Insecticides
Not every insect problem calls for a spray, and not every spray belongs in every garden. Understanding the categories of insecticides helps you pick the mildest option that actually solves the problem.
Contact vs. Systemic
Contact insecticides, like soap sprays, only affect insects they physically touch — they break down quickly and leave no lasting residue. Systemic insecticides are absorbed into the plant itself, protecting it from the inside for weeks at a time, but they also affect any pollinator that visits a treated bloom.
Choosing the Mildest Effective Option
Start with the least disruptive method that will actually solve the problem — hand-picking or a soap spray before a systemic treatment, and a targeted treatment before a broad-spectrum one. Reserve stronger products for infestations that a gentler approach hasn't controlled.
Read labels carefully for pre-harvest intervals on edible plants — even organic-approved insecticides usually specify a waiting period before it's safe to eat treated produce.
