Consumers may not know they are using a neonicotinoid, as the active ingredient may have a dissimilar name (for example, the most commonly used neonicotinoid is imidacloprid).īoth pyrethroids and neonicotinoids have raised concerns about their impact on beneficial insects such as bees.

Organic gardening with companion plantingĪn adult Adalia bipunctata, or ladybird beetle, looking for lunch.Ĭommonly used insecticides contain pyrethroids (synthetic versions of pyrethrin, a chemical found in chrysanthemums) or neonicotinoids (similar to nicotine). Predators: ladybird beetles and birds will decimate many pest infestations in short order.Parasites: certain pests are often easily targeted by specific parasites.“Soft” chemicals: soap, stinging nettles, and rhubarbs provide excellent alternatives to pesticides.Companion planting: planting certain types of plants will keep some pests away.Here are four methods that provide gardeners with a broad set of tools. In dealing with a pest invasion, there are multiple alternatives to pesticides available to gardeners. Since then I’ve controlled insect pests in my garden through natural methods because I want our apples and cherries to be pesticide-free, which is also quite good for the bees and butterflies that visit. After that experience, I began to talk with other gardeners and read about alternatives to pesticides. In my first year of gardening, I didn’t know what to do to get rid of an aphid infestation, so I went to a local garden supply store and was advised to buy some spray-on pesticides, which I reluctantly used. Gardens inevitably also attract insect pests, as I know firsthand from working on my little plot with flowers and fruit trees. Sadly, it’s not just gardeners, bees, butterflies, and birds that enjoy our beautiful springtime gardens. How can you use organic gardening techniques to protect your plants from pests and maintain a garden that is safe for pollinators and other animals?

Insecticides and pesticides for plants