Home owners and home gardeners often express interest in environmentally friendly gardening and landscaping. As an alternative to pesticides we recommend:

• Using native plants more often.
• Planting trees and shrubs properly to avoid plant stress and susceptibility to pests.
• Caring for trees, shrubs and turf keeps plants healthy and reduces the need for pesticides.
• Using mulch appropriately and avoiding over-mulching prevents plant damage.
• Planting the right plant in the right place and planting for birds, bees and butterflies to create biodiverse healthy landscapes.

Gardeners can prevent pests by:

• Sanitation (cleaning tools and disposing of disease or insect infested plant material)
• Inspecting new plants looking for pests before purchase
• Hand-picking insect pests when possible
• Using fly swatters or other mechanical means
• Rinsing plants with a strong stream of water
• Trapping using sticky traps

When we do recommend pesticides, we try to encourage gardeners to use biorational pesticides. So what is an biorational pesticide? Generally an biorational pesticide is a pest management chemical that is designed to breakdown quickly in the environment. Often times these products are derived from an organic source such as plant extracts or bacterium. We do not recommend homemade pesticides. Most home remedies not properly tested and since we home gardeners are not chemists, mixing chemicals can be unsafe.

Pesticides generally are found in three categories; insecticides to control insects, fungicides to control fungal infections and herbicides to control weeds. For many years pesticides were created from synthetic chemicals. Luckily for environmentally conscientious gardeners there are many organic-based pesticide options available. The list below provides organic options for herbicides, insecticides and fungicides.

Biorational Options for Garden Pest Control:

Induced Systemic Resistance (ISR) The newest and most exiting technology to enter the pest management world is the ability to stimulate a plant into protecting itself. Derived from microbes, ISRs prompt plants to produce their own compounds which can fight off diseases and insects. These defense mechanisms including strengthening cell walls makes a plant tougher and limits damage from insects and diseases. The microbes can also fight off disease organisms and block access to plants.

• Acibenzolar-S-Methyl (ASM) - Actigard or BION are products containing synthetic salicylic acid (SA). These products prevent sucking insect damage caused by aphid, whitefly, mealybug and scale.
• Tiadinil (TDL) - Used for root disease prevention through drenching TDL contains a thiadiazole derivative.
• Isotianil - A synthetic elicitor that is sprayed onto plant foliage to prevent disease organisms.
• INA (2,6-dichloro-isonicotinic acid) - This is another synthetic salicylic acid product. It can be used as a root/soil drench or foliar spray application. 
• Thiamethoxam - systemic that boosts plant defenses by triggering the creation of special proteins. The chemical promotes plant vigor, enhances root mass, stem strength and greenness improving plant quality.
• Mycorrhizal products - Mycorrhizae are fungi that inhabit roots in a symbiotic relationship. Their presence in roots can deter root disease organisms.
• Serenade ASO is an organic broad-spectrum biofungicide that can be applied to many different crops and is effective against soil and foliar bacterial and fungal diseases. Designed to be applied preventatively, Serenado ASO has Bacillus subtilis strain QST 713 as its active ingredient. This beneficial bacterium forms a dense biofilm that forms a protective barrier around roots, seeds or transplants. This barrier will continue to grow along with the plant and its roots. As the bacillus grows in the root zone, it produces metabolites that:
  • Stimulate a natural defense mechanism in the plant that promotes robust, healthy growth and stress resistance
  • Enhances photosynthesis
  • Kill soil diseases outright, including Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium

Biorational Herbicides

• AXXE or Ortho Ground Clear with ammonium nonanoate
• Home Plate with caprylic and capronic acids - palm oil
• Scythe with pelargonic acid - Pelargonic acid, also known as nonanoic acid, occurs naturally in many animals and plants, including geranium (Pelargonium spp.).
• Natria Weed and Grass Killer with ammoniated soap of fatty acids and maleic acid
• Brand name herbicides with vinegar

Biorational Insecticides

• BT (dipel or thuracide) - derived from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis 
• Avermectin occurs naturally as a product of fermenting soil-dwelling actinomycete bacterium Streptomyces avermitilis. Avermectins are a family of naturally derived or synthetic compounds known for their potent activity against parasites and insects.
• Emamectin -  Synthetic version of Avermectin.
• Spinosad - derived from the bacterium Saccharopolyspora spinosa. Spinosad is a natural substance made by a soil bacterium that can be toxic to insects. It is a mixture of two chemicals called spinosyn A and spinosyn D.
• Neem Oil - derived from the seeds of a chinaberry tree; smothers a wide variety of pests
• Azadiractin - derived from the fruit of the chinaberry tree; kills a wide variety of insects; made by many manufacturers
• Clove oil/cottonseed oil mix - kills insects by smothering them
• Kaolin clay - mixed with water and prayed on plants creates a barrier to insect feeding
• Safer soap - potassium salts of fatty acids; mixed with water and sprayed on plants; creates a barrier to insect feeding
• Pyrethrum - derived from the flowers of chrysanthemums; kills insects on contact
• Pyrethroids -  synthetic versions of pyrethrum; a class of powerful insecticides
• Rotenone -  made from tropical plant roots; is a general insecticide
• Horticultural oils -  smothers insects and disease spores when applied in the winter on dormant plants
• Sulfur -  sulfur has been use in insect and disease control for millennia
• Diatomaceous earth -  a fine powder that sticks to insects and irritates their bodies

Biorational Fungicides

• Serenade - activates plants' natural defenses
• Guarda® is the first EPA-registered, bactericide/fungicide with botanical thyme oil as the active ingredient.
• OxiDate 2.0 kills bacterial and fungal pathogens, offering superior protection for your organic or conventional field and row crops.
• OxiPhos delivers a unique dual mode of action to maximize crop protection against devasting oomycetes pathogens, like Pythium (root rots/blights), Phytophthora, and downy mildew.
• ZeroTol 2.0 works on contact to kill plant pathogens and their propagules, including spores. Formulated with our powerful and stable peroxyacetic acid chemistry
• Bordeaux Mix with sulfur and lime - used for millennia for insect and disease control
• Blue Copper - general fungicide

***Note on Pesticide Labeling

The US EPA regulates pesticides and passes the responsibility for safe pesticide use down to the end user. The labeling on the pesticide package is information that EPA forces the manufacturer to include in the packaging and that the end user is required by law to read. Read the label of any pesticide that you intend to use. Follow the labeled instructions for safe and proper use closely. Wear any and all personal protective equipment such as gloves and goggles that the label requires.