Plant Gardens 101

How many times when you were a child, did you bite into an apple or other fruit and there would be some insect or other chomping away with you! Unfortunately these days there are a lot of harmful chemical insecticides used on the foods that we eat.
This article outlines some natural plant insecticides which are a safer alternative for our general health and wellbeing. You will, perhaps, be surprised that all natural insecticide products can be made from the most unlikely compounds.

The first two we will look at are called Rotenone and Pyrethrum. Rotenone is derived from the root of a sub-tropical plant called Derris and acts like a broad-spectrum completely natural insecticide that will poison via ingestion and contact. It is most often used as a dust or a spray and although it is completely non-toxic to plants, it is deadly to fish and reasonably toxic to warm blooded mammals, so that includes dogs, cats and humans. (more…)

How to de-bug your garden

Did you know it is estimated that there are over 100,000 different species of insects that live in North America? If you don’t think you have bugs in your garden - guess again. In a typical backyard there are probably 1,000 little critters setting up house. Remember, not all insects are bad. Less than three percent of all insects are classified as pests. Different plants attract different insects. You will not find a corn worm on a tomato plant, because it’s digestive system simply cannot handle it. It is helpful to know the insects that live in your area. This will enable you to avoid insect infestation by planting plants that these insects do not eat. This is the safest, most environmentally friendly way to de-bug your garden. Unfortunately, this will probably not be enough to keep all destructive insects out of your garden. For many gardeners, it is necessary to use insecticides. When using insecticides, you will have maximum results if you know what kind of insects you have. Always read the label on the insecticide and follow all directions.      (more…)

Let’s face it. Bugs are everywhere. It doesn’t matter how many times you spray your lawn or garden with insecticides, they always come back. Having pets or little children doesn’t make the process any easier either. Did you know that 90% of Americans pour nearly 300 million pounds of pesticides on their lawn, each year? The truth is, most of these pesticides are insoluble, which means they stick around for a very long time. This is not good for any wandering pet or child.

The pesticides we use today, usually come in the form of balls, crystals, granules, foggers or sprays. These products make up nearly 35,000 pesticides in the market’s circulation, and they are responsible for the majority of human household poisonings in the U.S. Most insecticides are lethal enough to disrupt an animal’s biological process, such as feminizing male animals and disrupting their ability to reproduce. (more…)