Traps and Pheromones
You can also try trapping the little pests by rigging up a battery-powered light over a pan filled with soapy water. At night they’ll be attracted to the light, fall into the water, and… game over.
Commercially available pheromone traps emit a scent that the creepy crawlers supposedly find irresistible, but many gardeners seem to find the effectiveness of these negligible at best.
Organic Pesticides and Repellents
Going back to our stinky-beats-stinky theory, you might want to try a garlic spray. Here’s how to make your own at home:
Chop five or six garlic cloves finely and boil in a gallon of water. Let it cool, then strain the mixture and spray it on susceptible plants. Simple, right?
Neem oil is often effective against these smelly invaders, and it’s available on Amazon.
Bonide Captain Jack’s Neem Max Concentrated Cold Pressed Neem Oil
Insecticidal soap tends to work better against soft-bodied insects, but some gardeners report success using it against the stinkies.
You can purchase commercial insecticidal soaps, such as this one available on Amazon.
Or, make your own by combining five tablespoons of liquid soap with one gallon of water.
Bonide Pyrethrin Spray Concentrate
Pyrethrin is another organic insecticide that can be effective against stink bugs. Find it at Amazon.
Some gardeners have found wood ash to be a good stink bug repellent, while others say it works better against slugs and snails.
If you want to give it a try, simply spread a thin layer around your vulnerable plants after a rain.
Chemical Controls
When all else fails, you can try a chemical-based product such as Sevin.
Sevin is quite effective against stink bugs, but keep in mind that it is toxic to humans and classified as a likely human carcinogen by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, so you’ll want to thoroughly wash food treated with this product.
Sevin Insect Killer Concentrate via Amazon
Also note that this chemical will also kill beneficial insects such as bees and ladybugs.
Ready to do Battle?
We’ve described a number of techniques you can try to rid your garden of these fruit- and veggie-loving bugs. Are you ready to do battle?
These pests may have a shield, but now you’ve got a number of arrows in your quiver.
Whether it’s giving them a dose of their own medicine by planting smelly plants that repel them or taking a more aggressive stance with lethal sprays, it’s time to find a way to spare your plants from the stress of the stink. (And speaking of stress… gardening is excellent for stress relief.)
Do you have any tried-and-true methods for vanquishing these bugs? Share in the comments section below!
And don’t forget to check out some of our other pest control guides such as:
Gretchen Heber
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