Organic Pesticides

Insects are a natural and important part of nature. We need insects to help the world run in its natural course, with some insects, such as bees and butterflies, being absolutely crucial for plants to grow. This does not mean that we want every type of insect in our gardens. Many insects are just pests that make our gardens look ugly, or even kill plants off. These are the insects that we want to remove. There are many different methods that can be used, but one that is becoming increasingly popular is the use of organic pesticides.

Organic pesticides refer to pesticides that come from a natural source, the most common being plants, though they can also come from various minerals. Most of these organic pesticides are insecticides. Organic pesticides are usually seen in a more favorable light than chemical pesticides because the ingredients are things that are already found in nature.

With the way things are going today, most people think that organic is the best way to go with everything. Just because something is organic, though, does not mean that it is the best solution. Organic pesticides can be just as dangerous to humans and the environment as other types of pesticides. Some organic pesticides are more toxic than their synthetic counterparts, so do not be fooled by the use of the word "organic." Make sure you talk to other gardeners (perhaps at a local co-op or garden center) to decide what is best for your needs.

If you do choose to use organic pesticides, be very careful to read the label. For humans, you can usually tell the toxicity by the warning label. "CAUTION" usually means it is least toxic, "WARNING" is more toxic, and "DANGER" is most toxic. This is just for humans. Some organic pesticides, such as ryania, are very toxic to fish, which can be important if you have a koi pond in your garden. Other organic pesticides can be similarly harmful to other creatures. If you have animals near your garden (perhaps a family pet), then you will want to make sure you check for any toxicity warnings that are appropriate for those animals.

Read the label and follow the instructions exactly. As with any other chemical, do not mix organic pesticides with anything, unless specifically instructed. Mixed chemicals can be extremely dangerous, and you will not even have a warning label for that one.