The Philippine Online Chronicles

Sometimes we feel the urge to wage an all out war with creepy crawlies and winged bandits that invade our garden to munch on leaves, flowers and trees. Garden pests are little destructive forces that may come in handful or battalions. They bite, chew and sometimes kill what we planted and nurtured in our soils.

Garden pets should be stopped from causing more havoc but not at the expense of the environment. Instead of using chemical pesticides that could harm people and pets, why not use organic and safe alternatives to solve garden pest problems?

Here are some tips on how to get rid of some garden pests the eco-friendly way:

Getting rid of snails and slugs

Snails and slugs are some of the common pests found in gardens and landscapes. Both thrive in moist environment and move by gliding and leaves a “slime trail”. Unlike snails, slugs do not have an external shell.  They usually prefer to come out at night to feed. They enjoy feasting on leaves, flowers, young plant bark and sometimes fruit. They leave irregular holes with smooth edges on leaves and flowers.

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Here are some ways to get rid of bothersome snails and slugs:

• Getting rid of hiding places – Minimize potential hiding places of snails and slugs. Get rid of rocks, dead plants and planks. Cover or fill in crevices and holes. Refrain from over watering plants because snails and slugs are attracted to wet places.

• Handpicking - This method is effective if done in a regular basis until the population decreases. During the day, seek out snails and slugs in their hiding places. Put them inside a plastic bag and throw it in the trash. Killing the pesky pests is another option. Stepping on them will kill the pests instantly but it’s quite messy. An easier way to get rid of them permanently is to put them in a bucket filled with soapy water. Dispose of dead snails and slugs in the compost pile.

• Putting physical obstructions - Make it difficult for snails and slugs to reach your plants by putting obstructions along their way. Spread sharp objects such as gravel, baked egg shells (with sharp edges faced up) and cocoa shells on the ground and around plants and trees to prevent snails and slugs from accessing them. The sharp edges of these objects will most likely make the crawlers turn away. A ring of copper wire can also be used as a barrier. This will create a low electric charge to keep the pests from reaching their target.

• Setting traps – Pour some beer in a plastic cup and bury the body of the cup on the ground with only its mouth exposed. Leave it overnight. The snails and slugs will be attracted to the beer. When they go in for a drink, they will fall in the cup and drown. Apple cider can also be used. Dispose of dead pests properly.

Getting rid of aphids

• Ladybugs -These little insects are available in some garden and home improvement centers. Ladybugs can be released in the garden to feed on aphids.

• Squish them – One way of getting rid of aphids is to squish them by hand.

• Neem Oil – Pure neem oil from neem trees can be sprayed on plants. Aphids dislike the bitter taste of the oil and will stop eating plants sprayed with it.

• Homemade Lemon Spray – This homemade spray can kill aphids on contact. To make it, you’ll need grated rind of a large lemon. Boil it in water and set aside overnight. Pour the liquid into a garden spray bottle. Spray mixture directly on aphids.

Getting rid of grasshoppers

• Sprinkle all-purpose flour on plants - When grasshoppers eat plants dusted with all-purpose flour, their mouths become gummed up. Do not use self-rising flour that contains salt because salt can be bad to plants and the soil. This prevents the grasshoppers from eating which eventually kills them. Large amounts of ingested flour also make the grasshoppers sick and stop from eating.

For dusting: Use salt and pepper shaker or an empty spice bottle or jar with perforated lid. A brown paper with punctured holes may also be utilized. Add flour into the shaker, spice bottle or brown paper bag and directly sprinkle flour on plants as well as grasshoppers. After two days, rinse off flour from the plants with a hose. If necessary, wait at least one week before repeating the procedure. Do not let flour stay on plants for more than two days to avoid plant damage. Dusting should be done when there is no wind. Best time is in the morning when there is still dew on plants.

Getting rid of harmful beetles

• Distinguishing good and bad beetles – The first step is learning how to distinguish the beneficial beetles from the harmful ones. Examples of good beetles are the lady bird beetle or “ladybug”, and the ground beetle. These beetles prey on harmful insects and not plants. The ladybug eats aphids while the ground beetles feed on squash bugs, leaf footed beetles and some caterpillars. Bad beetles include flea beetle, cucumber beetle and potato beetle. Hand pick harmful beetles and crush them by hand or put them in a container with soapy water.

Fighting nature with nature

Sometimes the best way to fight problematic forces of nature is with nature itself. There are plants that can help repel pesky insects from damaging plants in the garden. Below are some helpful plants:

• Basil – Helps repel thrips and said to repel flies and mosquitoes as well.

• Chive – Drives away Japanese beetles and carrot rust fly.

• Garlic – Best planted near roses to repel aphids.

• Lavender - Repels moths, mosquitoes, and fleas.

• Oregano – Best planted near broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and cucumber to repel pests such as cabbage butterfly and cucumber beetle.

• Peppermint – The menthol is a great insect repellant. The scent repels white cabbage moths, aphids and flea beetles. The scent attracts good insects such as bees.

• Rosemary – Keeps away cabbage moths, bean beetles, and carrot flies.

• Sage – Drives away cabbage moths and black flea beetles. The sage flower attracts many beneficial insects.

• Thyme – Helps repel cabbage worms.

Photo: “Snail” by Jason Hollinger, c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved; “new-aphids-2006-06-29-013” by Troy Newton, c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved; “Grasshopper” by Elroy Serrao, c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved; “Flea Beetle - Longitarsus jacobaeae? 2” by Sarah, c/o Flickr. Some Rights Reserved.

Video: CHOW Tip: Get Rid of Garden Snails by CHOW, c/o Youtube.

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Rachel Yapchiongco, also known as Rach to her friends, is a Psychology and Marketing Management graduate of De La Salle University.  She took up several units of MBA at the same university.  Rachel is a full-time mom to a charming young boy and married to an entrepreneur with a passion for cooking. She shares parenting experiences and slices of everyday life on her personal blog called Heart of Rachel.