Organic Pesticides for Apple Trees

Compost Fertilizer

• Compost fertilizer can be made from seaweed, comfrey, nettles, manure, and ordinary compost. This mixture will deter pests and provide an area for predator species to grow and take care of bugs such as aphids, according to the Small Farm Permaculture and Sustainable Living website. Also, compost will give the soil extra nutrients and improve the tree's general health This is an organic option that lets you use existing plant materials instead of synthetic chemicals.

Soap

• While you may not think of soap as a useful pest control compound, according to the Small Farm Permaculture and Sustainable Living website and the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service, it can work against small pests such as aphids that live in the branches and leaves of apple trees. The soap either blocks their respiration organs or drives them off of the tree. Use organic liquid soap mixed with water until you can spray it easily over the tree. Look for the liquid soaps at health food stores, or insecticidal soaps at nurseries.

Kaolin Clay

• Kaolin clay is film that uses an industrial clay and organic pesticides to prevent pests such as mites, codling moths, apple suckers, and others. The mixture is sold as a product that has received Environmental Protection Agency authorization as an acceptable pesticide to use in organic apple farming. You can spray the clay as a liquid onto your apple tree; it will dry as a film that helps protect the tree against insects.

Natural Pest Control

• Natural pest control is not a true pesticide, but it is useful if you do not want to use chemicals when caring for your trees. Cultivate select patches of weeds to encourage the growth of predatory insects that eat the pests invading the apple tree. You also can buy eggs of fly and wasp species that prey on apple tree insects. Scatter the eggs in your low-growing plants where they will hatch and spread predatory insects most effectively.