Pests and Diseases

Common Solutions

Neem Oil

Can be bought as ready to use spray or a powder to mix yourself. Used as pesticide, insecticide, miticide and fungicide. It comes from crushed neem tree seeds and is organic, biodegradable, and nontoxic to people, pets, and wildlife. We recommend spraying early in the morning or late in the evening to cause the least amount of disturbance to beneficial insects like bees and ladybugs.

Used against:

• Any leaf sucking or chewing insects at the egg, larvae, and adult stages. i.e. aphids, mites, scale, leaf hoppers, whiteflies, mites, thrips, caterpillars, nematodes, grubs, Japanese beetles and over 200 more harmful insects. Will not harm beneficial worms.
• Fungal and bacterial plant diseases such as mildews, rusts, leaf spots, wilts, rots, black spot, blights, anthracnose, and molds.

Row covers

Transparent or semitransparent plastic or fabric you can cover your seedlings or plants with to protect them from pests, harsh winds, or sudden frosts.

Yellow sticky traps                                                  

Insects are most attracted to yellow and manually trapping insects also works.                           

Handpick or spray off

If you’re not squeamish, you can hand pick the bigger bugs and pests off your plants. Alternatively use a strong spray of water to knock them off (careful not to harm your plants!)

Cut off affected parts

To deter the spread of any pests or disease, as soon as you notice any problem parts on your plant, be sure to cut that part off. Clean the knife or scissors you used afterwards.