How Do You Deal With Bugs Eating Basil Plants?
Basil, a commonly grown herb, is often used as a natural insect repellent. However, even this plant has its share of predators and must be protected from the insects that eat up the leaves before they even have a chance to develop. Intruders including aphids, whiteflies and slugs are common threats to this herb, but fortunately, you can use a variety of natural methods that do not employ chemicals and effectively deal with the bugs on your own basil plant. Spray an organic insecticidal soap, such as Safer, on your basil plant to deal with pests like whiteflies and Japanese beetles that can chew on the foliage. The natural solution of the soap does not add any impurities that endanger the plant or make the herb unhealthy to consume. Place wood ashes on the soil around your basil plant to keep bugs such as cutworms away from the young plant’s roots. Further, you can create a cutworm collar by cutting out the bottom of a tuna can and inserting it over the basil seedling. Position the can
