1. Tomato
Leaf Spray is
effective in killing aphids and mites. It works because the alkaloids in the
tomato leaves (and the leaves of all nightshades, actually) are fatal to many
insects.
2. Garlic Oil Spray is a great,
safe insect repellent. Simply put three to four cloves of minced garlic into
two teaspoons of mineral oil. Let the mixture sit overnight, and then strain
the garlic out of the oil. Add the oil to one pint of water, and add a teaspoon
of biodegradable dish soap. Store in a bottle or jar, and dilute the mixture
when you use it by adding two tablespoons of your garlic oil mixture to one
pint of water.
This mixture works because
the compounds in garlic (namely, diallyl disulfide and diallyl trisulfide) are
irritating or deadly to many insects. The oil and soap help the mixture stick
to plant leaves. What insects does garlic oil repel? Whiteflies, aphids, and
most beetles will avoid plants sprayed with garlic oil. A word of caution:
don't apply this spray on a sunny day, because the oils can cause foliage to
burn.
3. Hot Pepper Spray is a great solution
if you have problems with mites. Simply mix two tablespoons of hot pepper
sauce, a few drops of biodegradable dish soap, and one quart of water and let
it sit overnight. Use a spray bottle to apply the spray to infested plants.
Hot pepper spray works because
the compound capsaicin, which causes the "heat" in hot peppers, is
just as irritating to insects as it is to us (have you ever sliced a hot pepper
and gotten any of it in an open cut? Ouch!) This mixture also helps repel
whiteflies, but it may have to be reapplied if you start to see the mites or
whiteflies returning.
4. Simple Soap Spray is useful in
taking out a wide variety of garden pests, including aphids, scale, mites, and
thrips. Just add one tablespoon of dishwashing soap to a gallon of water and
spray the mixture on the pests.
Why does this work? The soap
dissolves the outer coating or shell of the insects, eventually killing them.
5. Beer for the Slugs:
sink a tuna can or pie plate into the ground, and add a couple
of inches of beer, to about an inch below the top of the container. The slugs
will go in for a drink and drown. Beer works because the slugs are attracted to
the yeast. It's really important to sink the container into the soil and keep
the beer about an inch lower than the soil. This way, the slugs have to go down
after the beer, and they drown. If the beer is near the soil, the slugs can
just have a drink and then go and munch some hostas when they're done with
happy hour.
6. Citrus
Rinds as Slug Traps. This works. If you don't have beer in
the house, but you do have oranges, grapefruits, or lemons, give this a try.
7. Newspaper
Earwig Traps work well for reducing the population of these
sometimes-pesky insects.
8. Soda
Bottle Yellowjacket Traps work by attracting the
yellowjackets away from seating or picnic areas, and then ensuring that they
can't escape the trap.
9. Red Pepper Spray works well for
making your plants less tasty to mammal and bird pests. If bunnies, deer, mice,
squirrels, and birds are regularly messing with your garden, make the following
mixture and spray target plants weekly. Mix four tablespoons of Tabasco sauce,
one quart of water, and one teaspoon of dish soap. The capsaicin in the pepper
spray will irritate the animal pests, and they'll look for less spicy fare
elsewhere.
10. Milk
for Powdery Mildew. Fungal
Disease Solutions: The milk works just as well as toxic fungicides at preventing
the growth of powdery mildew. This mixture will need to be reapplied regularly,
but it works wonderfully.
11. Baking Soda Spray for Powdery Mildew is
a tried-and-true method for preventing powdery mildew. It needs to be applied
weekly, but if you have a problem with mildew in your garden, it will be well
worth the time. Simply combine one tablespoon of baking soda, one tablespoon of
vegetable oil, one tablespoon of dish soap and one gallon of water and spray it
on the foliage of susceptible plants. Baking soda spray works because the
baking soda disrupts fungal spores, preventing them from germinating. The oil
and soap help the mixture stick to plant leaves.
12. Vinegar (Weeds
killer) works very well for weeds in your lawn and garden. The main issue with
vinegar is that it can harm other plants. I recommend using a foam paintbrush
to brush the vinegar directly onto the leaves of weeds you're trying to kill.
This prevents the vinegar from getting onto other plants and ensures that the
entire leaf surface is coated with the vinegar.
13. Boiling Water
for Sidewalk Weeds: Boil some water, and pour it over weeds in the
cracks of your sidewalks or driveways. Most weeds can't stand up to this
treatment, and your problem is solved. Just be careful when pouring!
