How to Kill Bugs in Your Plants

Determine the types of pests infesting your plants. Insects with chewing mouth parts often tear or leave holes in plants while insects with sucking mouth parts dry out, twist and curl plants. If you have any knowledge of pests, you may be able to determine the type of pest from that information. If not, speak to a university extension agent or county agricultural official or take a sample of the pest to them for a diagnosis of your pest and advice regarding how to treat it.

Treat your plants with pesticides. Pesticides come in organic and conventional varieties to suit any gardener's preferences. Liquid and powder varieties are also available. Choose a pesticide that meets your needs and is formulated for the type of pest present in your plants. Follow the instructions on the label to achieve the best results from the pesticides.

Spray your plants with a soap spray, either store-bought or created with water and dish soap. These sprays often smother and kill insects on plants, offering a safer means of control for plants grown near humans and pets. Treat plants with soap sprays regularly for maximum effectiveness.

Introduce beneficial insects to your garden. These insects eat pests, such as worms, mites and aphids that harm your plants. The beneficial insects, however, do not harm your plants. These insects provide a low-maintenance, chemical-free approach to pest control.

Practice proper plant cultivation techniques. Keep plants properly watered and nourished with fertilizer, if necessary. Remove weeds from the growing area. This all encourages healthy plant growth, which in turn fends off pest attacks. If growing food crops, never plant the crops in the same place two years in a row, a practice known as crop rotation, to allow pests of a specific plant to die out before replanting the crops in that area.

Use the companion planting method to kill and further repel pests from your plants. Depending on the types of plants being grown, there are specific other plants that either kill or repel insects from your garden plants when grown alongside them. For example, chives planted near roses repels mites and aphids as well as protecting roses from disease.