Many of us use pesticides in our lawns. Whether they be used to protect against pests, or to make a lawn look nice, a pesticide-sprayed lawn can be found in nearly every neighborhood. While I may not agree with their usage (which you can read more about here) they do have a purpose. Although your opinion may differ from mine, it cannot be denied that they also have some negative effects. These effects have been known to cause many problems, both in human and environmental health. We all want a healthy lawn, but sometimes it's just not worth it to use pesticides because of the possible downsides. What if there were pesticides that could do the job right, without any of the trouble? Well, that is where organic pesticides come into play.
What are organic pesticides?
Simply put, organic pesticides are pesticides that are made naturally. Rather than using chemicals, these pesticides use a variety of plants, bacteria, and other ingredients to keep pests away. The main difference between organic and artificial pesticides is that organic pesticides lack the downsides that artificial pesticides fall victim to. Because they are organic, they can be easily absorbed into the ground or plants without doing any harm, and in some cases, they may even help! There are a few different types of organic pesticides, so to better understand them here is a quick rundown:
(Big thanks to gardeningknowhow.com for providing the information in this section. Make sure to check out their article on the subject of organic pesticides by clicking here. They have a lot more information that I am not able to talk about here.)
Biochemical pesticides- made from naturally sourced pheromones. Used to disrupt insect reproduction and control their populations.
Mineral pesticides- these pesticides are made from materials such as sulfur and lime-sulfur. These have a more general use, and can control a wide variety of pesticides.
Botanical pesticides- made from different kinds ofplants. They can either be derived from ground up leaves, or the natural oils that come from plants. These are quite effective against animals that feed off of the plants you are trying to protect.
Microbial pesticides- lastly, microbial pesticides are pesticides made from bacteria, fungi, algae, or naturally occurring viruses. These are used for more specific actions, such as administering a disease or limiting the population of a specific type of insect.
Pros and cons
So now that we know a little bit about organic pesticides, it's time to talk a about the pros and cons of them. As much as I would like this to be the case, organic pesticides are not perfect, so it's up to you if they are worth it. That being said, we will start with the cons of organic pesticides, and then move on to some of the benefits.
The Cons
Effects don't start immediately- depending on which type of organic pesticide you use, you may not start to see the effects of the pesticide directly after application. In some cases, it may take a few days or even a week for results to start occurring. Artificial pesticides typically kill bugs instantly, so this may be a downside for some people who want to see immediate results. That being said, organic pesticides typically last longer than artificial ones.
It's more expensive- unfortunately, as they are not the most widely used type of pesticide, organic pesticides are commonly more expensive than their artificial counterparts. In some cases, they can also be hard to find. Many like to argue that the cost of an organic pesticide is not sustainable, however because they usually last longer than artificial pesticides you have to buy them less often, resulting in a balance.
You have to put a bit more work in- when using organic pesticides, choosing the right one is important for success. This may mean doing a bit more preliminary research, which may be a downside for some. However, a more tailored organic pesticide is likely to do a better job than a randomly bought artificial one.
That's it for the cons. Now for the pros:
The pros
Long term usage- not only do organic pesticides last longer in plants then artificial ones, but in many cases they actually help to make the plants healthier. When they are absorbed into the ground or the plants in a lawn, the organic composition can give them important nutrients they need to survive. When artificial pesticides are absorbed, it can poison the plants and create a larger cost and hassle down the road.
Resists the resistance- when using artificial pesticides, over time the insects you are looking to control develop a resistance to those particular pesticides, allowing them to thrive in your lawn regardless of how much you spray. When going organic, pests are much less likely to develop this resistance, as their populations have likely already been exposed to it naturally in the past, and learned to avoid it.
Quality guarantee- creating organic pesticides takes a lot of research and a complex combination of green products. When buying these organic pesticides, you know that the companies behind them have done their research and know well how to deal with the pests in your area. Pretty much anyone can do an artificial spray, but only a pro can do an organic one.
Healthy plants, healthy family- not only does your lawn benefit from organic pesticides, but your family does too! As talked about in a previous post, exposure to artificial pesticides has been linked to a multitude of different fatal diseases. By going organic, there is no risk that your family will suffer from prolonged exposure to the lawn.
It helps the environment!- and finally, going organic ensures that you limit your effect on the environment. No toxins means no poisoning of groundwater, plants, or other animals. It means that you can rest easy knowing the pests are gone, but everything else isn't.
Conclusion
So, are organic pesticides worth it? In my opinion, certainly. You get long term effects, quality, and extremely low risk of harm in return for a slightly higher price and more management. I would encourage any family currently using pesticides to consider switching to organics. By doing so, you know that you are not only helping the environment, but your family, and your lawn, as well. Using organic pesticides is just another one of the many ways we can do good for our planet and the people around us. If you are considering going organic, stay tuned for next week as I will be talking in depth about the different types of organic pesticides, and what each of them should be used for. Thanks for reading.
All credit for information used in this post goes to:
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/organic/what-are-organic-pesticides.htm
https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevensavage/2015/09/23/the-role-of-organic-pesticides-in-california/#3244d4a67172
https://www3.epa.gov/pesticides/chem_search/reg_actions/reregistration/fs_G-60_1-Dec-93.pdf
https://gogreenlawnservices.com/blog/pros-and-cons-organic-pest-control
Images:
https://www.organic-center.org/inert-ingredients-in-pesticides-increase-their-toxicity-to-humans/
http://www.foodnavigator-usa.com/Markets/Organic-natural-acquisitions-allow-the-food-industry-to-align-CSR-messages-with-product-portfolio-Euromonitor
https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/spaces/orange-garden-scheme-garden.htm
http://waseempesticide.blogspot.com/
https://punjab.all.biz/botanical-pesticides-g635802#.Wav2JciGOUk
https://www.slideshare.net/AnnKoenig/isa-plant-health-care
http://proconorg.tumblr.com/
https://bedbugtreatmentsite.com/where-do-bed-bugs-come-from/
https://au.pinterest.com/explore/dollar-sign-tattoo/
http://www.houseplantsguru.com/how-to-have-healthy-and-happy-house-plants
http://topics.americordblood.com/in-the-news/americord/americord-maintains-highest-quality-guarantee
http://www.sliceofhealth.in/10-ways-to-help-the-environment/
https://www.behance.net/gallery/6120465/Go-Organic
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