How to Keep Grasshoppers Out of Your Flower Beds Without Using Harmful Pesticides

Did you know there are more than 1,000 species of grasshoppers in the United States? Grasshoppers are garden pests because they feed on, and damage, the plants in your flower beds. They aren't picky eaters. They are herbivores that eat mainly plant leaves. Grasshoppers will eat stems and blossoms too. Because of their tough outer covering and their ability to move quickly, grasshoppers can be difficult to control. But there are tactics you can use to protect your plants. Read this instructive article and find out how to keep grasshoppers out of your flower beds without using harmful pesticides.

1. Use Semaspore Bait for Grasshoppers
The active ingredient in this organic product is Nosema Iocustae, a disease that infects grasshoppers expressly, according to the EPA. After grasshoppers eat the bait, they become sick and die. It's spread to other grasshoppers through cannibalism. According to the container directions, "In 2-4 weeks, 50% of the population will die, and most survivors will be infected to continue spreading the disease."

A little Semaspore Bait goes a long way. A one-pound container will treat an entire acre. Look for it at stores that carry organic gardening supplies.

2. Repel Grasshoppers From Flower Beds With Herbs
To keep grasshoppers out of your flower beds, you can also plant horehound, cilantro, and calendula. These herbs repel these destructive insects. Plant a border of them around your flowers as a defense against grasshoppers.

You can also use another herb, garlic, as a natural repellent. To make Garlic Oil Spray, according to ghorganics.com, you need minced garlic cloves, mineral oil, fish emulsion and Castile soap. Mix 3 ounces of the garlic with 1 ounce of the oil. Let it soak for an entire day, then strain it. Add 1 teaspoon of the emulsion with 2 cups water. Then, add 1 tablespoon of the soap. Finally, mix the emulsion water with the strained garlic oil. To make the spray, add 2 tablespoons of the repellent to one pint of water and pour it into a spray bottle.

3. Fight Off Grasshoppers With Molasses and Water
Another natural solution is to fill-up a glass jar with a mixture of 10 parts water and 1 part molasses. Then, dig a hole in your flower bed just big enough for the jar to set in. The top of the jar should be even with the soil. Place the jar in the hole and replace the dirt around it. The molasses solution will attract and trap grasshoppers. Check it at least once a week. Dump it out and refill it as needed.

Resources
http://www.gardenguides.com/799-grasshopper-information.html
http://www.planetnatural.com/site/semaspore-grasshopper-bait.html
http://www.epa.gov/pesticides/biopesticides/ingredients/factsheets/factsheet_117001.htm
http://www.ghorganics.com/page12.html