The Best Ways to Get Rid of Grasshoppers

Grasshoppers are destructive causing much damage to garden plants and food crops, even at the juvenile (nymph) stage they can become an issue. These garden pests can live for months and if action is not taken immediately can reduce a healthy or dream garden to a nightmare. There are estimated to be more than 10,000 species of grasshoppers worldwide of this number 600 species roughly can be found through the U.S., and about 30 of these species cause serious damage to edible and ornamental plants.

The presence of grasshoppers in your garden is not a death sentence because there are effective methods that have proven to reduce their population so that they will no longer be a threat to your garden or landscape, for more on grasshopper management here is what to do.

8 Effective Methods for Grasshopper Management

1. Natural Predators

A safe approach to grasshopper management is to attract birds to your garden, by either hanging up a bird feeder or installing native plants that attract birds. Some of these plants include zinnias, aster, holly, coneflowers, sunflowers, marigolds, elderberry, coreopsis, lantanas, trumpet honeysuckle, etc… Only install plants native to your zone.

2. Handpicking Them

If you have a small population of grasshoppers and are up for it you can squash them or take a bucket or container of soapy water with you into your garden, catching and placing them in the soapy water will eliminate them. This method as said earlier should only be used on a handful of grasshoppers visiting your garden. Also installing certain plants in your garden will attract birds using grasshoppers as a food source. Some of these plants include asters, common milkweed, sunflowers, coneflowers, sunflower chickadees, zinnias, etc.. plants that are native to your zone should only be used.

3. Cover Plants

Garden plants can be protected by the use of floating plastic sheeting or row covers this method for preventing grasshopper damage in your garden is effective these materials create a barrier between the insects and your prize plants.

4. Grow a Green Border

This is a great distraction to keep grasshoppers from your prize garden plants, to accomplish this grow green plants or tall grasses around your garden, these plants will keep grasshoppers busy (feeding) while acting as a screen or wall for your garden plants.

5. Using Nosema Locustae Bait

Baits containing the protozoan Nosema locustae are a biological control option that can be used for treating sites where grasshoppers breed. This product is sold under the trade names NOLO Bait or Semaspore and can produce infection of many species of grasshoppers. Because it is selective in effects, only affecting grasshoppers.

However, there are some limitations to Nosema locustae baits. Only young grasshoppers are susceptible, these products are infective after adult migrations occur. Baits containing protozoan Nosema locustae are slow-acting and do not equally infect all grasshopper species. Often it is most effectively used in a long-term grasshopper management program, in combination with other control methods. Nosema locustae baits are perishable. It’s best to keep baits in the refrigerator before use because baits are perishable read the label for expiration dates.

6. Attract Beneficial Insects

Attracting beneficial insects to your garden can help manage grasshopper populations, for example, spiders, robber flies, toads, etc…. some plants to include in your landscape are alyssum, calendula, aster, dill, marigold, sunflower, lavender, cosmos, yarrow, etc… Only install native plants that grow in your zone.

7.  Use Garlic Spray

Mix thoroughly 2 cups of garlic with 10 cups of water, boil this mixture, and let it sit overnight to cool. Now mix one part of this solution with 3 parts water into a 32 oz spray bottle next moisten the leaves of plants that are vulnerable with the spray solution. This will keep grasshoppers and other feeding insects away or at bay.

8. Dust your plants with flour

If certain plants in your garden are targeted by grasshoppers consider dusting the leaves and stems of those plants with kaolin clay or all-purpose flour, which will stick to the grasshopper’s mouthparts causing them not to be able to eat.

Tips to Prevent Grasshoppers

These methods will help to reduce the presence of grasshoppers in your garden and landscape.

• Properly managing your garden by keeping plant bed areas and other areas nice and trimmed will reduce hiding places for juveniles (nymph) stage and adults exposing them to natural predators.
• The removal of weeds can also reduce the hiding places of grasshoppers exposing them to natural predators.
• Installing some grasshopper-resistant plants will help to deter grasshoppers for example lavender, basil, rosemary, sage, and passion vines are just a few to try.

Conclusion

Grasshopper management is possible by following this guide, these proven methods have given good results in safeguarding garden plants against grasshoppers. Grasshoppers are destructive because of their huge appetite and their great numbers but they can be stopped in their tracks. Why should these garden insect pests rob you of your prized crop or harvest when you can strike back-stopping grasshoppers in their tracks? Don’t let your dream garden become a nightmare with these unvited guests.