Your lawn can benefit from insecticides in the fact that many pests such as ants and grub worms live under the ground and can eat your grass before you even notice that they are there. If you don’t want to use chemicals to treat your lawn there are many alternatives that include organic or natural insecticides without chemicals that can kill wildlife or seep into groundwater. Here are some of the best natural insecticides you can find today.
While there are many things you can do to kill pests by introducing their natural enemies, this article will deal with using microbes or very small things delivered to the soil that kills ground insects. As such you will need to invest in a product and follow the instructions closely.
Nematodes
Nematodes are the natural enemy of the Japanese beetle larvae that inhabit the soil beneath your lawn. These microscopic parasites have very specific instructions for when you get them so it is important that you keep them in a moist environment until you are ready to deliver them.
For a long term solution, nematodes are great in that they keep their own life cycle going once you have delivered them. Nematodes stay dormant in soil until they sense an insect nearby to inhabit. Once in the bug they multiply rapidly until they take control of the body and it dies. Then they do the same process all over again.
Bacteria
Bacteria such as Bacillus thuringiensis are commonly found in insecticides and occur naturally in soils all over the world. This particular type of bacteria is effective in that it takes over the insect’s digestive tract and paralyzes the insect. The process can take several days to work but very few insects survive.
This form of treatment on your lawn must be sprayed on with water to ensure the insect ingests the bacteria. Re-application every two weeks may be necessary until the bugs are gone. However you only need a few tablespoons for one gallon of water as indicated by Arbico Organics.
Citrus
Citrus oils are effective insecticides but you must also be wary of their toxicity to other animals. Super concentrated essential oils can be toxic to pets so you must dilute them properly and follow instructions closely.
Citrus oils are most commonly sprayed directly on bugs, and they kill them on contact when it gets into the respiratory system and essentially drowns the insects. While these are very effective ways to kill bugs on your yard you will have to be vigilant and spray constantly when you see bugs on the ground. Sprays will keep repelling insects for weeks at a time even at lower concentrations.
