5 Alternatives to Manual Pest Control

BENEFICIAL BUGS

So, what are beneficial bugs? Simply put, beneficial bugs exist in your garden’s own ecosystem to naturally to control pest infestations. Ladybugs, spiders, and wasps are all examples of beneficial predatory bugs because they all feed on pests like aphids and spider mite.

The good news is, your garden is probably already home to some of these insect helpers. Ensuring you plant a variety of flowering and non-flowering flora keeps them coming back for more. Planting flowers that bloom at varying times of the year means your beneficial bugs will always have something to eat while a variety of non-flowing leafy fauna gives insects protection from both birds and harsh Australian weather. Finally, watering your garden regularly not only helps plants to thrive but also stops insect friends from getting too thirsty.

NEEM GOLD (OR ECO NEEM)

If you saw our most recent Facebook post about our favourite alternatives to manual pest control, then you already know what a winner this product is. For those that don’t know, Neem Gold is a plant-based insecticide made from the kernel of the neem tree and other oil seeds.

Neem Gold is not a knockdown insecticide, which means you might notice some of your pests are still alive after application. Rest assured they no longer have any desire to feed, and as a result, will not threaten the health of your plants.

Neem gold is a dual-action insecticide, not only does it starve pests, but it also inhibits insects from moulting. This severely disrupts growth and ensures that they are not able to reproduce, ending their destructive cycle and keeping your plants safe and happy.

BAKING POWDER &
DISHWASHING LIQUID

Generally, when we talk about pests, we are talking about insects. Common garden fungus powdery mildew is an exception here and can quickly take over your garden, killing plants before they have a chance to grow. Throughout our demonstration farm, we mix one and ¾ litres of water with ½ a tablespoon of baking powder and ½ a teaspoon of dishwashing liquid. We add this mixture to a spray bottle and apply to the plant as we would any other fungicide (a liberal spray over the entire plant, 2-3 times a week).

DIPEL

Dipel is another product we demonstrated through our Facebook page. We love Dipel for so many reasons! Like Neem Gold, it works by deterring insects from feeding and is safe to use in hydroponics, aquaponics, around your children and your pets. Another great thing about Dipel is that like Neem Gold; it only targets the insects that are eating your plants. This ensures that the beneficial bugs we spoke about earlier (like bees and spiders) are unaffected, and can keep helping your garden to thrive! As if all that wasn’t enough to win you over, Dipel is rainfast in only 3 hours!

STICKY TRAPS

At Aquaponics WA, we like to use Bugs for Bugs sticky traps in conjunction with some of the other methods we have addressed throughout this newsletter. The reason we recommend using sticky traps alongside a product like Neem Gold, or Dipel is that it allows for early detection of new pests without having to check every plant in your garden continuously.

Our sticky traps are entirely biodegradable, non-toxic, water and weather resistant. To use, peel open the trap and hang on a plant, post or wire. Check your trap at least once a day to keep an eye on new infestations, and to monitor the progress of old ones.