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Does it seem like the grasshoppers are so plentiful that they're turning your summer into a bad horror movie? While they are good grub for our feathered friends, they destroy your plants and are just plain annoying. We'll show you a few ways to get rid of the little buggers.
Steps
Get some chickens. They love the tasty little hoppers, and have prodigious appetites. They eat loads of grasshoppers and will save your garden from destruction. Many cities and towns allow keeping these birds with permits.- Not only do you get pest control, you get fresh eggs (if you have hens) and an occasional pot pie!
Use a hot pepper spray repellent. Hot pepper wax insect repellent is the key. It's in all the garden catalogs, and soon it could be on all your plants. Insects can't stand the taste, and therefore do not eat the leaves![1]- Be careful when using this repellent on edible plants, as it could burn your mouth if the plants aren't washed properly.
- Pesticidal soap and garlic spray are also viable options for grasshopper control.[2]
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Squish them. Head to the grasshopper hangouts at dusk or dawn, and move more slowly as the air cools down. Knock them off the leaves into a bucket of soapy water where they'll drown, or just knock them on the ground and step on them.
Do it soon. Pesticides become less effective as grasshoppers get older—plus, they've likely reproduced by then.
Look for neem oil. Natural insecticides with neem as the active ingredient will kill grasshoppers. Neem trees are common in the Indian subcontinent and are prized in the villages where they occur. The leaves are a natural disinfectant and insecticide.[3]- Toothpaste made with neem extract is available in the U.S.
Try Ecobran. There's a product called "Ecobran" that only affects grasshoppers and their close relatives. It doesn't affect other insects or birds.- Ecobran uses carbaryl, an organophosphate.[4] It is a good product for small landowners fighting grasshoppers, easy to use, and has minimal impact on beneficial insects compared to other formulations of carbaryl.
Expert Q&A
- QuestionWhat kills grasshoppers?
Maggie MoranMaggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
Home & Garden SpecialistInsecticides that contain permethrin and carbaryl are most effective at killing grasshoppers. - QuestionWhat are the benefits of grasshoppers?Maggie MoranMaggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
Home & Garden SpecialistWhile grasshoppers can be destructive to crops and gardens , they do play an active role in the animal and plant ecosystem, so it would not be beneficial to eliminate the species completely. - QuestionWhat attracts a grasshopper?Maggie MoranMaggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
Home & Garden SpecialistGrasshoppers are generally drawn to long unkept grass and they are also drawn to weeds.
Tips
- Chickens also give you hours of entertainment. There's something very comical about the sight of a hen in hot pursuit of a startled grasshopper!Thanks
- About 4 chickens will get rid of your grasshopper problem in a couple of weeks.Thanks
Warnings
- Chickens may scratch at the garden beds and you may have to tidy up more often, but it's worth it to get rid of the grasshoppers.Thanks
- Don't get chickens solely for pest removal if you cannot take care of them responsibly.Thanks
References
- ↑ https://www.ridmycritters.com/how-to-get-rid-of-grasshoppers/
- ↑ https://www.epicgardening.com/organic-grasshopper-control/
- ↑ https://www.epicgardening.com/organic-grasshopper-control/
- ↑ https://www.canada.ca/content/dam/hc-sc/migration/hc-sc/cps-spc/alt_formats/pdf/pubs/pest/_decisions/rvd2016-02/rvd2016-02-eng.pdf
About This Article
To get rid of grasshoppers, try knocking them off plants into a bucket of soapy water. If you prefer a less hands-on approach, spray a hot pepper wax insect repellent on your plants since the insects can’t stand the taste and won’t eat the leaves. Similarly, you can try a pesticidal soap or garlic spray to control the grasshopper population. If these remedies don't work, natural insecticides with Neem as the active ingredient will kill grasshoppers. Finally, if you have chickens, allow them to graze on the grasshoppers as a tasty treat. To learn more from our Horticulturist co-author, like how to use Ecobran to get rid of grasshoppers, keep reading the article!
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