How to get rid of white flies in lawn and veggie garden?

[Poppy2023]

When we walk through the lawn or disturb the veggie plants, it seems to disturb what appears to be white flies. We've started washing the veggie plants with water and spraying with white oil, but cornered about how many there are in the lawn. We're in a new house and the garden is still being established so there's not a lot of close growth. Can white flies nest in lawns and spread to veggie bins and how do you get rid of them?

[EricL]

Hello @Poppy2023 

Thanks for sharing your question about white flies in your lawn and veggie garden. 

Whiteflies can indeed spread from lawns to nearby plants, including your vegetable bins, although they typically prefer feeding and nesting on plants rather than in the grass itself. It’s possible that what you’re seeing in the lawn are similar small insects rather than true whiteflies, but they could still be contributing to the issue by finding their way onto your veggie plants. 

Your current approach of washing the plants with water and using white oil is a great start, as it disrupts their lifecycle and removes many of the adults. To tackle the problem further, you could try a product like Yates Nature’s Way Vegie & Herb Spray, which is safe for edible plants and effective against whiteflies. Additionally, consider introducing companion plants like marigolds or nasturtiums near your veggie bins, as they can help repel whiteflies. 

For the lawn, if the problem persists, you might look at lawn care sprays like Yates 200ml Advanced Lawn Insect Killer or similar, which can manage a broad range of lawn pests. Combining these efforts with regular garden maintenance should help reduce their numbers and prevent future infestations as your garden becomes more established.

Please remember to wear personal protections such as gloves, goggles and a mask when using the chemical sprays. 

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

[mich1972]

Good morning @Poppy2023 Whitefly can be a problem for the home gardener growing vegetables but they can be treated, you just have to break the lifecycle. Best way to do it is organically with an eco oil or soap spray like Eric suggested. Best to spray early in the morning or later in the evening when they are not active. Make sure to spray thoroughly underneath the leaves as well as on the top. Please make sure to use protective clothing and gloves and also a mask. Make sure you spray at least every 4-5 days to break the cycle. 
Whitefly thrives in a humid environment and if veggie’s are planted and grow closely together, there’s not enough airflow throughout the patch. Try and pull off lower leaves to increase airflow. 
Try that and hopefully it will decrease the numbers. Good luck and keep in touch if you need any more help 😀😀🌿🌿🌿