The Best (Nontoxic) Pesticides and Insecticides, According to Gardeners
Getting rid of pests without harming plants, pets, or people can be a tricky problem for most plant owners and gardeners. Whenever possible, "it's important for the specimen, and for our own health, the well-being of children, pets and the environment," to use non-toxic treatments, according to Sera Rogue, owner of a joint-stock Gardening company, with headquarters in Brooklyn. Below, she and four other gardeners and landscapers share the non-toxic products they use to safely and effectively protect their gardens from insects, fungi, and weeds.
Best nontoxic insecticides for indoor-outdoor use
Safer Brand Neem Oil Concentrate
Four of our experts highly recommend neem oil, a natural insecticide derived from the neem tree. It's the "treatment for most houseplant and garden pests," and Krissie Nagy says, "It harms the biological and reproductive systems of insects, but it's completely safe for humans." Of the many brands on the market, Brooklyn-based garden store owner Deborah Young suggests Safer's Neem Oil to her customers. This 16-ounce bottle of concentrate can produce up to 16 gallons of spray by mixing with warm soapy water.
Diatomaceous Earth Food Grade, 10 lb
Diatomaceous Earth is a powder made from fossilized marine phytoplankton that’s harmful to insects with exoskeletons, but completely pet and human safe. Nagy says it’s especially helpful for dealing with a slug or ant infestation. But only “sprinkle it on a dry plant or planter — it does not work as well on wet plants,” she cautions.
Trapro Dual-Sided Yellow Sticky Traps, 20-Pack
To combat mosquitoes, Irene Kalina-Jones, a garden owner in New York, uses these double-sided sticky boards as traps. They are a cheap and practical solution that, according to her, is also strangely satisfactory. “I rejoice seeing how many I get on the sticky card.”
Best nontoxic insecticides for outdoor use
NaturesGoodGuys Live Beneficial Nematodes
To naturally combat aphids, disease-spreading pests that feed on the sap of indoor and outdoor plants, Jesse Terzi, co-founder of the garden design firm, recommends using nematodes in the soil of indoor or outdoor plants . Parasitic roundworms attack over 200 different species of pests and are completely harmless to pets and wildlife. Nematodes are "natural predators of larvae and other soil-dwelling insects," according to Rogue. "They are part of the natural order of the environment that we can take advantage of to defend our gardens."
Bug Sales Live Ladybugs, 1,500
Three of our experts suggested releasing live ladybugs as another naturally effective way to combat aphids, "New York's most annoying pests," says Nagy. Amazon's value bag contains 1,500 live ladybugs, which will feast on the aphids that plague your houseplant or garden.
Bug Sales Praying Mantis Egg Case With Hatching Habitat Cup
The anonymous companies mentioned above also like to use the praying mantis as a natural pest killer. Not only do they eat the harmful bugs, "but it can be a fun science lesson for kids, and releasing the bugs is exhilarating." This kit comes with two egg cases that can hatch between 50 and 200 live babies each. The results can be a bit confusing because the critters can fly, but Rogue says it's nice to know that "wherever these little guys go, they're benefiting our environment."
Best nontoxic fungicide
Dr. Earth Final Stop Disease Control Fungicide
To get rid of mold, mildew, and fungus, landscaping companies use Dr. Earth's Disease Control Fungicide. The formula is made up of essential oils, garlic extract and acids that destroy these pests on contact. Plus, the "natural clove and rosemary oils in the solution smell fantastic," she says.
EcoClean Solutions 30% Pure Vinegar, 4 Gallons
When it comes to weeds, “the best killer is your hands,” says Nagy. That’s because most weed killers will not only harm humans but also kill off earthworms and destroy your soil’s ecosystem — which is important to maintain for healthy gardens. When her bare hands just won’t do, Nagy mixes a gallon of vinegar with a tablespoon of table salt and soap to spray on weeds — but only those growing “on patios and in between pavers because it will kill anything it comes in contact with. Weeds will dry out and die after two to three days.”
