Organic Pest Control: Fact and Fiction

You can sprinkle grits around fire ant mounds to kill these aggressive, stinging insects.

Fire ants won't really eat dry grits, consume water, and then explode, says Dr. Ron Harrison, entomologist and Orkin Technical Services Advisor. To control them organically, remove outdoor food and moisture sources that may attract them, such as pet bowls or spills. Seal gaps around doors and windows to help keep them out of your home.

Soapy water can help manage aphids, garden bugs that damage plants by sucking their juices.

Spraying plants with two tablespoons of dish soap mixed in a gallon of water will help manage aphids. For bigger pests, such as these harlequin bugs, wear gloves and handpick the pests. Then drop them into a jar of soapy water.