Managing Pests

Organic gardeners aim to grow strong pest resistant plants. They also establish a diverse range of plant species and create natural habitats that support a range of beneficial organisms to help bring about natural pest control. When pest or disease outbreaks do occur, national organic standards permit the use of:

• biological controls using naturally occurring cultured organisms such as Yates Nature’s Way Caterpillar Killer Dipel Bio-insecticide (Bacillus thuringiensis var. Kurstaki)
• copper oxychloride such as Yates Leaf Curl Copper Fungicide
• fruit fly baits in enclosed traps
• exclusion fabrics including cloth and paper fruit fly control bags
• boracic acid for cockroach control
• iron-based products such as those used in organic snail bait
• light mineral oil such as PestOil
• lime products including dolomite, garden lime and agricultural lime
• lime sulfur-based products including Yates Lime Sulfur Spray
• powdered or wettable sulfur
• natural pyrethrum
• plant oils such as vegetable oil, neem and garlic
• potassium permanganate (Condy’s Crystals)
• potassium-based soap sprays such as Natrasoap
• plant-derived products including rotenone as found in Yates Vegetable Derris Dust
• vinegar
• seaweed, seaweed meal and seaweed extracts
• sodium silicate and sodium bicarbonate
• horticultural insect barrier glues and sticky traps

This information is from the Yates Garden Guide: fully revised & updated 44th edition, HarperCollins, $39.99. You can have this information and so much more at your fingertips by purchasing the Yates Garden Guide, available at all leading bookstores and Bunnings stores.