In the wake of Ontario’s pesticide ban, many frustrated gardeners have been searching for alternative methods of pest and weed control. Many insects and weeds that were easily controlled before the ban have been allowed to run amok in our gardens.
There are sprays left on the market that allow for limited control of some of these troublemakers, but many are contact sprays with no residual effect – in other words, we have to hit the bugs or weeds directly in order for them to be effective. This can be a daunting task, especially when faced with a fifteen-foot-tall tree.
Facing this difficulty, many gardeners have decided to take matters into their own hands by developing their own homemade anti-pest and weed control remedies.
At Van Luyk’s, we hear about a lot of them. We’ve heard just about everything, in fact: from Epsom salts, milk, icing sugar, murphy’s oil soap, ammonia, whiskey, cayenne pepper, dish soap, vinegar and many, many more, all intended to ward off insects or weeds attacking their gardens. But do any of these pest control alternatives actually work?
We can’t say.
Literally, we are not able to — we are not allowed to offer advice on the application of, or the possible mixing rates for, home-brewed pest control products.
To be fair, the province of Ontario’s reasoning is, well, reasonable: mixing a variety of household products together can have unexpected and potentially dangerous consequences for the affected plants, your garden, the environment or yourself. Sure, milk and water is harmless enough (we don’t recommend this, in any event), but mixing ammonia and vinegar is immensely dangerous.
However, this isn’t to say that all of the home remedies out there are ineffective – we just need to use common sense. There are a couple considerations to keep in mind as you weigh the pros and cons of attempting such a practice.
1. Most of the Evidence is Anecdotal
Often the success one person experiences with a specific home remedy may not translate to success in someone else’s garden. An application of the exact same product could have significantly different results if it’s used at a different time of day, on a different plant or on a different pest. Even a different brand of soap could significantly alter the results. And remember: external circumstances may also play a part: a change in weather, the introduction of a new predator or countless other factors could do away with the pest but lead you to mistakenly believe that your remedy worked. That’s not to say your remedy didn’t work, but take both successes and failures with a grain of salt!
2. Test It Out
Don’t spray your whole rose bush with a homemade pest control product before you’ve tested it out. Spray a few leaves first and wait 24-48 hours to see if there’s any discolouration or damage. If the leaves seem alright, go ahead and apply it to the rest of the plant.
3. Address Cultural Issues
Remember that some pest, disease and weed issues stem from other conditions in your yard. A plant growing in an unsuitable location is often far more susceptible to pest and disease issues. Drought stress, over or under-fertilizing and poor soil fertility can leave plants weakened and open to attack. Tackling the plant’s pest problems may not resolve the root of the issue.
When it comes to weeds, remember that weeds grow in places where they can out-compete our other plants. If you have a shady, moist section of yard where the moss is outgrowing your lawn, remember: moss is made for shade, and grass isn’t. Your lawn may never be able to out-compete it without extra care, attention, and regular over-seeding to help fill out patchy areas.
Wondering how to deal with a certain pest or disease problem? Take a look at our Pest and Disease Control page, or contact us to speak with one of our knowledgeable staff members!