14. Vinegar and Salt for Sidewalk Weeds: I
personally prefer pouring boiling water on sidewalk weeds, or pulling them. But
if you have some really stubborn weeds, you can try diluting a few teaspoons of
water into some white vinegar and pouring that onto your sidewalk weeds. Please
note that this concoction will kill just about any plant it comes in contact
with, so keep it away from your other plants, as well as your lawn.
And the Best Homemade Garden
Concoction of All 15. Compost! Seriously,
whether you're an apartment
dweller with a fire escape farm or a rural farmer, you need to be
making and using the stuff. It adds nutrients, improves soil structure,
increases moisture retention, and increases the number of beneficial microbes
in your soil. And that's all besides preventing organic matter from making its
way to the landfill. I hope these ideas for safe, homemade organic garden
concoctions are helpful. By having just a handful of inexpensive items on hand,
you can take care of most common gardening dilemmas in your own, green way. For
more about greening your life, including your garden, watch Living
With Ed on Planet Green.
How To Make White Oil For An Insecticide Pesticides
By:
Heather Rhoades
How As an organic gardener, you may know the
difficulty of finding a good organic insecticide. You may ask yourself, “How do
I make my own insecticide?” Making white oil to use as an insecticide is easy
and inexpensive. Let’s take a look at how to make white oil and why it works as
an insecticide.
How to Make White Oil
So
you’re likely asking, “How do I make my own insecticide?” It’s actually quite
simple. While there are a number of homemade recipes to choose from, this
popular white oil recipe for do-it-yourselfers seems to be one of the easiest:
-1
cup (227 gr.) vegetable or white mineral oil
-1/4
cup (57 gr.) dish soap (without bleach) or Murphy’s oil soap
Mix
the above ingredients in a jar, shaking well (should turn white color upon
mixing).
Note: This is your concentrate and needs to be diluted prior to use – using
about 1 tablespoon (15 mL.) per liter (or 4 cups) of water. You can store the
white oil concentrate for about three months in a sealed container or jar.
Once
diluted, you can use a spray bottle for easy application. Apply to affected
plants liberally, especially on the backside of plant leaves as this is where
many pests tend to hide or lay eggs.
Why Does White Oil Work?
White
oil works by coating soft body insects, like aphids and mites, in oil. The soap
helps the oil stick to the insect while the water loosens the mixture enough to
be sprayed on easily. When combined, these two ingredients work to suffocate
the insects. Regular applications may be necessary to help protect your plants
from pests. Now that you know how to make white oil, you can use this organic
insecticide to keep your garden free of pests.
How to Make Insecticidal Soap
There
are several ways to make an insecticidal soap. The choice depends on the
ingredients on hand and the extent to which one wants to use natural
ingredients, i.e. those without perfumes or dyes.
To
make insecticidal soap, simply mix the following horticultural soap recipe
ingredients thoroughly:
-Combine
one cup of oil, any variety, such as vegetable, peanut, corn, soybean, etc.
with one tablespoon of dishwashing liquid or other “pure” soap. Be sure
to avoid any dish washing liquids which contain degreaser, bleach, or those
that are for an automatic dishwasher.
-Mix
two teaspoons of this “soap” mixture to every cup of warm water and put into a
spray bottle. Mix only what is needed for a one-day application.
Alternate Horticultural Soap Recipe
Homemade
horticultural sprays can also be made using a natural soap product without
synthetic additives or perfumes, which can be found in local natural food
stores.
Combine
one heavy tablespoon of liquid soap to one quart of warm water. Tap water is
okay to use, but if you have hard water you may want to substitute bottled
water to avoid any soap scum buildup on foliage.
To
either of these soapy concoctions, a teaspoon of ground red pepper or garlic
may be added to further repel chewing insects. Also, a teaspoon of cider
vinegar may be added to assist in the removal of powdery mildew. Bar soap may
also be used in a pinch by placing into a gallon of water and leaving to sit
over night. Remove the bar and shake well before use.
There
are few limitations to horticultural soaps. Just be sure to thoroughly wet
the insects, and be aware that effectiveness may be limited if the soap
solution dries or washes away. Phytotoxicity may occur if applied during hot
days, so avoid spraying if temperatures are over 90 F. (32 C.).
BEFORE USING ANY HOMEMADE MIX: It
should be noted that anytime you use a home mix, you should always test it out
on a small portion of the plant first to make sure that it will not harm the
plant. Also, avoid using any bleach-based soaps or detergents on plants since
this can be harmful to them. In addition, it is important that a home mixture
never be applied to any plant on a hot or brightly sunny day, as this will
quickly lead to burning of the plant and its ultimate demise.
Read more at Gardening Know How: What Is Horticultural Soap: Information On
Commercial and Homemade Soap Spray For Plants https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/pests/pesticides/homemade-soap-spray.htm
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