While some insects are helpful to plants, others can be harmful.
When choosing the best garden insect spray, gardeners need to decide between organic or chemical insect spray. Both have benefits and downfalls. Does this Spark an idea?
Organic Benefits
Organic insect spray does not contain chemicals that are harmful to gardeners and the environment. Organic sprays do not kill insects but repels them. Most contain garlic as a repellent. Organic spray also can be made at home, saving money.
Organic Disadvantages
Organic sprays usually need to be reapplied after it rains. They do not kill insects, so they must be reapplied more often to continually repel insects. Because they are organic, they may not keep for long.
Chemical Benefits
Chemical insect sprays tend to kill insects. They can be bought in concentrated form and have a long shelf life. Some sprays target specific insects.
Chemical Disadvantages
Chemical insect sprays often kill helpful insects in gardens, which can be more harmful to some plants. Chemical sprays can be harmful if inhaled or if they come in contact with skin. Excessive use of these sprays can damage plants as well as garden soil.
Alternatives
One alternative is to introduce insects into a garden that kill harmful insects but not plants. Introducing insects that are good for plants and that repel other insects is another alternative. Also, the use of netting may protect plants from insects.
Tags: insect spray, kill insects, Chemical insect sprays, insect sprays, Organic sprays