There are many insects and animals which are labeled pests and many people use chemical solutions to get rid of them. However, these chemicals are not only harmful to the pests, but also to the environment. There are a number of chemical free pest control options that you can consider instead which are better for the environment and the eco-system.

Natural Predators

All pests will be the prey of another animal and you need to consider this when looking at pest control. Encouraging natural predators to a pest infested area will naturally control the problem. The predator that you encourage will vary depending on the pest that you have. Garden pests can be controlled through the introduction of birds, hedgehogs, ladybirds and lacewings.

Hand Picking Pest Control

If you do not want to harm the pests and you have the time hand picking is an option. This is a very time-consuming method of pest control and not generally recommended for most people. However, if you have a small area where the infestation is located this could be an option.

Spraying Water

If you have pests attacking your plants then you should consider spraying them with water. This will work well for aphids and similar pests which infest your plants. Some people choose to combine a light soap solution with the water, but this could be harmful to the plants and will introduce unnecessary chemicals to the environment.

Organic Deterrents

There are many organic-based solutions that you can consider for pest control including plant oils and fruits. These deterrents are completely natural and will not have a negative impact on the environment. Certain pests are repelled by mint while others will be repelled by lavender. It is important that you determine what pest you have and how you can deter them.

Biological Controls

Pests can be controlled through the use of biological entities such as parasites. These parasites will latch onto the pest and generally eradicate them. However, you will have to be careful with these biological controls because you do not want to target any of the beneficial insects in your home or garden. One of the biological controls you can consider is the parasitic wasp Encarsia which targets Whiteflies.

Try Companion Planting

Using plants to protect plants from pests is not something that everyone considers. However, it is possible to have plants which attract predators next to plants that are vulnerable to pests. Planting the vulnerable plants between the other plants will also help to disguise them and make it harder for the pests to find the plants they want.

Placing Barriers

If you want to prevent pests getting to your plants you should consider barriers. Different barriers will work better for certain types of pests such as copper piping will deter slugs from coming to your plants. Placing sharp objects such as eggshells around your plants can deter a lot of different pests. There are a number of barriers that you can use including straw and plastic bottles.