{"id":75008,"date":"2025-09-05T11:35:07","date_gmt":"2025-09-05T01:35:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stylecurator.com.au\/?p=75008"},"modified":"2026-02-09T08:19:04","modified_gmt":"2026-02-08T21:19:04","slug":"organic-pesticides-garden","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stylecurator.com.au\/organic-pesticides-garden\/","title":{"rendered":"Organic pesticides: Keep unwanted insects out of your garden"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There\u2019s something so wholesome about growing your own produce<\/a>. It\u2019s a great excuse to get outside and cultivate something<\/a> beautiful (and delicious). But we\u2019re not the only ones who love home grown goodness. Unwanted pests are regular visitors to the veggie patch, so we wanted to help you do something about it! We\u2019ve searched high and low to bring you the best organic pesticides to keep unwanted insects out of your garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organic pest control is safer for children, pets and our beloved pollinators. It also helps create a healthier, more balanced garden in the long term. Whether you DIY your own, or want to know the best ones to buy, here is your ultimate guide to natural pesticides and organic pest control for Australian gardens.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related article: Stylish vases to elevate your floral arrangements<\/a>
Related article: What are the birth month flowers and their meaning?<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

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Image via Pintrest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Most common citrus pests and how to get rid of them<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Citrus trees are a wonderful addition to your garden, but they\u2019re also magnets for bugs. From sap-sucking aphids to citrus gall wasps, here\u2019s how to identify and control the most comment citrus pests in your garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aphids<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Not all pesky bugs need to be dealt with using chemicals. For aphids, a great organic pesticides treatment is simply to knock them off with a jet of water. You can encourage ladybugs and lacewings into your garden to keep them at bay too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A lovely alternative is to companion plants such as nasturtiums or marigolds to help keep black or green aphids away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Marigolds\"
Marigolds | Little Yellow Wheelbarrow<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Aphids
Image from Lettuce Grow Something<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"nasturtium
Nasturtium | Veggie garden seeds<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bronze orange bug<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Large and smelly (seriously, these bugs are stinky!), these bugs suck sap from shoots, flowers, and fruit. Early intervention is key with these little pests. Wear gloves to handpick them off your plants, or deter them with horticultural oils (keep reading for a DIY recipe below). Birds and parasitic wasps can also help keep populations down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If they really start taking over, use an organic certified insecticide<\/a> to protect the health of your tree.<\/p>\n\n\n

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The Bronze orange bug | Image courtesy of Australian Museum<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Citrus bud mite<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

These worm-like critters are pale in colour and really, really tiny. Almost microscopic in size, they can cause big problems to citrus trees. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Predatory mites like black hunter thrips and mite midges can help get citrus bud mites under control. Pruning infested leaves and branches is the best way to stop the spread. Be sure to dispose of them carefully and do not place in compost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Horticultural oil (check out our DIY recipe below) can be an effective treatment when applied prior to flowers and fruits blooming. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Fruit affected by the Citrus budmite | Image from Gardening Know How<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Citrus gall wasp<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Gall wasps lay eggs inside young branches, causing unsightly swellings (galls) that weaken the tree. The best treatment is pruning. Remove any infested branches in late autumn or winter before larvae emerge, and dispose of them properly. Burn or bin them (be sure to place in a bag to stop them spreading). Definitely do not put them into your compost. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For stubborn infestations, try a product using petroleum oil or an organic certified insecticide<\/a>. You can also try horticultural oils (you can DIY your own using a handy recipe below) to help manage infestations while keeping your garden eco-friendly.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Fresh gall on lemon tree | Jims Mowing and Gardening<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Citrus leafminer<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Leafminers are a very common pest for Australian gardeners. They tunnel inside citrus leaves, leaving behind silvery squiggly trails. These trails weaken the tree and reduce its ability to photosynthesis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To treat them naturally, prune any infested leaves and apply neem oil<\/a> or horticultural oil (DIY recipe below) to help prevent the larvae from entering the foliage. It’s best to do this during the warmer months when the pest is most active.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s important to note that severe infestations may require chemical intervention. So get on top of them as soon as possible!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Citrus leaf minor | eplants<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Damage caused by a Citrus leaf minor | Image by Elise Dando via Yates<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fruit fly<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Ugh, fruit flys are nasty little critters. They lay eggs in fruit, making it inedible. And what’s worse, they can lay up to 500 eggs at a time so infestations occur quickly \u2014 gross!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To prevent an infestation, get rid of fallen fruit quickly and use exclusion netting or bags over any ripening fruit. Exclusion netting can help prevent female flies from laying eggs on the fruit. Bags can be used to allow space for fruit to continue to grow, and tied at the stem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Organic pesticides for fruit flys include a DIY trap. We love this idea from Gardening Australia<\/a>… it uses Vegemite! If you’re not into DIY, there are plenty of organic baits on the market to help keep these nasties away. This one from Yates is our pick<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Image via Which.co.uk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Fruit
Fruit flys are a huge pest | Image via Which.co.uk<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Mealybugs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Tiny but destructive, these pests can distort flowers, stunt growth, and cause sticky honeydew (see below). To get these critters under control, try neem oil, horticultural oil or introduce predatory insects like lacewings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Did you know?<\/strong> ‘Honeydew’ isn’t a fruit (well, it is, but not in this instance!). It’s essentially sugary waste produced by sap-sucking insects. Honeydew attracts other insects and promotes the growth of sooty mould, a type of fungus.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Citrus mealy bugs | Image courtesy of Crop Science Australia<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Scales<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

There are a few different types of scales but they’re ALL annoying! Some look like little bumps on stems and leaves. They can produce sticky honeydew that attracts sooty mould.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best control over scale insects, is horticultural oil or neem oil<\/a>. Prune heavily infected areas.<\/p>\n\n\n

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California red scale | Image by Dennis Navea via Insect Images<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

How to get rid of caterpillars on plants<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Caterpillars are small but mighty. They can demolish your veggies overnight if they’re not dealt with effectively. But let’s do it naturally! Here are a few ideas for organic pesticides that can help you get rid of caterpillars in your garden.<\/p>\n\n\n\n