If you see tiny reddish-brown bugs in your garden, don’t panic—“true bedbugs (Cimex lectularius) usually live indoors—inside mattresses, couches, and furniture—rather than in gardens.” What you’re likely seeing are lookalike pests such as aphids, chinch bugs, thrips, or mites. These insects “drain nutrients from your plants, cause yellowing or curling leaves, spread plant diseases, and multiply rapidly.”

The best natural defense? Neem oil. “Neem oil is a natural extract from the seeds of the neem tree” and contains azadirachtin, which “disrupts insect hormones, prevents growth and reproduction, stops feeding almost immediately, and repels insects with its strong odor.”

To make neem oil spray: mix “2 teaspoons cold-pressed neem oil, ½ teaspoon liquid dish soap, and 1 quart warm water” in a spray bottle. Apply it on leaves, stems, and soil every 3–5 days until pests are gone, then once weekly for prevention.

Gardeners love it because “within minutes, many insects stop feeding and begin to flee.” Apply in the early morning or evening to protect pollinators.

Other natural helpers include diatomaceous earth, garlic-chili spray, and companion plants like marigolds or basil. With these methods, you can “stop pests in minutes, protect your plants naturally, and keep your garden free from harsh chemicals.”