Whether you’ve just started gardening or have been doing so for years, you’ve probably heard of stink bugs even if you haven’t yet seen one in your garden. Stink bugs are members of the Pentatomidae family. They come in all kinds of sizes and colors–the most common being brown, black, red, and green–and you can…
Given the increasing global use of commercial pesticides and the insecticidal immunity and resistance that many bugs have developed in response, gardeners sometimes have to think a bit outside the box when it comes to pest management, especially those of us who wish to garden organically. For this reason, I’m a big proponent of natural…
Wherever you live, you’ve probably seen these little bugs. As a child, I called them “rollie pollies” or doodle bugs, but as I got older, I learned that most people refer to them as pill bugs. Members of the family Armadillidiidae, pill bugs are a type of woodlice that thrive in damp areas, particularly among…
Neem oil is an incredible natural insecticide that will repel, harm, or kill over 200 different kinds of pests. But what happens to earthworms when you spray your plants with neem oil? Are they harmed in any way? Neem oil won’t harm or kill earthworms unless it’s applied in excessively high doses. If applied in…
If your garden plants have ever been torn up by armyworms, then you know firsthand what a nuisance they can be. These pests are the larval form of dullish brown moths, and although the moth is perfectly harmless in and around the garden, its larvae can be particularly destructive to both gardens and lawns. One…
When spring rolls around each year, I’m always excited to see the first ladybugs hanging around my garden. But my garden usually needs more help than ladybugs alone can provide (especially against pesky spider mites), so this is why I so often turn to neem oil to help repel and get rid of nasty bugs….
Neem oil is a widely-known natural insecticide that contains a chemical compound (azadirachtin) that’s been shown to kill, damage, or repel over 200 different insect pests. But does neem oil kill or injure helpful pollinators? Does it hurt other beneficial insects? Neem oil won’t hurt pollinators—unless it’s directly sprayed on them—since bees, wasps, and moths…
When it comes to battling bug infestations in my garden, I love neem oil for the same reasons that insects hate it–it’s easy to mix, easy to use, and kills bugs within just a few days. But what is it about neem oil that makes it such an effective natural insecticide? Why do insects hate…
If you’ve already heard about neem oil, then you likely know that it’s a natural insecticide prized by practically all organic gardeners. Its primary chemical compound–a naturally occurring chemical called azadirachtin–wreaks havoc on bugs’ biological, hormonal, and reproductive systems. But what insects does it kill? And how does it kill them? Although neem oil can…
Have you ever seen aphids and wondered what to do about these little bugs? Maybe they’ve shown up in your garden for the first time, and you’re trying to figure out what that means for your plants. Or maybe you’ve ignored them in the past but want to be more proactive this time around. Whatever…