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At The Green Life Soil Co we only stock pest control products that are either Certified Organic or allowable for use under Organic standards.
We believe that most pest and disease problems in gardens stem from other factors, like seasonal conditions,
humidity, etc. By improving or changing conditions within your garden, often pest numbers will reduce to tolerable levels, or the pests may even disappear completely if the conditions under which they flourish are modified.
Remember that pesticides are mostly non-specific; and that beneficial insects can also be harmed by broad spectrum applications.
Assuming pests numbers are problematic, some treatments can be easily and cheaply made at home (see our pest & disease recipe fact sheet for more information). Otherwise, some of the products we have available ready made include:-
Multiguard Slug & Snail Pellets
These are iron based, and are the safest option for pets, children and wildlife. Slugs and snails eat the pellets because they like the taste, but rather than die on the spot, they lose their appetite and head for their hiding places where they die quickly. Multiguard contains no dangerous poisons. As the Multiguard pellets break down, they are taken up by plants as a beneficial source of iron.
Yellow Sticky Traps
Great for greenhouses, where whitefly or thrip are causing problems. These are a physical trap; attracting the insects to the yellow card, coated with a strong adhesive. The insects cannot free themselves, and die.
Eco-oil
A registered organic miticide/insecticide spray made from Australian-grown canola oil, enhanced with a blend of tea tree and eucalyptus oils. Eco-oil controls a broad range of insects, including scale, mites, aphids, whitefly and leafminer. There is less risk of burning foliage with eco-oil than with white oil and other mineral oil sprays, and there is no withholding period for edible crops. Eco-oil is an excellent wetter/sticker for all foliar garden sprays when used at half the dose rate.
Available in a 500ml concentrate pack.
Eco-neem
A naturally-derived botanical insecticide that contains a highly stable and effective extract from the neem tree. Eco-neem controls caterpillars, lace bugs, aphids, whiteflies, beetles, mealybugs, scale, mites, fungus gnats, grasshoppers, leafminers and thrips.
Available in a 100mL concentrate pack.
Eco-naturalure Fruit Fly Bait Concentrate
A registered organic fruit fly control bait spray for both male and female flies. It combines specific food-based attractants, which target only fruit flies, and a bacteria-derived insecticide called spinosad. Application is easy – it’s a spot spray, not whole-tree application. No withholding period. Controls both Queensland and Mediterranean fruit flies.
Available in a 150ml concentrate pack.
Cera Trap Fruit Fly Trapping System
The bait included in the trap is a protein based liquid attractive to both male and female fruit flies. Pesticide free, the flies drown in the liquid as they are unable to find an exit. The manufacturers recommend one trap per tree, which should last for 3 - 4 months.
600mL pack.
Dipel
Dipel is a Yates product which contains Bacillus thuringiensis, a naturally occurring bacteria. It controls many leaf-eating caterpillars of moths and butterflies, but does not harm other insects, birds, fish or warm blooded animals. Dipel does not kill caterpillars immediately. Once a caterpillar eats treated foliage, it stops eating, but may take up to 3-4 days to die and drop from the leaf.
Available in a 50gm pack.
Diatomaceous Earth (DE)
Diatomaceous earth is made from the remains of tiny single celled algae called diatoms, which make shells for themselves out of silica. When the diatoms die, the shells settle on the bottom of sea or lake beds and fossilize into a soft, chalky rock like substance. There are many DE deposits around the world which are mined for use in industry and agriculture.
One of its main benefits to gardeners is its role in natural pest control. It is also naturally extremely absorbent.
DE’s microscopic structure consists of many sharp edges. These tiny shards come into contact with insects and piece the waxy exoskeletal layer, causing fatal dehydration. Because the effect is mechanical, it is impossible for the pest to build up immunity.
DE can be dusted, sprinkled, raked, mixed with water and sprayed over plants or around the house and garden where pests are a problem. Note – DE will also harm beneficial insects like bees, so please use it judiciously. It is not a poison, so do not expect instant results, however DE will continue to work as long as it is present in the environment.
 DE is also useful sprinkled in & around chook pens, kennel areas, etc. It will help control ticks and mites, but also prevents breeding of flies in droppings. It will deodorise and absorb odours from these areas. It can also be used externally in animal fur to control ticks and fleas (dusted through), and internally to treat parasites (please do your own research on this!). Food grade DE is not poisonous to humans or animals. DE can be used in the garden, or inside the house. It is highly effective in helping to eradicate bed bugs!
DE is composed of silica, but also contains other trace minerals. When used in soils, it aids in:
- Increases water holding capacity, and aids nutrient
retention
- Encourages beneficial microbial soil activity
- Boosts plant tissue strength, meaning more pest and disease resistance
- Converts locked up phosphorous into a plant available form
- Decreases soil salinity by diluting sodium content
DE is a beneficial addition to compost heaps. It aids with controlling odours and to prevent pests breeding. It will not harm earthworms, provided it is sprinkled on the top of the soil to allow worms to slowly digest it and work it in.
Available in 3kg and 8kg tubs.
Important Notes:
Use only food grade DE. Pool filtered DE is chemically treated and is poisonous.
Our DE is registered in Australia as Animal Food Grade (but not for human consumption) and is Certified Organic by BFA.
Health warning:
Care should be taken when using DE. Wear a dust mask, eye protection and gloves. While it is non toxic the tiny particles can be drying to skin and hands, and harmful if inhaled. Always wash hands after use.
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