How to Stop garden pests without chemicals

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There is nothing worse than coming face to face with a bug the size of your fist munching down on your fresh garden tomatoes. Hold that thought because this guide on How to Stop Garden Pests Without Chemicals will save you from that fate. Get tips on easy things you can do to protect your plants, keep pests away, and help them heal if they do get infected.

Use any or all of these organic pest control tips and start a backyard garden that is full of healthy plants and delicious organic produce. 

If you have been gardening for any length of time, then odds are you understand the amount of work involved in setting up your garden, planting it, maintaining it, and harvesting it.

There is nothing worse than putting all that time into a healthy abundant garden only to have pests take it out in just a few short days. However, blasting our plants with chemicals and sprays is not the answer either.

So what do we do? What options do we have left to stop pests in our gardens organically?

I’ve been gardening for over 25 years, and I’ve faced my fair share of pests and diseases—probably more than my fair share, if I’m honest. One year early on, I had just finished putting plants in the ground and I have to say I was pretty proud of my work.

These were plants I’d nurtured from nothing but tiny seeds, and seeing them standing there, brought me an incredible sense of accomplishment.

Then came the morning that changed everything. I went out, to check on their progress, only to find… nothing. Not a single plant left. Gone, every last one of them.

The neat little rows I had been so proud of were destroyed—bitten off and trampled by some unseen intruder that must have come during the hight.

My garden, my hard work, ripped apart as if it had never existed.

I was heartbroken. All those hours, all that care I put into getting those seeds to sprout, all the anticipation of watching them grow—it was stolen from me overnight.

That feeling of frustration was something I’ll never forget. But what I couldn’t have known then was this wouldn’t be the first—or the last—battle I’d face with pests on our little homestead.

Looking for an Easy Way to Get Rid of Fruit Flies? These simple pest control hacks will keep bugs away safely.

Stop Pests Without Chemicals

Organic gardening isn’t exactly a new concept, though it sometimes gets a bad rap for not being all that effective. And, to be fair, some remedies out there don’t live up to the hype. But, here’s the thing—there are plenty of others that are absolute game-changers.

The kind of solutions that work even better than you expect. Those are the little gems I’ve relied on for years, and they’ve made all the difference.

1. HORN-RIMMED CATERPILLARS

These tomato-loving caterpillars are so big, it feels like they’re the size of minivans! Okay, maybe not quite that large, but I’m not exaggerating by much.

The first time I spotted one, I was checking out my tomato plants and suddenly found myself face-to-face with one. It was huge, and yes, I screamed—like a 5-year-old girl. These things are not just terrifying, they’re destructive too. They can munch their way through your tomatoes in no time, leaving nothing but devastation behind.

What makes them even trickier is how well they blend in. They hide in the shade of the tomato leaves, perfectly camouflaged in that same green. Spotting one before it wreaks havoc is like playing a frustrating game of hide-and-seek.

If you start finding half-eaten tomatoes, chances are you’ve got some oversized, uninvited guests.

The Fix:

After my first encounter, I did a little homework and discovered a natural fix—marigolds. Planting marigolds around your tomato plants is an easy way to keep these pests at bay. That first year, I went a little overboard and planted an entire dozen around my tomatoes. Was it overkill? Maybe. But you know what? It worked.

Since then, I’ve discovered I only need one marigold plant at each corner of my raised garden beds to do the trick. Not a single caterpillar has shown up since.

Now, if marigolds aren’t your thing, you could also try buying wasps or Trichogramma eggs. They’re effective too, but honestly, the marigolds are way easier and much cheaper.

After two years of battling these pesky invaders, finding such an easy and affordable fix felt like hitting the gardening jackpot.

2. Deer, Rabbits, and Gophers

These sneaky garden visitors can destroy your hard work faster than you’d believe, and if you’re just starting out with organic gardening, it can get pretty frustrating—quickly.

No matter where you live, you can expect to get hit with any or all of these animals, knowing that going in will help you prepare before it happens.

One of the first things I tried was using VHS tape as a fence. (Yes, actual VHS tape!) Turns out, it works like a charm—for deer, anyway.

When you stretch the tape tightly between fence posts, it produces a buzzing sound that spooks the deer and keeps them away. Cool, right? If you’re curious, there are plenty of tutorials to show you how to set it up.

But here’s the catch: while the tape scared off the deer, the rabbits and gophers? They couldn’t have cared less. It was business as usual for them while they kept munching away.

Next, I gave pie plates a shot. I hung them up, thinking maybe the shiny, spinning reflections would do the trick. Spoiler alert—they didn’t.

I mean, they looked cute flapping around in the wind, but when it came to protecting my garden, they were useless.

