475 - The Problem with Sevin Dust
6/9/202629 min
Struggling with garden pests and wondering if Sevin Dust is the answer?
Before you reach for this popular insecticide, it's important to understand what it does to pests, pollinators, and your garden ecosystem.
In this episode, you'll learn the truth about Sevin Dust, carbaryl, organic pest control, and safer ways to manage garden insects.
Free Download: Companion Planting for Pest Control
Discover which plant pairings naturally help keep harmful insects away from your crops.
http://journeywithjill.net/companion-planting-for-pest
Key Takeaways
- Learn how Sevin Dust has changed over the years and why that matters.
- Understand the differences between carbaryl and the current Sevin Dust formulation.
- Discover the risks Sevin Dust poses to pollinators, beneficial insects, and soil life.
- Learn why many organic gardeners avoid broad-spectrum insecticides.
- Explore natural pest-control alternatives that work with your garden ecosystem.
Chapters
00:00 – Why I finally talked about Sevin Dust
01:09 – The garden tour that sparked this episode
03:13 – Why I use diatomaceous earth instead
06:22 – What Sevin Dust actually is
09:30 – The surprising ingredient change
13:18 – How carbaryl kills insects
16:43 – Why it works so well
19:02 – Why some countries banned carbaryl
20:42 – Human health concerns explained
23:57 – Effects on bees and beneficial insects
26:12 – Why organic gardeners avoid it
28:40 – The new Sevin Dust formulation
31:00 – Natural vs. synthetic pyrethroids
33:32 – Does the new formula work better?
36:43 – Risks to pollinators and aquatic life
40:05 – Can organic gardeners use it?
Related Podcast Episodes
- Attracting Beneficial Bugs to Your Garden with Jessica Walliser
https://journeywithjill.libsyn.com/235-attracting-beneficial-bugs-to-your-garden-with-jessica-walliser - Plant Diseases, Critters, and Other Garden Problems with Susan Mulvihill, Author of The Vegetable Garden Problem Solver Handbook
https://journeywithjill.libsyn.com/314-plant-diseases-critters-and-other-garden-problems-with-susan-mulvihill-author-of-the-vegetable-garden-problem-solver-handbook - How to Minimize Pest Damage in an Organic Garden with Susan Mulvihill
https://journeywithjill.libsyn.com/196-how-to-minimize-pest-damage-in-an-organic-garden-susan-mulvihill - Preparing for Pests
https://journeywithjill.libsyn.com/242-preparing-for-pests
Resource Links
Companion Planting for Pest Control (Free Download)
http://journeywithjill.net/companion-planting-for-pest
Good Bug Bad Bug ID Chart (Free Download)
https://journeywithjill.net/goodandbadbugs
Friday Emails (Newsletter)
https://journeywithjill.net/gardensignup
YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@JourneywithJill
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https://www.instagram.com/thebeginnersgarden
Podcast Archive
https://journeywithjill.net/podcast
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https://shop.journeywithjill.net/
Disclaimer
Gardening advice shared in this podcast is based on my own experience in Zone 8a (Arkansas) and from the feedback I receive from others in different gardening contexts. Your results may differ depending on your location, climate, and growing conditions. Always check your local extension service or trusted resources for region-specific guidance.
Some links mentioned may be affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Transcript preview
First 90 secondsJill McSheehy· Host0:00
I can't believe it's taken me nine years to talk about this, but if you want to grow your garden as organically as possible, or if you're a new gardener and you're suddenly inundated with pests and you wanna know what the big deal is about the type of pest control, Sevin Dust, that gardeners have been using for a couple of generations, this is an episode you're gonna wanna listen to. The reason I'm talking about this today, though, is because of something that happened last month. I was preparing for a few dozen senior adults from our church to visit my home and tour my garden. As the day got closer, I realized, you know what? I really want my garden to look the best that it could look. I seldom get visitors to my garden. Most people that see it do so on YouTube or on Instagram, and in those areas, I'm usually showing a specific area of my garden that I'm highlighting. And for any beds that are still in progress, I usually am not showing those. Sometimes there are areas that I'm working to remedy a problem, and I don't always show those in the moment. Usually, it's in the, in the future, once I've already fixed something or showed you what I've learned. But one area in particular that I was looking at as I was preparing for these visitors to my garden was in a bed that I had just harvested broccoli from. Now, my plan was to succession plant okra and marigolds into this space, which I did. As soon as I took my broccoli out, I put my marigolds and okra transplants in.