non toxic for getting rid of critters

[gentlesouls]

hope you dont mind but i thought i would share some ideas that was given to me that have worked . i dont like to use pesticides if possible
Aphids
Many aphids and mite problems can be solved with water . A strong blast from the hose dislodges aphids and breaks off their sucking mouth parts .Aphids are drawn to yellow.Set a shallow yellow dish or pan of soapy water near infected plants,and the aphids will plunge to a watery-death. Order aphid wolves(larvea of ladybug beetles) and release them into your garden. These predators eat hundreds of aphids per day.
Beetles
Slip on a pair of lawn areator shoes after a rain and dance wildly on your wet lawn to destroy grubs before they become Japanese beetles. Take a long-handled spatula or spoon and a bucket of warm,soapy water outside early in the morning. Look for beetle infestations on roses,peonies and other flowers. Hold the bucket below the bloom and gently whack the flower. the bugs will drop straight down and into the suds .
Earwigs
Fill an empty milk carton with crumpled,moist newspaper and bread crumbs, and set on its side in the garden where it will collect earwigs. Empty the bugs into a bucket of soapy water in the morning. Pour equal parts canola oil and soy sauce into a shallow container and place it in infected areas. Check the lure each morning and dispose of the victims. If you happen to raise live chickens, simply let the chickens into the garden daily to pluck up earwigs and other pests .
Grasshoppers
Sprinkle white flour(not self-rising) on cabbage worms,loopers,and grasshoppers early in the morning when plants are covered with dew. Pests will petrify and desicate . Rinse of plants the next day.
Slugs
Lay empty flower pots or milk cartons on their sides in a shady area and dispose of slugs and snails every morning . Leave leftover grapefruit and melon rinds in your garden each evening. Scrape the slugs into soapy water every morning. Put out fresh rinds every few days.Sink shallow tubs or saucers into the ground and fill them with cheap beer . Slugs dive right in and drown (but at least they die happy). Empty as needed .

[Mickie]

My dearest Gentle Soul............
If I danced around wildly in my yard; I would likely end up in my own
private white hotel with special white jackets !! LOL

But you have some great idea. I have used soapy water on many of my
pests.
But I have one that is driving us crazy. WE have probably got more
varieties of STINK BUGS (yellow, green, beige and large ugly grey ones that look like something outr of an alein movie) here in LA. WE are just about ready to give up on growing tomatoes. Nothing seems to work, especially on those alein looking ones. They have just ruined our tomatoes......can't eat them because have ruined their taste and ugh!! Makes me so angry because I LOVE FRESH TOMATOES SANDWITCHES.
Got any solutions for that??

Thanks
Mickie

[tonyaatn]

Thank you for your ideas. I am having an aphid problem with my mint

[CyberGranny]

About tomato worms...I read that planting Dill in between the plants will give you protection from the tomato worms. The tomato worms will go to the Dill first and not to your tomatoes.

There is also a organic powder that will work only on worms. It's called Dipel Dust.

"The most environmentally responsible way to control them is to gather and smash them."

..lol... but, that's not for me. ugh!

[Mickie]

HA HA
CyberGranny....
Yep I do that too! Laugh as you may,,,,,,,,but that is the height of my
frustration with those nasty, stinky grey stink bugs. These things are even
hard to crush,,,,,,,they are hard shelled compared to most of the others.
I even thought of hair spray! I got a very large spider one night when all
I had handy was my hairspray.....the more it crawled, the slower is crawled
until it DIDN"T crawl!! ......Victory!!
Do I sound morbid or what..........or like a frustrated gardener.
Take care........
Mickie

[Lizzy]

What about cats? How do you keep them off the garden? All the cats in the neighbourhood tend to congregate in our front garden and I don't usually worry too much but a crested dove has made her nest in one of our small lilly pilly trees and I'm concerned the cats will get the babies when they hatch. Help?

[Mickie]

Lilly
They have this spray that is suppoes to deter dogs and cats
off things .......maybe it would work..........
Or try putting some rags soaked with anomia on the fence or
sticks at the gardens edge.
Too bad it won't work for stink bugs!! HA
We have friends we met on the internet from Albany. They came
over here to meet us.......we had a wonderful time. His name was
Robert Svanberg.........I lost their address though because I got
that trojan. We hope to someday be able to visit Austrilia......
Good Luck......
Mickie

[Lizzy]

Thanks Mickie, I'll try the ammonia. The internet is so wonderful for bringing people together from all around the world. I've met some of the loveliest people on earth because of the Parlor - hope one day I'll be able to visit with them in person. If you're ever over this way, I hope you'll drop by for a cup of tea.

[but-mum]

Isn't there something you do with cayenne pepper ?

Maybe a cat website may be helpful - you know keeping other people's cats away from your cat - sort of website.

Now dogs are my problem !! Brisbane city council have done wonders over the years with stray dogs, but around my place I seem to attract dog crap !! Man if I ever SEE anybody letting their dog do their "thing" in my yard I'll throttle them. I have no fence you see, so it's an unwritten invitation to owners of dogs to allow them to roam in my front yard.

[Sudsy Lady]

Cayenne pepper or black pepper put on the dirt will deter cats from digging in a garden. I have also found that they do not like marigolds, so I always planted those around the perimeter. The pepper will need to be reapplied after each rain, but it does work well. We have a lot of birds in our yard and on the odd occasion, we will find a neighbour's cat hanging around. I simply go outside, grab a pine cone and toss it at their heads - well as close as I can aim, I throw like a girl unless it is a football in my hand, then look out! It is also possible to get a motion sensor sprayer - animals will get sprayed when they walk near the sensor.

[Mindwell Taylor]

About tomato worms...I read that planting Dill in between the plants will give you protection from the tomato worms. The tomato worms will go to the Dill first and not to your tomatoes.

There is also a organic powder that will work only on worms. It's called Dipel Dust.

"The most environmentally responsible way to control them is to gather and smash them."

..lol... but, that's not for me. ugh!

Hey, I had these hornworms on my flowering tobacco. They were big and green. Wearing gloves, I pulled each one off, threw it on the concrete, and stomped it. It made a green mess, but the pesks were dead. I didn't invite them back either. I haven't planted flowering tobacco since then.