What are your favorite pest control methods?

[Blake_HTX]

Hello all, starting to have problems with caterpillars and snails.. occasionally fungus gnats as well but nothing drying out the soil and some Diatomaceous Earth cant get rid of. Even some yellow jackets have been hanging around feasting on the caterpillars now. What are some remedies that all of you like to use? I was thinking of buying a bag of Gnat Nix and either a bottle of Dr Earth insect killer or this Garlic Barrier pest control stuff. Can get Dr Earth at home depot, the other I have to order.. about the same price. Trying to stay organic with the pesticides, I have a lot of dogs.. Has anyone tried either of these or recommend anything else? Thanks!

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[heirloomtomaguy]

Diatomaceous Earth and Spinosad have become a staple for pests in my garden. Nothing lives in the garden now but plants. I do not however have a remedy for yellow jackets as i have never had them.

[Rosedude]

I have no experience with gnats except when i go camping near a lake.

As for what works best--there is no substitute for a gardener actively tending his/her garden. When you walk through your garden you notice all kinds of things when they change and you can usually do something about it before it becomes a big problem.

[Blake_HTX]

Originally Posted by Rosedude

I have no experience with gnats except when i go camping near a lake.

As for what works best--there is no substitute for a gardener actively tending his/her garden. When you walk through your garden you notice all kinds of things when they change and you can usually do something about it before it becomes a big problem.

Here in Houston they're everywhere. Those, however, aren't my worry the caterpillars and snails are becoming more of a problem than anything. And I agree that's why i'm here asking people's remedies! lol

[Blake_HTX]

Yellow jackets haven't really been a bother really. They eat the caterpillars, I leave them alone, they leave me alone so far. Diatomaceous Earth works great but I hate have to reapply every time i water or it gets a little rain. That's why I want to try the Gnat Nix. It works the same way only its effective wet or dry and can be reused.

[frankcar1965]

Much easier to crush a mosquito dunk up and sprinkle over your plants than trying to keep some ground up glass on the surface of the soil. And pretty cheap too. You can do it periodically very easily. Mosquito dunks contain Bt and it is the same thing as Gnatrol I think.

[AlittleSalt]

Organic methods for pest control. I could offer a lot of ideas and plagiarize some books and worse - internet sites, but I haven't found any that really work. Well, other than a flyswatter. I have spayed garlic and hot pepper infused water on plants, used neem oil, made and used aerated organic teas, used purified soaps, you name it. All it added up to was a stinky bug ridden garden.

Then I used Malathion and Triazicide - they work too well. They kill all bugs. But the plants start looking a lot better quickly.

I want to believe there is some sort of organic pest control that really works and I just haven't found it yet.

Edit, for slugs and snails, put out a saucer/bowl of cheap beer - it works.

[Blake_HTX]

Originally Posted by AlittleSalt

Organic methods for pest control. I could offer a lot of ideas and plagiarize some books and worse - internet sites, but I haven't found any that really work. Well, other than a flyswatter. I have spayed garlic and hot pepper infused water on plants, used neem oil, made and used aerated organic teas, used purified soaps, you name it. All it added up to was a stinky bug ridden garden.

Then I used Malathion and Triazicide - they work too well. They kill all bugs. But the plants start looking a lot better quickly.

I want to believe there is some sort of organic pest control that really works and I just haven't found it yet.

Awesome lol well im going to try this Mr Earth stuff and see how it works. I'm sure with the combination of diatomaceous earth, gnat knix, mr earth and predatory insects and lizards I should make an impact.

[Blake_HTX]

Does the beer kill them? So far mix D.E. with water in a spray bottle and spraying the sides of the containers has been killing snails. but I have sunflower seedlings in the ground that they keep eating.

[AlittleSalt]

Yes, the beer kills them.

[Blake_HTX]

Cool i will give that a try thanks!

[Worth1]

Probably a paper wasp commonly mistaken for a yellow jacket.

Worth

[Blake_HTX]

Originally Posted by Worth1

Probably a paper wasp commonly mistaken for a yellow jacket.

Worth

I am not very familiar with my insects so I wouldn't doubt it

[Worth1]

They are nicer to a point.

Worth

[Blake_HTX]

Originally Posted by Worth1

They are nicer to a point.

Worth

well they definitely seem to not care that I'm poking around my plants while they're in them.