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 First, determine whether the insects present are actually causing trouble. Over 90 percent of the insects you will find in your garden are benign; some are beneficials which eat pest insects. Inspect your plants regularly; if you catch an infestation in an early stage, it is much easier to treat. Your local Cooperative Extension may be able to help you sort out the good from the bad.

 CULTURAL MANAGEMENT TOOLS  

Keep plants healthy.  Sick plants attract more insects. Make sure your plants have adequate sunlight and moisture. They require 6-8 hours of direct sun and at least 1 inch of water per week to grow normally. Keep weed competition to a minimum. Mulching the soil keeps down weeds and conserves moisture. Fertilize, but not too much, since excess nitrogen creates weak growth which attracts sucking insects such as aphids, scale, and mites. Incorporate plenty of organic matter (compost) into your soil.

  Handpick. This method is effective for large insects, such as beetles. Simply knock them into a can of soapy water.

  Wash. Small insects such as aphids and spider mites can be dislodged with a strong stream of water. Used every three days, water can break the pest's life cycle chain. 

Attract beneficials. Beneficial insects can keep pests from causing problems. Ladybugs, lacewings and others will come if their prey is present. Learn to identify the good bugs - avoid toxic chemicals which could damage beneficials as well as pests. Encourage beneficials by planting flowers (they feed on nectar and pollen as well as other insects) and by providing a water source such as a bird bath.

Bt BACTERIA (DIPEL)  

What is it? Bt stands for Bacillus thuringiensis - just one of more than 80 different bacteria found in nature that control specific insect pests. Bt is a stomach poison that releases toxin inside the alkaline stomachs of many insects. Fortunately, it will not harm people, pets, birds, or bees because their stomachs are too acidic for the bacteria to release the toxin. 

How is it used? Bt is availabe in powdered form at your local garden center. Simply sprinkle or dust it onto plants, as recommended on the label, for insects to injest as they chew on plants. Bt must be eaten by the insects in order to be effective. It may take a few hours to a few days for the toxin to slow the insect and cause it to stop eating. 

What is it effective against? Different strains of Bt control the following: caterpillars such as cabbageworms, tomato hornworms; larvae of mosquitoes, black flies and fungus gnats; Colorado potato beetle; Japanese beetle grubs.

 HORTICULTURAL OIL

  What is it? Horticultural oil is a highly refined petroleum oil specifically manufactured to control plant pests. It kills insect and mite pests by suffocating them or disrupting their feeding. Eggs, immature forms and soft-bodied adults are particularly susceptible. It has very low toxicity to humans and wildlife, is relatively safe for plants and leaves no toxic residue.

  How is it used? Horticultural oil can be applied with a sprayer to infested plants at any time of the year that weather conditions are suitable. Use horticultural oils at temperatures below 85 degrees F. and during times of low humidity. Complete coverage of the infested parts of the plant with oil is essential. Don't spray drought-stressed plants. 

What is horticultural oil effective against? It is effective against the following insects: aphids, leafhoppers, mealybugs, mites, scales, spider mites, and whiteflies.

INSECTICIDAL SOAP

  What is it? A pesticide containing sodium or potassium salts combined with fatty acids. Insecticidal soap is one of the safest choices available for controlling pests. 

How is it used? Insecticidal soap must directly contact the insect to be effective. When soap is applied to a susceptible insect, the fatty acids penetrate the insect's covering and cause the cells to collapse, leading to the death of the insect. Soap will not prevent pests or affect those that walk across it once the soap has dried. You must get good coverage of the pest when you apply the soap. Be sure to spray the underside of the leaves. Insecticidal soap needs to be applied frequently as the label recommends. It does not always work 100% however, it will certainly help to keep pests at a manageable level. Don't spray drought-stressed plants. 

What is it effective against? Soaps are effective on these common pests: adelgids, aphids, cabbageworms, earwigs, flea beetles, lace bugs, leafhoppers, mealybugs, mites, plant bugs, rose slugs, scale insects, squash bugs, stink bugs, thrips, and whiteflies.