The Fix:

Finally, I decided to go all in and invest in an electric netting fence. It wasn’t cheap, but wow, what a difference it made. Since putting it up, I haven’t had a single issue with any of these pests and I have been able to keep our chickens out as well.

For me, it’s been worth every dollar.

If you’re trying to keep a critter-free garden, you might need to experiment a little to figure out what works best for your space. For me, the electric fence was it. Sometimes, it’s worth investing in peace of mind (and intact veggies).

You can read more about this type of fencing in my post, Goat Fencing 101. 

You can also make a fence using chicken wire and garden stakes. The trick here is to be sure the openings of the materials you are using are too small for rabbits or other animals to get through. 

Poultry Electric Netting Fence – 65.6’L x 47.3”H (can be Raised to 59.1”H) for Flying Chicken, Sheep, Goats in Farms, Ranches, and Gardens, PK1Chicken Wire,1610 Pack Garden Fence Post, 4 Feet Heavy Duty Metal U-Post for Wire Fence, No Dig Garden Fence Stakes for Temporary Fencing, Electric Fence Wire, Corner Anchor, and More-Green

 

3. Moles, Grubs, and Japanese Beetles

A few years ago, our property got hit with the triple threat—moles, grubs, and Japanese beetles—all at the same time. It was a nightmare.

At first, I was using those beetle bags to trap the beetles. Big mistake. What I didn’t realize was that these traps actually attract more beetles to your yard.

The scent from the trap carries for miles, basically putting an invitation out to every beetle in the neighborhood. What started as a small problem turned into a full-blown invasion.

The next spring, I noticed that moles were tearing up our yard. That’s when we knew we needed a better plan. After a lot of trial and error, I finally found the solution that tackled all three pests at once—and it worked so well, I almost couldn’t believe it.

The Fix:

If you want to control not only beetles but the moles as well, you need to stop the grubs and that is where chickens come in.

Here’s the thing—these pests are all connected in a cycle that starts with the grubs. Grubs are the larvae of Japanese beetles, and they’re a mole’s favorite snack. If you deal with the grubs, you take away the food source for the moles and stop the beetles from maturing.

And guess what? Chickens absolutely LOVE grubs.

They’ll spend hours day after day looking for and eating grubs from the ground. That first year, I started letting my hens free-range in the garden during late winter and early spring for a couple of hours each afternoon.

The results were incredible. After just one year, the chickens had eaten so many grubs that my beetle population dropped by 80%, and within two years, the moles were practically gone.

If you’re dealing with this triple pest problem, I can’t recommend chickens enough. Again, another cost investment, but worth it not only for your garden but for other areas as well.

4. Slugs

Living in a shady area means my go-to landscaping plant is Hostas. They’re affordable, easy to split and multiply, and incredibly hardy.

My beds were filled with all sorts of Hosta varieties, and for a while, things looked great.

One day, they were lush and beautiful. The next, it was like something had attacked them overnight. It wasn’t just the hostas, either. The same thing started happening in my vegetable garden.

I was convinced some kind of property-wide plant disease had taken over.

Then one morning, while I was pulling weeds, I saw them. Slugs. Tons of them. They were everywhere. After some research, everything clicked. The mysterious damage? Yep, slugs were the culprits.

Now that I knew what I was up against, I had to figure out a solution. My first thought was chickens, but unfortunately, slugs aren’t exactly chicken superfood.

Even worse, they can carry gapeworms, which are nasty parasites that can attach themselves to a chicken’s trachea.

Time for Plan B—and it’s an odd one. Beer is the answer.

The Fix:

All you need are a few low-sided containers, like lids or disposable trays. Pour a little beer into each one and place them in your garden and flower beds at dusk.

Make sure the containers are elevated just slightly off the ground, so you don’t accidentally attract ground beetles because they are a good bug to have around.

The slugs smell the yeast in the beer, crawl to the container, climb in, and drown. In the morning empty the containers and refill them in the evening. Within a few weeks, you’ll notice a huge difference.

Another option is to use sugar water and toss in a little yeast to mimic the effect. It works just as well and gives you the same results.

5. Flies 

If you have animals and a manure pile then you have flies. Lots and lots of flies. This can be a battle for anyone who is trying organic gardening ways to control pests.

For us, the best way to keep the fly numbers under control are with good old fly traps ribbons. You can also purchase large fly trap bags and get rid of a ton of flies quite quickly. Unfortunately, buying those traps can be a bit pricey luckily you can make your own.

