7 Natural Ways to Keep Pests Out of Your Vegetable Garden for Good

If you’re growing vegetables in your garden, you know pests can put a real damper on your harvests. If you’re looking to keep these pests at bay without using any commercial pesticides on your harvestables, you’re in luck—we’ve rounded up some top ways to keep pests away from your veggies naturally.

Why Choose Natural Pesticides

Natural pesticides are a safer, eco-friendly alternative to chemical ones, especially if you’re growing food for your family.

Unlike conventional pesticides, which can leave harmful residue on edible crops and affect beneficial insect populations, natural options are typically derived from plants, minerals, or other naturally occurring substances. They break down more quickly in the environment and are less likely to contaminate soil and water.

Using natural pesticides helps maintain a balanced garden ecosystem, supports pollinators like bees and butterflies, and reduces the risk of chemical exposure for both gardeners and consumers. For those aiming to grow organic or sustainable produce, natural pest control is a key component of a healthy, thriving vegetable garden.

Want more gardening tips? Sign up for our free gardening newsletter for our best growing tips, troubleshooting hacks, and more!

Best Natural Pesticides for Common Garden Pests

• Neem Oil: Best for aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, scale insects, and mealybugs. Neem oil disrupts insect hormone systems, making it harder for pests to grow and reproduce.
• Diatomaceous Earth: Best for slugs, beetles, ants, and soft-bodied insects. The fine powder damages the exoskeletons of insects, causing dehydration and death.
• Insecticidal Soap: Best for aphids, thrips, whiteflies, and spider mites. These soaps break down the outer coating of insects, causing dehydration and death.
• Garlic Spray: Best for aphids, caterpillars, and beetles. Garlic’s strong odor repels many insects and acts as a mild fungicide.
• Hot Pepper Spray: Best for beetles, caterpillars, and squirrels. The capsaicin in hot peppers irritates pests and deters them from feeding on plants.
• Bacillus thuringiensis: Best for caterpillars, cabbage worms, and tomato hornworms. It’s a naturally occurring bacterium that targets specific insect larvae without harming beneficial insects.
• Horticultural Oil: Best for scale, aphids, and mites. These oils smother insects and their eggs, making them effective for dormant-season applications.

“The best natural pesticides are horticultural oil and neem oil for sap-sucking insects like aphids,” Annette Hird, horticulturalist and gardening expert, said. “You can even make your own white oil by mixing vegetable oil with a little dish soap and water to make a spray.”

How to Safely Apply Natural Pesticides

• Apply early in the morning or late evening. This helps avoid harming pollinators like bees and prevents the sun from degrading the pesticide or burning the plants.
• Target the undersides of leaves. Many pests hide and lay eggs on the undersides of leaves, so thorough coverage is essential.
• Spray the entire plant. Don’t just treat the visible pests, but cover all parts of the plant, including stems and soil surface, to ensure effectiveness.
• Test on a small area first. Before applying a new spray, test it on a few leaves to check for any adverse reactions.
• Reapply after rain or watering. Natural pesticides often wash off easily, so you may need to reapply after heavy moisture.
• Wear gloves and protective clothing. Even natural substances can irritate skin or eyes, so take precautions during application.

Natural Pest Prevention Tactics That Work Long-Term

• Companion Planting: Grow pest-repelling plants like marigolds, basil, or nasturtiums alongside vegetables to deter insects naturally.
• Crop Rotation: Change the location of crops each season to prevent pests and diseases from becoming established in the soil.
• Beneficial Insects: Attract ladybugs, lacewings, and parasitic wasps by planting flowers like dill, fennel, and yarrow.
• Row Covers: Lightweight fabric covers can physically block pests from reaching your plants while still allowing sunlight and water through.
• Healthy Soil: Healthy plants are more resistant to pests. Use compost and organic matter to enrich your soil and support strong root systems.
• Removal of Debris and Weeds: Clean up plant debris and control weeds to eliminate hiding places and breeding grounds for pests.

Hird, personally, prefers using netted crop covers in her garden rather than pesticides.

“These help to keep my veggies safe from both insect pests and birds,” Hird shares. “Of course, if you’re growing things that need pollinating, like cucumbers or pumpkins, these won’t work because the bees won’t be able to get to the flowers.”

Hird recommends planning ahead, keeping bugs in mind even as early as the planting stage.

Tips for Keeping Pests Away for Longer

• Inspect plants regularly. Early detection of pests can prevent infestations.
• Water in the morning. This allows plants to dry out during the day, reducing the risk of fungal diseases that attract pests.
• Rotate pesticide types. Even natural pesticides can lead to resistance if you overuse them. Rotate between different pesticide types to maintain effectiveness.
• Avoid over-fertilizing. Excess nitrogen can lead to lush, tender growth that attracts pests like aphids and whiteflies.
• Use mulch. Organic mulch helps retain moisture, suppress weeds, and can deter some soil-dwelling pests.
• Keep garden tools clean. Sanitize tools regularly to prevent spreading pests or diseases between plants.