I purchased a house recently as we will soon be moving. The house I chose to buy is great, but it really isn’t in the best condition. The gardens are overgrown, and I am having a hard time with insects on the plants. I searched online and found some really good homemade natural insecticides that are safe and unlike many pesticides I read about online they do not kill bees which would be detrimental to our new back yard bee hive we bought. If you have a bug problem in your garden, then this post will help you get rid of those pesky bugs by showing you some effective natural insecticides that are safe to use around children and pets.

Best Natural Insecticide For Gardens

Introduction

When it comes to insecticides, more and more people prefer to use natural garden pest control. It’s safer for the environment, safer for you and your family, and can be more cost-effective than chemical insecticides. Here are some of the best natural insecticides out there:

Insecticidal Soap

Insecticidal soap is a safe and effective way to kill soft-bodied insects. It can be used on vegetables, flowers and fruit trees. It can also be used on ornamentals such as roses or flowers in pots. Some gardeners use it to control pests inside their homes, including cockroaches and ants. Insecticidal soap is not harmful to humans or pets but should never come into contact with eyes or skin because it may cause irritation if not washed off immediately after application.

To use insecticidal soap in your garden:

• Dilute 1 tablespoon of insecticidal soap in 1 gallon of water before spraying plants where pests are present (mixing instructions will vary by brand). Spray thoroughly until all plant parts are wet but do not rinse out any residue until the next day so it has time to dry up completely before you water again—this can help prevent disease problems later down the line! If possible wait 24 hours before applying fertilizer so that nutrients won’t wash away too quickly from newly treated areas; however if necessary just avoid applying fertilizer within 48 hours after spraying insecticide because it could interfere with its effectiveness against pests.”

Neem Oil Insecticide

Neem oil insecticide is a natural insecticide derived from the Neem tree. It is considered safe to use around people, pets and plants. It works by stopping the development of insects’ reproductive systems and digestive tracts so they starve to death. It also acts as a repellant for many types of insects due to its strong unpleasant odor.

Neem oil is effective against a wide range of garden pests including ants, aphids and beetles. This product should not be used in areas where bees are active during the day

Diatomaceous Earth

• When using food-grade diatomaceous earth, be sure to wear a mask and gloves. The powder is sharp and can irritate skin.
• Only use this product on plants that you don’t plan to eat or sell.
• Do not use this product on plants that you intend to give as gifts.

Pyrethrin

Pyrethrin is a natural insecticide derived from the dried, ground-up flower heads of chrysanthemums. While pyrethrin is effective in killing insects, it has low toxicity to mammals and birds.

Pyrethrins are contact insecticides, meaning they only affect the pest you spray directly with them. They are also considered broad spectrum because they are effective against many different types of pests. Pyrethrins break down quickly when exposed to sunlight and air, so it’s best to apply them before dusk or early morning hours when temperatures are cooler (below 65 F).

Boric Acid

Boric acid is a naturally occurring mineral that can be used as an insecticide. It’s often used in powder form, but boric acid can also be found in liquid form. Boric acid is safe to use around children and pets, though you should not ingest it. However, since it is a poisonous substance and can cause irritation if you come into contact with it, you should take care when using this natural insecticide around your family members and pets.

Boric acid does not work very well on beetles—it may help kill some of these pests but will not eradicate them entirely from your garden or yard. Similarly, ticks are unaffected by the application of boric acid; you would need another chemical pesticide for this pest problem! You’ll also want to avoid applying boric acid around flies because they’re immune to its effects (and flies tend to swarm in large numbers).

Horticultural Oil

Horticultural Oil

Horticultural oil is a broad-spectrum contact insecticide used to control aphids, mites, whiteflies, mealybugs and scale. It also controls some soft bodied insects such as thrips. Horticultural oil is available in several formulations including neem oil and canola oil. Neem oil provides good control of many soil dwelling pests such as ants, beetles and fleas. It also has repellent properties that protect plants from Japanese beetle grubs for up to three months after application with no re-application necessary during this period because it breaks down into natural compounds quickly after application (source: Colorado State University). Canola oil has low toxicity to humans but high levels of toxicity when ingested by pets so apply only where they cannot reach it easily if you have pets on your property!

Horticultural oils are considered a non-systemic insecticide since they do not move through the plant’s vascular system into its roots or other parts of the plant; rather they only kill insects directly contacted by the spray itself while still on top of leaves or blooms (source: University Of Maryland Extension).

Garlic Barrier

Garlic Barrier is a natural insect repellent that can be used to treat plants and soil. The effects of garlic are thought to be related to an oil extracted from the clove. This oil contains sulfur compounds which are effective against many kinds of insects, including flies, mites and aphids. It has also been shown to deter slugs and snails as well as spiders, fleas and ticks.

Garlic Barrier is made from garlic extract but will not harm humans or pets when it comes into contact with them; however you should avoid contact with skin if possible since it can cause stinging if you get it on your hands or eyes.

Hot Pepper Wax Spray

The key to this recipe is the hot pepper wax. Hot peppers are known for repelling many insects, but when you extract their capsicin crystals and mix them with water, you get a product that’s even more powerful than the pepper itself.

Take one part hot pepper wax (the kind you can buy online or at your local health food store) and one part mineral oil (available at most grocery stores), then combine them in a blender until they’re completely mixed together. When it comes time to use your spray, add two tablespoons of this mixture to one gallon of water and shake well before spraying on plants as needed—but be careful not to get any on yourself! The capsicum compounds can cause skin irritation if they come into contact with bare skin or eyes, so wear gloves when mixing the ingredients together and wash your hands thoroughly after each application.

It’s best not to use hot pepper wax during periods of high heat or direct sunlight because these conditions will cause the oils in this mixture to break down faster than usual; instead wait until late summer when temperatures cool down before spraying plants once or twice per week for maximum effectiveness against pests like aphids, mites and whiteflies

Check the label of any product you buy to make sure it is labeled as a pesticide before spraying.

• Read the label. The Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) requires pesticide labels to contain specific information about how to use the product safely and effectively.
• Follow the instructions on the label. The directions on a product’s label are there for your protection; make sure you follow them carefully! Failure to do so could result in serious illness or death for people using them incorrectly.
• Keep out of reach of children and pets. If you have young children or pets in your home, be sure not to leave pesticides where they can reach them without supervision—or better yet, keep any pesticides stored securely in a locked cabinet or drawer rather than leaving them lying around where kids or animals might play with them by mistake! It goes without saying that you should never allow children under six years old near any kind of pest control product at all; even if they’re kept up high somewhere out of reach (like inside a cabinet), it’s still best just not having these items within easy access until later years when kids are old enough

Conclusion

There are lots of natural insecticides to choose from. It can be overwhelming to think you have to try all of them, but don’t worry! Different insects respond differently to each treatment, so the best thing you can do is educate yourself and experiment until you find what works for your garden.