The Fix:

If flies are driving you crazy, here’s a super easy and effective fix—make your own DIY Fly Trap Bag! It’s simple, affordable, and surprisingly satisfying to see it work.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Grab an empty two-liter soda bottle and cut the top off. Set the top aside for now—you’ll need it in a minute.
2. Use the bottom half of the bottle to hold your fly bait. Flies love sweet stuff, so pick an attractant like syrup water, honey water, soda, diced fruit, or sugar water. Feeling bold? Animal manure works like a charm too (if you can handle it).
3. Pour your bait of choice into the bottom portion of the bottle.
4. Now, take that top part you cut off earlier, flip it upside-down, and place it snugly into the bottom section, like a funnel. Secure it in place with tape along the edges—make sure it’s completely sealed so the flies can’t escape.
5. Punch three small holes near the top and thread through some string or barn twine to make a sturdy hanger.

Hang it wherever flies are making a nuisance of themselves and leave it be. Flies will flock to the bait, crawl inside through the funnel, and then get trapped.

Keep an eye on your trap, and when you notice it’s not catching as many, simply empty out the contents, replace the bait, and put it back in action. Trust me, this little trick is a lifesaver during fly season!

6. Fruit Flies

We’ve all experienced it – the annoying and constant presence of fruit flies in our kitchens. These tiny insects seem to appear out of nowhere, multiplying rapidly and making it nearly impossible to enjoy a piece of fruit without swatting at them.

I have a foolproof trick to get rid of them, and the best part? It takes seconds to set up and will solve the problem overnight.

The Fix:

All you need is an old bread bag and a very ripe banana.

1. Take that overripe banana, a half is all you need.
2. Using your hand, mash it up just a bit.
3. Put it into the bag all the way inside.
4. Leave the bag open on your counter overnight. The smell of the banana is like a siren song for fruit flies—they won’t be able to resist.
5. First thing in the morning, carefully close the bag to trap all the flies inside.
6. Seal it tightly and toss it straight into the trash.

If your house has a big infestation, you might need to repeat the process for another day or two. But trust me, by the end of it, those flies will be gone. I’ve used this trick more times than I can count, and it has never failed me—not once.

7. Stink Bugs

I’ll just say it—I despise stink bugs. They’re creepy, hard to kill, and if you squash one, you’ll quickly find out why they’re called “stink” bugs.

If you spot one in your home, the best strategy is to trap it and toss it. Killing them usually isn’t worth the stink they leave behind. But in the garden? Well, that’s a trickier issue—especially if you want to avoid using harsh chemicals.

Here are two solutions that can keep stink bugs at bay and save your sanity.

Option 1: Use Sunflowers as a Trap

Sunflowers aren’t just pretty to look at—they’re stink bug magnets. The bugs love them, so planting a few sunflowers can help lure them away from the rest of your garden.

Once you notice a bunch of stink bugs hanging out on the flowers, simply cut the sunflower heads off, put them into a trash bag, seal it up tightly, and dispose of it.

The best part is that Sunflowers give a cheerful look to your garden while working as a natural trap.

Option 2: Kaolin Clay Spray

If sunflowers aren’t your thing or you want a more active approach, try mixing up a homemade Kaolin Clay spray. This spray creates a film on your plants that stink bugs really don’t like. It helps prevent them from settling in and doing their damage.

Here’s what you’ll need to make the spray:

• 1 quart Kaolin Clay
• 1 tablespoon liquid Castile soap
• 2 gallons of water

Directions:

• Mix everything together until it’s well-blended.
• Spray the mixture on your plants as soon as you see stink bugs or signs of them.
• Reapply every 14 days for about four weeks. You should notice a big difference around the halfway point.

Make sure to wash all your harvested veggies and fruits to remove any remaining clay residue before eating them.

Stink bugs may be stubborn, but with these two simple methods, you can keep them from taking over your garden.

When it comes to battling pests, going natural is the way to go. Life is already packed with enough chemicals and artificial solutions—why add more when you don’t have to?

The great thing about natural pest control is that it encourages creativity. When you start thinking outside the box, it’s amazing what solutions you can come up with.

And the payoff? A healthier home, barn, garden, and yard for you and your family.

If you’re new to organic gardening, don’t worry—it’s easier than you might think. Not only is it better for the environment, but it’s also a simpler and more rewarding approach than you’d expect.

Try out these tips to stop garden pests without chemicals and see just how effective they are at keeping your garden thriving.

Beetles are tiny but destructive. Learn How to Get Rid of Cucumber Beetles in Your Garden today before they ruin your plants.

More Organic Garden Resources: 

• Cleaning up the Garden Fall Checklist
• How to Free-Range Chickens Next to Your Garden
• DIY Backyard Gardening Compost