Are grasshoppers wreaking havoc on your garden? In our upcoming article, we’ll explore 5 effective and eco-friendly methods to get rid of grasshoppers and 9 tips to prevent them in your garden. From natural repellents like kaolin clay barriers to strategic planting of trap crops, we’ve got you covered. Stay tuned for practical tips and tricks to keep your garden flourishing and grasshopper-free!
Grasshopper’s impact on gardens and farms
Grasshoppers can have both positive and negative impacts on gardens and farms. On the good side, they can help control the growth of certain plant species, contribute to nutrient cycling in ecosystems, and become an important food source for many animals, including birds, amphibians, reptiles, and small mammals.
However, on the negative side, these insects are troublemakers in gardens and farms. They munch on crops, leaves, and flowers, causing a lot of damage. These insects, particularly ravenous during their nymph stages, can swiftly consume vast amounts of foliage, leading to the severe defoliation of plants. Under certain conditions, they turn into locusts and their populations can undergo rapid increases, leading to outbreaks known as plagues or swarms. This isn’t just a small problem—it can seriously hurt both the yield and quality of crops.
Moreover, grasshoppers compete with livestock for food, reducing the amount and quality of forage. They can also spread plant diseases by feeding on infected plants and then transmitting pathogens to healthy ones.
To get rid of grasshoppers, you need to understand the grasshopper’s life cycle: egg, nymph, and adult. Each stage brings different challenges and ways to control them. Knowing this helps us manage their numbers better.
How to get rid of grasshoppers naturally
To eliminate grasshoppers, we recommend using natural ways instead of using chemical insecticides. This is better for the environment and keeps helpful bugs and the area around them safe.
Introduce predators or grasshopper killers: This is one of the most effective and natural ways to get rid of grasshoppers. At different stages of their lives, grasshoppers have different enemies. Depending on the condition of your garden or farm, you can introduce suitable predators:
- Eggs: Blister beetles, bee flies, ground beetles, and crickets are great at exterminating about 80% of grasshopper eggs.
- Nymphs and adults: Spiders, certain wasps, robber flies, praying mantises and many bird species are effective. You can attract birds by setting up bird feeders or letting chickens wander around your garden.
Use diatomaceous earth: Sprinkle food-grade diatomaceous earth around the base of plants where grasshoppers are causing trouble. This natural substance is made from fossilized remains of diatoms and has sharp edges that can pierce and dry out insect exoskeletons.
Natural grasshopper killer sprays help keep grasshoppers off plants:
- Garlic spray: Crush some garlic and mix it with water. Let it sit overnight and then spray it on the affected areas. You can add chili pepper to make it more effective.
- Neem oil spray: Dilute neem oil with water and a bit of soap. Spray it all over your yard in spring or early summer when grasshopper nymphs are hatching.
- Apple cider vinegar spray: Make a mixture of apple cider vinegar, water, and soap flakes. This can be effective in stopping grasshoppers from eating your plants.
- Flour Spray: Sprinkle flour on your plants using a garden duster or saltshaker, especially in the morning when plants are damp with dew. The flour will block pests’ mouths, so they can’t eat leaves.
Set up molasses traps by mixing 10% molasses with 90% water and placing them strategically. Grasshoppers are attracted to this mixture and can drown in it. In this way, you can kill grasshoppers instantly.
Use biological baits that contain grasshopper parasites like parasitic fungi Nosema locustae and Beauveria bassiana. These baits are spread over areas where grasshoppers are a problem. When the nymphs eat it, they die, and adults can’t lay eggs. Within 14 days, you’ll see a significant decrease in grasshopper numbers. This is one of the most effective ways to naturally eliminate grasshoppers, especially the eastern lubber species.
How to prevent grasshoppers
Tilling the soil in spring and late summer or early fall can stop grasshopper eggs from hatching all over your garden or lawn. This disrupts the grasshoppers’ life cycle and lowers the chance of having too many of them.
Plant early: If you plant your crops early, they have more time to grow before grasshoppers become a big problem. Older plants can handle grasshopper feeding better than younger plants that are still getting established. Plus, early-seeded crops mature faster, which makes them less appealing to migrating grasshoppers who prefer young, lush plants.
Plant deterrent plants: Some plants can naturally get rid of grasshoppers because of their strong smell and taste, such as calendula, jasmine, cilantro, catnip, moss rose, lilacs, juniper, forsythia, garlic, onions, artemisia, chives, and marigolds. Planting these around your garden or near vulnerable plants can help keep grasshoppers out of gardens.
Keep your garden clean and tidy by getting rid of debris and weeds. These pests like to hide in these places, so keeping them clean and clear can help reduce the number of grasshoppers in your garden.
Crop rotation helps prevent grasshopper infestations. Grasshoppers tend to prefer specific types of plants, so by changing what you grow each season, you can disrupt their breeding and eating habits.
Use physical barriers like floating row covers or netting to protect your plants. Just make sure these barriers are firmly anchored to the ground to stop grasshoppers from getting underneath them.
Kaolin clay or kaolinite is like a shield for plants. When you put it on plants, it creates a barrier that keeps away pests like grasshoppers.
Trap crops: Grow some plants that grasshoppers like, like grains or specific types of grass, away from your main garden. This tricks the insects into going to those plants instead of your main ones.
Watch your plants: Keep an eye on your plants for any signs that grasshoppers are munching on them, like chewed leaves or stems. If you see these species around, act quickly to stop them from causing big damage to your garden.
