bt or spinosad Colorado potato beetles Resistant varieties; row covers; straw mulch; crop rotation; handpicking Spinosad Corn earworms Resistant corn varieties with tight husk tips; early planting Bt, spinosad or vegetable oil applied to young ear tips Corn borers Good end-of-season cleanup of debris; parasitic wasps Bt, spinosad (alternating use) Cucumber beetles Row covers; handpicking; vacuuming; trapping in yellow pails filled with water or with yellow sticky traps Kaolin clay Cutworms Surface cultivation; weed reduction; rigid collars around seedling stems Bt, kaolin clay, beneficial nematodes Fire ants Check garden weekly for new mounds and treat as needed Spinosad Flea beetles Row covers; reflective mulch Spinosad Grasshoppers Poultry; good fall cleanup to dislodge overwintering eggs Nosema locustae protozoa, applied to habitat areas in late spring Japanese beetles Row covers; handpicking; parasitic wasps Milky spore, beneficial nematodes Leafhoppers Ladybeetles, lacewings and other beneficial insects Neem, kaolin clay, diatomaceous earth Mexican bean beetle Scout twice weekly; handpick adults, eggs and larvae; release beneficial Pediobius wasps Neem Spider mites Encourage beneficial insects; use strong water spray to wash undersides of leaves Insecticidal soap applied in late afternoon or early evening Slugs and snails No evening watering; handpicking; trapping; ground beetles and other natural predators; reduced mulching; clean cultivation Sand, diatomaceous earth, copper barriers, iron sulfate baits (restricted use in some certified organic operations) Squash bugs Row covers; handpicking; trapping under boards at night; growing non-preferred varieties; prompt composting of debris Neem Squash vine borers Resistant varieties (butternuts); row covers; surgical removal; composting of all debris Beneficial nematodes Tarnished plant bugs (Lygus bugs) Close mowing near plantings; vacuuming; row covers; trap cropping with alfalfa Beauvaria bassiana fungus Tent caterpillers Tear nests open with a stick every few days Late night applications of Bt or spinosad Thrips Grow flowers to provide pollen and nectar for beneficial insects; reflective mulches Kaolin clay, Beauvaria fungus, insecticidal soap Tomato fruitworm (same species as corn earworm) Encourage beneficial insects and wild birds; handpick Bt or spinosad Tomato hornworm Scout twice weekly starting in early summer; handpick Bt or spinosad Whiteflies Wash off with water; yellow sticky traps; reflective mulches Neem, insecticidal soap, horticultural oil

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