Only about 5 to 15 percent of the bugs in your yard are pests. “Good bugs,” like the ground beetle and the green lacewing, help control pests, says the EPA.
Be sure you need a pesticide before you use it, the EPA advises. Ongoing pest problems most likely are a sign that your lawn or garden isn’t getting what it needs to stay healthy, and correcting the underlying problem could go a long way in eradicating pests.
Here are some preventive tips from the EPA:
• Maintain healthy soil with compost and mulch.
• Select pest-resistant plants and put them in the conditions they like.
• Use a variety of plants so your whole garden isn’t at risk.
• Mow higher. Most grasses should be mowed to a height of two to three inches. Taller grass has more leaf surface and deeper roots and chokes out weeds.
• Clean out diseased plants so disease doesn’t spread.
• Pull weeds before they go to seed and spread.
• Remove dead plants to reduce hiding places for insect pests.
• Identify the problem before you act. The cause of ailing plants or grass may not be pests or disease but incorrect mowing, pruning, watering or other practices. What you perceive as a pest could actually be a beneficial bug that eats pests.
• Natural predators often bring pests under control, but they need time to work. Monitor your landscape to spot signs of pests but don’t spray at the first sign of damage – nature may control it for you, or plants may outgrow the damage.
If a pest or weed problem develops, use an integrated approach to solve the problem, the EPA says. Physical controls like traps, barriers, fabric row covers or plants that repel pests can work for some pests.
• If you have to use pesticides, please use them responsibly. Carefully read and follow pesticide product label instructions. Avoid overuse of pesticides. When you have a small problem area, treat just that area, not the entire yard.
For a natural insect repellent, try this from DES:
6 cloves crushed garlic
1 minced onion
1 tablespoon dried hot pepper
1 tablespoon pure soap
Blend in a gallon of hot water. Let sit for a few days, strain and use.