Need Help Controlling Pests?

Today's gardeners have many options for dealing with insects and other bugs without affecting their garden environment in a harmful way.

Scotts manufactures and distributes Defender™ pesticides in accordance with its policy of products that 'work with the environment'.

Be well informed

What do you want to do? Ways to achieve your goal How Scotts® can help

Kill aphids and caterpillars on my vegetables and herbs

  • Pick the insects off and squash them.
  • Encourage birds and good insects such as ladybirds, damsel flies, dragon flies, and preying mantises.
  • Use a low toxicity spray.

Defender™ Pyrethrum Insect Spray is safe to use on vegetables.

The spray only has a one day withholding period. That is, if you spray today, you can't pick the vegetables tomorrow, but it's OK to eat them the day after that.

Kill pests on my shrubs and flowers

  • You can use the same approach with shrubs and flowers as with vegetables and herbs
    OR
  • You can use a spray with some residual (longer-lasting) effect

Defender™ MaxGuard treats a range of pests including azalea lace bug, leafhoppers, lillypilly psyllids, scale and soft-bodied pests. It is long-lasting, systemic and also kills target pests on contact. Do not use MaxGuard on food plants!

Kill snails and slugs.

  • Switch the outside lights off for several hours at night, then go on a pick-and-squash raid.
  • Encourage birds into the garden.
  • Use snail pellets to attract and kill the snails.

Defender™ Snail & Slug Pellets are effective and economical.

Sprinkle them lightly and often. Keep them away from children and pets.

Place pellets in bait traps when pets or children are present.

Protect the home from pest invasion.

  • Remove rubbish, such as old timber and sheets of iron, from around the house. They harbour pests such as spiders & cockroaches.
  • Keep foliage clear of the house.
  • Use a barrier spray to deter pests from entering.

Defender™ Home Defense Indoor & Outdoor Barrier Spray is a barrier spray that deters and kills pests, indoors or out.

Deal with pests on indoor plants

Healthy indoor plants will have fewer pest problems.

  • Ensure suitable light levels.
  • Give plants adequate (but not too much) water.
  • Provide good drainage.
  • Use a suitable fertiliser.
  • Use pest sprays that are scheduled for indoor use.

Osmocote® Pots Planters & Indoors controlled release fertiliser is designed specifically for indoor and container-grown plants.

Defender™ Pyrethrum Insect Spray is a low-toxicity spray that can be safely used indoors.

Kill lawn pests.

First identify which pest is to blame.

For example, look out for

  • lawn beetles & lawn grubs
  • army worm
  • billbugs
  • argentine stem weevil
  • cockchafers
  • cutworms
  • field & mole crickets
  • ants

Try to identify which pest is attacking your lawn - consult a local turf specialist or garden centre for advice.

Lawn Builder™ + Grub and Insect Control will kill a wide range of lawn pests while fertilizing the lawn.