Pest control measures keep your homes, gardens, and lawns safe. But, they come with their own flaws and faults, one of which is causing harm to plants, warns the Dennis Property Management team. But, don’t worry, as this need not be the case, always.
Some easy-peasy steps can help keep your plants safe, while still facilitating pest control. These include:
- Taking adequate precautions
- Opting for the best pest control in Sarasota
- Using milder and kinder pesticides and insecticides
Pesticides and Insecticides and Their Role in Plant Health
Pesticides and insecticides might lead to the injury of plants. This process is known as phytotoxicity. Herbaceous are highly susceptible to pesticides. Woody plants tolerate pesticides better, but new and fresh growth can be damaged by these chemicals.
Plants absorb pesticides via their leaves and roots. Likewise, some pesticides mimic plant hormones and work throughout the plant by inhibiting its growth and development. This is why it’s important to choose pest control Canberra methods that are safe for both plants and the environment.
A few of the ways by which insecticides and pesticides can tangibly harm plants are:
- Damaging leaf cells
- Inhibiting seedling growth
- Hampering seed germination
- Destroying the stem tissue, which results in the ultimate demise of the plant
A few of the signs that indicate damage to plants because of insecticides or pesticides are:
- Leaf burn
- Discolored leaves
- Curled leaves
- Leaf drop
- Abnormal plant growth
- Plant death and more
Are There Pest Controlling Methods that Do Not Harm Plants?
There are several methods and trajectories of pest controlling that are kinder and less harmful to plants. Let us discuss a few of these below:
- Natural Predators
Natural predators control and minimize pest populations in an ecosystem. Two common cases include:
- Ladybugs feed on aphids
- Praying mantises eat garden pests
Introducing these insects to your garden or lawn can keep the pest population in check, naturally. So, you do not have to depend on chemicals that harm plants and the environment.
- Traps
The second plant-friendly way to control pests is depending on traps. These are built to capture and eliminate pests without the use of harmful chemicals. You can opt for different types of traps, such as:
- Sticky traps
- Bait traps
- Live traps
- Take The Help of Herbal Solutions and Essential Oils
You can also take a more natural and herbal route to deal with pests. This way, your beloved beloved plants are not harmed in any way. Essential oils include compounds that repel pests. A few cases include:
- Peppermint oil repels ants, spiders, and rodents
- Lavender oil can keep moths and fleas away
- Eucalyptus oil is very effective against mosquitos and other flying insects
- Physical Eradication
As the name suggests, physical removal means manually eliminating pests from plants. You use non-toxic methods in this pest control process. A few of the methods of physical removal include:
- Hand-picking of insects
- Vacuuming of pests
- Using sticky traps to capture crawling insects
- Sanitation
Sanitation is also a plant-friendly way of controlling pests. Here, you vanquish the sources of food, water and shelter of pests. This can include simple steps, like:
- Storing food in airtight containers
- Removing debris and clutter from outdoor spaces
- Mending leaky faucets
This creates a less hospitable environment for pests and they are bound to move away from your home, lawn or garden.
