Garden Pest & Disease Control — 15+ Organic Solutions
Identify, prevent, and treat the most common garden pests and diseases using organic methods. No synthetic chemicals needed.
Prevention is the best cure: Learn proactive techniques in our Organic Pest Control Guide and Companion Planting Guide. Browse plant guides for crop-specific pest information, or check your planting calendar for seasonal pest timing.
🐛 Aphids
ModerateClusters of tiny soft-bodied insects on stems and leaf undersides. Sticky honeydew residue. Curled o…
🐛 Tomato Hornworm
HighLarge green caterpillars (up to 4 inches) with white diagonal stripes and a horn on the tail. Rapid …
🦋 Squash Vine Borer
HighSudden wilting of entire vine despite adequate water. Sawdust-like frass at base of stems. Small hol…
🦋 Cabbage Worms & Loopers
ModerateVelvety green caterpillars on leaf surfaces. Irregular holes in leaves. Green frass (droppings) on l…
🐌 Slugs & Snails
ModerateIrregular holes in leaves, especially overnight. Shiny slime trails on soil and plants. Seedlings di…
🐞 Colorado Potato Beetle
HighRound, yellow-orange beetles with black stripes on wing covers. Orange egg clusters on leaf undersid…
🍄 Powdery Mildew
ModerateWhite powdery coating on leaf surfaces. Starts as small white spots, spreads to cover entire leaves.…
🍄 Tomato Blight (Early & Late)
HighEarly blight: brown spots with concentric rings (target pattern) on lower leaves first. Late blight:…
🐞 Cucumber Beetles
HighSmall yellow-green beetles with either black stripes or spots. Feeding damage on flowers, leaves, an…
🐞 Japanese Beetles
ModerateMetallic green and copper beetles skeletonizing leaves (eating tissue between veins). Clusters of be…
🐞 Flea Beetles
ModerateTiny (1/16 inch) jumping beetles. Small round holes in leaves giving a 'shotgun blast' appearance. M…
🐛 Squash Bugs
HighFlat, brownish-gray shield-shaped bugs on vines and under leaves. Bronze-brown egg clusters on leaf …
🍄 Root Rot
HighYellow, wilting leaves despite moist soil. Mushy, brown, or black roots instead of healthy white one…
🔴 Blossom End Rot
ModerateDark, leathery, sunken spots on the blossom end (bottom) of fruits. Starts as small water-soaked are…
🍄 Downy Mildew
HighYellow or pale green angular patches on upper leaf surfaces. Fuzzy gray or purple growth on leaf und…
Related Gardening Guides
These technique guides will help you prevent pest and disease problems before they start:
- Organic Pest Control — comprehensive prevention and treatment strategies
- Companion Planting — use plant partnerships to naturally repel pests
- Building Better Soil — healthy soil means healthier, pest-resistant plants
- Composting 101 — create nutrient-rich compost for stronger plants
- Watering Guide — proper watering prevents many diseases