Insect and pest control does not have to involve commercial poison - there are a wide variety of safer, natural insecticide and pesticide recipes, as well as control any gardening pest with herbs and natural organic pest control. The important thing to remember when you are trying to get rid of the "bad" pests is that there are many good insects, such as lady bugs, bees and butterflies, which may be killed by commercial poisons - even if it was not your intention.
Another thing to bear in mind is that even though a pesticide may be organic, it still might harm beneficial insects. The happy balance is attained when you use natural pest control that harms only the pests and lets the beneficial insects live. It is best to spray directly on any pests you see, or plant the herbs near your vegetables. These are some effective natural and herbal pest control methods:
Caterpillar Pest Control
Hand picking for caterpillars is very effective. Just pluck them off and remove them from the garden. The garlic and red pepper spray and the wormwood spray below work well for moth caterpillars.
Garlic and Red Pepper Spray
Cut up one unpeeled onion and one unpeeled head of garlic. Add with one heaping tablespoon of red pepper to three pints water in a saucepan. Cook about 20 minutes on low heat. Let the spray cool. Pour it in glass jars and cover with a lid. It will keep in the refrigerator over a month. When you are ready to use the herbal spray, use one tablespoon per pint of water. Adding Ivory Snow increases effectiveness (soapy water is a good natural pest control by itself if you spray it directly on the insect.)
Rabbit deterrent
Pepper spray is often given as a good rabbit deterrent but consider a wire fence around the perimeter of your garden. That may save you the frustration of having all your leafy greens become gourmet rabbit food. Pepper sprinkled on the ground around your plants may work as a deterrent. Some people recommend bath powder with talc.
Geranium
Red spider mites steer clear of oil of geranium. Plant it near grapes and corn to repel cabbage worm too.
Horseradish
Deters potato bugs.
Hyssop
Plant it in vegetable and flower gardens as an insect repellant - particularly good against white butterfly. It is recommended as a good companion planting for cabbages and grapes. But don't plant it near radishes.
Lavender and Lavender Bags
Helps deter mice, ticks and moths. Attracts butterflies.
Mint
Spreads prolifically, so keep it contained. It deters fleas, ants, mice and cabbage butterfly. Don't plant it near parsley.
Oregano
Repels cabbage butterfly and cucumber beetle if planted near cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber and grape vine.
Rue
Repels flies, and deters dogs and cats. It's great planted near strawberries and fig trees.
Tansy
Works to repel ants, flies, fleas and moths, especially good near fruit trees. You can crush the leaves and rub it on an animal’s fur to repel fleas.
Thyme
Deters cabbage worm when planted near cole crops (cabbage, collard, broccoli, etc.)
Wormwood
The plant itself is a deterrent to slugs and snails. It can be made into an effective herbal insecticide spray against slugs, snails and caterpillars. To make wormwood insecticide spray, simmer leaves in at least three pints of water. Strain, cool and store in glass jars. You may add soapy water to increase effectiveness.
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