Sasha CampbellMany pests cause chewing damage to plants. One of them is the grasshopper.
Grasshoppers are insects that will feed on many garden plants and field crops. As a result, you must get rid of them before an infestation occurs.
These critters date back to the Triassic period. They are among the oldest chewing herbivorous insects [1].
How to Get Rid of Grasshoppers Naturally
Below are some great natural methods and home remedies to kill or stop these pests from eating your plants.
1. Garlic Spray
Garlic spray is a cheap remedy to repel grasshoppers and locusts from crops.
To make garlic spray for grasshoppers, you’ll need 2 bulbs of garlic and 1 quart of water.
Blend well, then heat the mixture until it reaches a boiling point. Next, please remove it from the heat and let it sit overnight.
Strain through cheesecloth to get out all the garlic chunks, and store the solution in a glass jar until ready to use. When ready, add 1 part of the garlic concentrate to 10 parts water in a spray bottle.
Spray this garlic pesticide early in the morning. Coat the plants evenly, including the undersides of the leaves.
Reapply this homemade grasshopper spray once weekly or if the plants get wet from overhead watering or rain.
2. Vinegar Spray
Another DIY natural spray repellent is vinegar. Moreover, you can use either plain white or apple cider vinegar.
To get rid of grasshoppers with vinegar, mix one part vinegar with three parts water and 4-5 drops of liquid soap. Apply just as you would garlic spray.
3. Natural Predators
One grasshopper pest control method that doesn’t involve poison is attracting natural enemies. Grasshoppers have lots of natural predators, including:
- Rodents
- Ground beetles
- Praying mantis
- Frogs
- Raccoons
- Some snakes
- Lizards
- Spiders
- Birds
- Opossums
4. Grass Trap
Another grasshopper control method is the grass trap. Grasshoppers like to eat grass and other plants in the grass family.
So, plant grass at the edges of your garden and in isolated parts of your yard. It will draw grasshoppers away from your edible plants.
5. Birds
Attracting birds is a great way to kill grasshoppers on plants organically.
All kinds of birds love eating flying insects. Bluebirds, blackbirds, chickens, hawks, guineas, and blue jays eat grasshoppers.
Providing a source of water and shelter will draw many wild birds to you. Moreover, chickens and guinea fowl make great domestic pets, and both lay good eggs.
However, chickens may damage some garden plants, while guinea fowl are noisy. But on the plus side, having them is a smart way of controlling grasshoppers in your vegetable garden.
6. Nolo Bait
This biological insecticide kills grasshoppers and insects closely related to them, including Mormon crickets and locusts.
In 2 to 4 weeks after the application, half the population will be dead. Nolo Bait is a long-term solution that will require repeat applications to be successful.
7. Hot Pepper Spray
Mixing hot peppers with garlic, water, and organic soap makes an excellent grasshopper repellent spray.
Moreover, it will repel other insects, too, as the solution’s taste and smell will be horrible to them.
8. Soapy Water
This home remedy tends to be a bit time-consuming, but it kills them.
Knock the grasshoppers off the plants and into a bucket of soapy water, where they’ll drown. You can also spray the solution directly on the pests.
Mix 4 tablespoons of liquid soap with a gallon of water for the recipe. Dawn dish soap can work; however, you can use organic soaps for organic vegetable gardens.
This solution will help you keep grasshoppers off your plants and prevent attacks. It is also great for getting rid of grasshoppers in your house.
9. Tilling
Do this early in the spring and right after harvest. Both times may destroy egg pods and disrupt this part of the grasshopper’s life cycle.
10. Flour
Using a fluffy brush or a makeup brush to dust your plants with flour is another great way to get rid of grasshoppers.
Regular household flour creates a glue that seals up the mouth when it mixes with the pests’ saliva. As a result, they will likely die of hunger before they can get it off.
11. Frogs
A pond or shallow water will attract frogs to your garden. They love eating grasshoppers. Toads are also good for getting rid of these insects.
12. Neem Oil
Neem oil works better against grasshopper nymphs. Their small bodies make them more susceptible to poisoning.
Spraying your plants with the product will also keep the adult grasshoppers away.
To use neem oil for grasshoppers, combine one teaspoon of organic liquid soap with two tablespoons of neem oil and a gallon of water. Shake well, and use this homemade grasshopper killer spray to coat your plants.
13. Repellent Plants
Some plants, not just flowers, repel grasshoppers. They also won’t eat some herbs and vegetables.
Plants that repel grasshoppers include Dianthus, Lantana, Chinese Brake Fern, Moss Rose, Verbena, Jasmine, Sage, and Crepe Myrtle.
Using these as companion plants in your garden can help deter grasshoppers before they do any damage.
14. Row Covers
Row covers will create a barrier between grasshoppers and your plants. This means they will have to go elsewhere to eat.
Row covers will also keep away other bad insects.
15. Kaolin Clay
Mix this natural powder with water and liquid soap before applying it to your plants. Kaolin clay will keep away these insects, creating a barrier between them and your plants.
16. Diatomaceous Earth (DE)
DE is another excellent natural way to repel all types of garden pests. Dusting diatomaceous earth on the plants where grasshoppers feed will kill the critters.
It will dehydrate them to death. However, use food-grade DE to control grasshoppers in your vegetable garden and home.
17. Insecticidal Soap Spray
You can purchase insecticidal soaps made with pure organic ingredients commercially.
The solution works when sprayed on the nymphs. It might also repel adult grasshoppers.
Moreover, you can use it on the day of harvest.
18. Molasses Trap
For this grasshopper bait recipe, all you need is molasses and water.
Fill a yellow bucket with water and 10% molasses. Next, place it in the rows where your crops are planted to draw grasshoppers in and drown them.
You can also bury a jar halfway into the ground, partly filled with molasses water. The critters will then hop in.
Pick the dead ones out and reuse the trap.
19. Semaspore Bait
Semaspore Bait is great for killing grasshoppers that are eating plants. It also works against pasture grasshoppers.
Apply it to hatching beds and surrounding areas. For more details on how to properly apply, follow the directions on the container.
20. Smash Them
This method works well to get rid of lubber grasshoppers organically. If you see them on a hard surface, smash them. Stomping them is also a good idea if they are within your foot’s reach.
See also: 25 ways to keep mosquitoes away from your house and yard naturally.
Takeaway
Grasshoppers will eat your plants and become quite destructive to your garden; however, the best offense is a good defense.
Stopping even a single grasshopper from invading can save you a lot of work and lost crops. Utilizing the above natural remedies will help immensely.
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