Organic Pesticide is a popular way to garden, but it’s not without its challenges. The ideal would be to avoid the need for any pesticides at all, but that’s rarely feasible on a large scale commercial operation. Even in the home garden, insects can ravage plants and spread disease. When that happens, a quick fix is necessary to prevent losses. Pesticides should always be the last resort, and ideally, less toxic options should first be tried, such as hand-picking or physically removing affected plant parts.

Natural and Organic Pesticide are often considered safer than synthetic chemical products, but they are still regulated to minimize impacts to non-target organisms and the environment. This is especially true in the case of organic-allowed pesticides like pyrethrum (derived from chrysanthemum flowers), neem oil, spinosad, rotenone and diatomaceous earth.

Green Pest Control: The Benefits of Using Organic Pesticides in Your Garden

Despite their supposedly lower environmental impact, natural pesticides can be just as hazardous if they are not applied properly or if they are used at excessively high levels. For example, a recent study found that organic and conventional U.S. spinach had similar amounts of pesticide residue on them, including famoxadone—a synthetic pesticide banned in organic farming that can disrupt hormones and cause cancer if ingested at inappropriate levels.

Ultimately, avoiding pests through the use of preventative practices and other Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques can greatly reduce the need for any chemicals at all. But, if that’s not possible, it’s important to know the limitations of natural and organic pesticides so you can make educated decisions about what to use and how much to apply.