How to Get Rid of Thrips Once and for All, According to Gardening Experts

Thrips are thin, tiny winged insects that are hard to see with the naked eye. However, despite their small size, they are bad news for your garden. These bugs can puncture plant tissue and suck out the cells, causing discolored, distorted, or papery leaves. Thrips can also stunt plant growth, and eventually cause leaves to drop.

Even worse, because thrips are so small, most people won't notice them until plant damage starts to appear. So keep your eyes peeled, and if you begin to see weathered plant leaves, take prompt action. Here are a few expert-approved, natural methods for thrip removal that will banish these pesky bugs from your yard.

Blast With Water

An easy method to start with is to use a hose and spray the thrips with water.

"Thrips can be dislodged from their host [plant] by a strong blast of water," says Jake Paraskiewicz, grounds and plant health care specialist at Mt. Cuba Center. This method is particularly effective for smaller infestations.

Pick the Thrips Off

Handpicking or wiping thrips off of plants is another effective technique for smaller infestations.

"Manual removal with a damp cloth can reduce their populations below the threshold for control," says Paraskiewicz. However, always be careful when handling damaged and sensitive plants.

Also, it's worth noting that handpicking can be time-consuming and difficult to manage for bigger infestations, so in those instances it may be best to try an alternative method as well.

Prune Infected Plants

"Pruning is an extremely effective method of thrip remediation," says Paraskiewicz. Simply prune the infected plants above the nodes and crotches, where a branch or stem connects.

Cutting off the parts of the plant that are infected helps minimize thrips, and also prevents future issues: "Pruning can remove thrips ovipositions, or egg laying sites," he adds. 

Pruning may not be the best choice for every plant, however. "[It's] not always a viable option for high-value plants, such as fruit trees," says Paraskiewicz.

Sprinkle Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth (DE) is made of the fossilized remains of small aquatic organisms, and is a great natural repellent that you can use against many pests, including thrips. DE damages the exoskeleton of insects when they walk over it, destroying their body.

"The sharp edges on the diatoms in DE will cut and desiccate the thrips' bodies," says Charlie Nardozzi, garden expert and author of The Continuous Vegetable Gardener. Also, DE isn't toxic to pets or people, so it's a safer method of pest management.

Simply apply this white powder over plants affected by thrips. "You'll have to reapply it after a rain. [It] isn't effective once wet," he adds.

Spray Neem Oil

Neem oil is produced from neem tree seeds, and is a natural insecticide. "The oil coats the thrips' body and eggs and smothers them," Nardozzi says.

Spray the neem oil thoroughly over the entire plant, including buds, shoots, and any area where thrips are present. "Repeat sprays of Neem oil weekly to kill newly hatching thrips and protect new foliage," he adds.

Use Insecticidal Soaps

Insecticidal soaps are a type of contact pesticide that typically leaves little to no residue. It works best for small infestations. For maximum effectiveness, make sure to thoroughly spray it over the entire plant, says Paraskiewicz. Apply insecticidal soap as required until thrips are no longer on the plants.

Nardozzi notes that insecticidal soaps need to be reapplied every five days in order to be effective. They can be used throughout the seasons, except in the summer when temperatures are over 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

Always make sure there aren't any beneficial insects like ladybugs or bees on the foliage before you apply insecticidal soap. "[It] can kill a wide variety of soft-bodied insects, both good and bad," adds Paraskiewicz.