How To Get Rid Of Grasshoppers

In large numbers, grasshoppers can be one of the most destructive garden pests, and can seem challenging to get rid of. Between young grasshopper nymphs consuming plants in large quantities near where they hatch, as well as adult grasshoppers migrating in from your neighbors, they can wreak havoc in your yard.

Getting rid of grasshoppers starts with proactive prevention such as tilling soil, growing some plants they don’t like, diverting their attention to areas where they cause less harm, keeping your yard and garden tidy, using a fabric barrier and inviting and encouraging natural predators. You will also need to use things like insecticides containing permethrin, natural sprays, nolo bait, neem oil and diatomaceous earth, depending on your situation.

In this article, I will walk you through specific steps you can take in early spring that will prepare your yard for grasshoppers. Being proactive will go far in minimizing grasshopper issues, but upticks through late summer can still occur when grasshoppers migrate from elsewhere in search of food. I will outline several options for treating any upticks that may arise throughout the season. Are grasshoppers ravaging your garden? Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!

You may also be interested in reading these two related articles “How To Get Rid Of Termites” and “How To Get Rid Of Earwigs“.

Proactive Steps To Prevent Grasshopper Problems

Till Soil In Early Spring

One of the best proactive measures to address grasshoppers is to till your soil early in the spring. Grasshoppers lay their eggs in the soil towards the end of summer, where they remain dormant through winter. Tilling the soil and disrupting pods before they hatch can significantly reduce seasonal grasshopper issues.

Plant This, Not That

When you have flexibility in the type of vegetation you grow, consider incorporating plants and flowers that grasshoppers do not like, including:

Artemisia
Asters
Chrysanthemums
Crepe myrtle
Dianthus
Forsythia
Iris
Jasmine
Juniper
Lantana
Marigold
Wisteria

When it comes to vegetables, grasshoppers have their favorites. Many garden grasshoppers prefer crops of beans, carrots, corn and lettuce. Squash, tomatoes, and peas tend to get passed over. Herbs that grasshoppers will shy away from include: cilantro, horehound, oregano, and sage.

Divert Attention Away From Your Garden

Grasshoppers are attracted to and thrive in tall grassy areas (thus the name grass hoppers). Prevent your garden from being targeted by grasshoppers by strategically planting tall grasses toward the fringes of your yard. Migrating grasshoppers that encounter these suitable grassy areas will likely be satisfied and look no further towards your garden.

Keep A Tidy Garden

Similar to meadows and fields with tall grasses, areas with untamed weeds can be a sanctuary for grasshoppers. Keep a low-cut lawn and a tidy garden, free from excess weeds (especially snakeweed). This will go far in minimizing grasshopper problems.

Use A Fabric Barrier

Tenting a light-weight fabric cloth over your garden can be an effective physical barrier to prevent grasshopper damage. The trick with garden covers is they should be floating and not physically laid atop of your plants. When there is direct contact between the cover and plants, grasshoppers have been known to chew through the cloth in order to reach the underlying vegetation. But if you tent the cloth with stakes to avoid direct contact with your plants, the fabric can be an effective last line of defense against grasshoppers. (Floating row cover kits are available, which include everything you need to setup the canopy structure.)

Invite Natural Predators

Grasshoppers have several natural predators, including: birds, frogs, lizards, spiders and predatory insects. Creating an outdoor environment that is inviting to these predators can help ward off grasshoppers in large numbers.

A diverse selection of native trees and plants are attractive to birds. Adding a bird bath and bird feeders is also a welcoming addition. But it is not just blue jays, blackbirds, bluebirds kestrels and crows that love grasshoppers. Chickens will also feast on grasshoppers. Chances are that grasshoppers aren’t a huge problem if you are raising chickens in the same area.

Incorporate flowering plants in and around your garden to attract beneficial insects. Predatory insects (such as robber flies and parasitic wasps) are attracted to flowering plants such as: marigolds, daisies, lavender, aster, and alyssum.

“They’ll come for the nectar, they’ll stay for the grasshoppers!”

Apply Strategic Treatments To Get Rid Of Grasshoppers

Insecticide Treatments (Permethrin)

Even with careful preventative measures, you may still need to treat persistent grasshoppers. Insecticides containing the active ingredient permethrin (such as DragNet SFR) can be used to poison and kill grasshoppers. This type of product is typically applied to ornamental vegetation and soil around the perimeter of the garden and home. This is most effective if applied when young grasshoppers begin hatching (late spring to early summer).

Natural Garden Sprays

Insecticides can be effective and are recommended in many situations. However, your vegetable garden is a place you may want to steer clear of chemicals. There are a few natural sprays you can use to spot treat garden plants, making them less desirable to pests. Garlic spray and hot pepper spray are two such options.

You can purchase (or make your own) garlic spray. Grasshoppers do not like the taste or the smell. Spray a concentrated garlic mixture on the leaves of your garden vegetables to turn-off would-be invaders. Hot pepper spray, made primarily with cayenne pepper, has a similar effect on grasshoppers.

Nolo Bait

A biological insecticide, known as Nolo Bait, addresses grasshopper outbreaks in a unique way. Nolo Bait consists of wheat bran that has been coated with Nosema locustae (a single-celled protozoan). When ingested, the pathogen multiplies and kills the grasshopper over time. Infected grasshoppers that die are cannibalized by other grasshoppers, thus spreading the disease from grasshopper to grasshopper.

Nolo Bait is most effective at reducing large grasshopper populations over several weeks. It works best when applied to soil in the spring when young grasshoppers are hatching. This product is non-toxic to humans, pets, and wildlife, making it a popular preventative option.

Neem Oil

A favorite amongst gardeners for the treatment of unwanted pests is Neem Oil. This substance controls grasshoppers on several fronts. The smell is similar to garlic and can serve as an effective repellant when sprayed on the leaves of your garden plants. When Neem Oil is consumed by grasshoppers, it disrupts the growth of young nymphs, reduces appetite and inhibits egg-laying.

There is an added benefit from the use of Neem Oil on your vegetation. Neem Oil is a fungicide, reducing mildew, rusts, and various types of fungi in your gardens.

Diatomaceous Earth

Another option for treating grasshoppers is Diatomaceous Earth (DE). DE is made up of fossilized organisms that appear under a microscope as sharp glass. To use, strategically sprinkle a ribbon of DE around the perimeter of your garden and near the base of your plants. Grasshoppers (and other insects) that ingest or trek through DE will typically die within two days. (DE on the soil is most effective on young nymphs.)

In addition, DE can be combined with water and applied directly to garden vegetation using a spray bottle. After the water evaporates, a thin layer of DE will remain on the vegetation, ready to be ingested by grasshoppers when they come to feast.

Final Thoughts

In small numbers, grasshoppers can be beneficial and are part of a healthy ecosystem. But grasshopper outbreaks can destroy plants, vegetables, and valuable crops in a matter of days. Prevent outbreaks by being proactive in the early spring, maintaining a tidy garden through the end of summer, and applying insecticides or natural repellants throughout the season.

Pure Pest Control