Nematodes, or microscopic eelworms, are rapidly assuming the role of Public Enemy Number One among the organisms that cause plant diseases. Last year, they seriously damaged one out of every ten acres of crops grown in the United States. California farmers lose between 200 and 300 million dollars annually because of nematodes. But farmers are … Read more
Maybe you strolled onto your porch one late summer afternoon to find a cool breeze. Perched on a porch rail or table, you discover something that looks oddly like an animated baby string bean propped up with green toothpicks. As you move, it turns its triangular head toward you. You shift first one way, then … Read more
An insect with all virtues and no vices is the ladybug, that diminutive beetle whose back is a brilliant orange with black spots. That is, to say, she has no vices from the human standpoint. Instead, she eats hundreds of plant-destructive aphids in her lifetime (“her” also includes him). Turn one ladybug loose on a … Read more
Neem oil is generally considered one of the safest, most useful natural insecticides on the market. In its purest form, it is literally the oils extracted from cold-pressing various parts of Azadirachta indica, especially the seeds. Pure Neem oil contains several active compounds, the most important of which is Azadirachtin. Azadirachtin interferes with an insect’s … Read more
Caterpillars can quickly decimate a vegetable crop. Controlling caterpillars takes a combination of prevention, avoidance, monitoring and suppression. It is the only way to successfully battle caterpillars. Natural Ways to Control Caterpillars Many people reach for chemicals to get rid of caterpillars. But there are some natural steps to add to your caterpillar control system. … Read more
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a simple product most people have in their medicine cabinet. It’s an inexpensive, effective sanitizer for cuts, scrapes and more. It’s also a great thing to have in your garden shed – because you can treat root rot with Hydrogen Peroxide! 5 Things Hydrogen Peroxide Can Do For Plants You may … Read more
For slimy creatures, snails and slugs are actually kind of cute! However, using a natural snail repellent is smart to control these pests before they start eating your spinach leaves or attacking your pepper plants and quickly become unwanted guests. Land snails often leave behind slime trails. On the other hand, slugs leave silvery slime … Read more
When it comes to repelling insects, we fortunately have dozens of products, herbs and chemicals at our disposal. However, not all of us are willing to buy and use the commercial-grade insect repellents and for a very good reason, as they may contain harmful chemicals that trigger allergies, skin reactions or severe respiratory conditions. If … Read more
If you have a wasp problem, you are no doubt asking, “How to get rid of wasps?” and what to do about it. Chemical wasp control is certainly less than desirable due to the negative impact it can have on the environment, your pets, children, and you. In this article, we will share some interesting … Read more
When spring arrives, so do those annoying mosquitoes. Instead of using chemical insect repellents to prevent mosquito bites, here is a collection of DEET-free mosquito-repellent plants to make mosquito control more natural. The mosquito bite and the diseases it carries have links to the West Nile Virus and the Zika virus. Let’s get started with our list … Read more