Knowledgebase
How Do I Kill Grasshoppers? #873637
Asked June 18, 2024, 3:03 PM EDT
Harney County Oregon
Expert Response
Grasshoppers can be a destructive garden pest, especially in large numbers, and can devastate crops in a short amount of time. They are attracted to gardens for food and moisture, and are particularly fond of young, green plants like grasses, lettuce, carrots, beans, corn, flowers, and onions.
Here are some ways to get rid of grasshoppers in your garden
Use natural pesticides: Spray plants with a mixture of two quarts of warm water, half a teaspoon of liquid dish soap, and three teaspoons of neem oil to slow down grasshoppers and stunt their growth. You can also try garlic spray, which grasshoppers dislike because of its strong scent.
Use commercial baits: Place pellets that contain Nosema Locustae, a grasshopper disease, near where the grasshoppers are feeding. Within two weeks, at least half of the grasshoppers will eat the pellets and die.
Encourage natural predators: Attract natural predators to your garden. You can also try keeping chickens.
Till the soil: Tilling the ground can help get rid of grasshoppers.
Eliminate weeds: Weeding can help get rid of grasshoppers.
Cover vulnerable plants: Keep target plants covered.
The best time to treat grasshoppers is in early summer, before they develop into winged adults.