As I was watering the garden this morning, and carefully inspecting the plants, I noticed the first signs of aphids in the peppers!
Given the mild winter, I fear that we may have trouble with pests this year — and that’s just the reality of growing your own.
While there are many, many commercially-prepared products that sit on the shelves of my local nursery…I am committed to natural gardening (and saving money); therefore, I have learned how to make my own organic insecticides using the contents of my kitchen!
Give these simple recipes a go if you find an unwanted insects crawlin’ around your precious plants.
Homemade All-Purpose Insecticide Spray
The Ingredients
- 15 cloves garlic
- 1 onion
- 3 cayenne peppers (or 3 jalapeno peppers or 1 tablespoon cayenne powder)
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid castile soap (fragrance free)
- 4 cups warm water
Method
1. In a blender combine the water, garlic, onion, and peppers and puree.
2. Pour the mixture into a glass jar, secure the lid, and steep for 6-24 hours on the counter.
3. Strain through a cheesecloth, then add the liquid castile soap and mix well.
4. Load the mixture into a spray bottle and you’re good to go.
To Use
I love this recipe! Try it on a host of pests in your garden and feel free to adjust it as needed with other insect repellent herbs. Spray the tops and bottoms of the leaves, throughly coating them. Store this mixture in the fridge and if it is strained well, it should keep for at least 1-2 months. Note: Be sure to test a patch prior to spraying the entire plant. Take care not to get this on your skin or in your eyes, the cayenne pepper will burn.
Basic Insecticidal Soap
The Ingredients
- 1 1/2 teaspoon any type of liquid soap (i.e. castile, dish washing soap, ivory, etc.)
- 1 quart water
Method
1. Combine all ingredient in a spray bottle.
To Use
Set the spray bottle nozzle to stream and spray infested areas of the foliage. This insecticidal soap works great against some of the most common garden pests such as: aphids, earworms, borers, mites, whiteflies, maggots, moths, and beetles. Note: By adding 1/4 cup of isopropyl alcohol to the above recipe you can create a very mild but effective insecticidal soap that treats scale insects. The alcohol works against the scale’s shell.
Spider Mite Spray
The Ingredients
- 1/8 cup buttermilk
- 1 cup whole wheat flour
- 1 1/4 gallon of water
Method
1. In a bucket combine all of the ingredients and mix completely.
2. Load into a spray bottle.
To Use
Spray this homemade Spider Mite Spray anywhere spider mites are living or crawling. The mixture should rid your garden of all types of mites.
Notes
-Before you set out into the garden to eradicate it…get to know the insects in your area. There are so many bugs living in our little backyard ecosystems — otherwise known as the garden — that are beneficial and need to be protected. Knowing which bugs are there to help your cause and those that are there to destroy it, is a very important part to harvesting a successful crop. Read more here…
-Learn the benefits of companion planting, and plant herbs and flowers that will attract an army beneficial insects to help you take out the bad guys. Read more here…
-Be sure your plants and veggies are well fed. Fertilizing as needed — with worm castings, compost, fish emulsion, or seaweed — will create healthy plants with “strong immune systems.” Just like humans, plants that are rooted in good, healthy, and nutritious soil will produce a greater resistance to attacks from insects, pests, rot, fungi, and mildew. Read more here… Note: Take care with fertilizer…over use comes with it’s own problems too. It’s all about finding that balance.
Now it’s your turn! Please share your recipes or tips for naturally managing pests in your garden.
Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies
Excellent information. I can’t wait to try it out in my garden. Thanks!
Oooh! Pinned.
🙂
Neat! I may very well need this recipe! Have you used it before? How effective is it?
Sandi
Hi Sandi! Yes, I used the All-Purpose Spray last year and now again this year with great success.
DO YOU KNOW HOW TO M,AKE A PESTISIDE USING A PLANT
Rhubarb leaves and tomato leaves make excellent pesticides there are recipes on Google.
Garlic will kill beneficial insects as well as the pests, tomato spray is less likely to do that.
I made the multi purpose spray today for a gray beetle type insect reassembling a stink bug that’s eating my squash leaves. But now I’m tentative because I released ladybugs about 2 weeks ago (for aphid & mite control) & afraid of killing them too. Don’t know what to do!
Do you have any recipes for natural tick and wasp pesticides?
Wasps are good predators and pollinators don’t harm them please ;-j
Thank you for these recipes, pinned and saved. Will definitely give them a try if needed. I’m also planning on experimenting w/ planting herbs / flowers this year, to keep pests away (http://thecountrybasket.com/my-vegetable-garden-how-i-planted-and-the-results-part-1/) so hopefully that will work. If not, your recipes will come in handy. Thanks again!
Thank you for sharing these recipes.
This is great info, thanks so much for sharing. I am dedicated this year to learning and implementing organic gardening. It can be somewhat overwhelming to learn it all. Your info is concise and really easy to understand for someone as new as me! Thanks so much. Pinning and saving your site. Fabulous!
question regards to the spider mite spray.. i’ve had problems in the past with mites and aphids so always looking for safe treatments. used the garlic water last year with mixed results (didn’t add soap to that version..) but I can not have wheat flour in the house and definitely not putting it anywhere near anything i’d be wanting to eat. for me, wheat is poison. is there an alternative for that?? am going to add the soap to the garlic mixture this year (book i found last year didn’t include it..)
I’ve successfully used hydrogen peroxide on my house plants to get rid of spider mites!
Hi, Stehphanie! You stated that you used hydrogen peroxide to get rid of mites. I assume you mixed it with a certain amount of water, or did you actually spray 3% (the drugstore variety) on your plants safely…? Thanks!
I just found your site, and I love it! We have been organic gardening for several years and have gotten lucky with no pests. With this year’s early spring in Wisconsin, however, it’s going to extend the growing season and probably bring many more non-beneficial bugs. Thank you so much for posting these. My husband and I will be following your blog from now on!
I’ve tried using vinegar as a weed killer in the past but it didn’t seem to do anything. I’ve used a much more concentrated version of the insecticidal soap you listed and it got right of the spider mites on my sage within a day! I still have trouble with fungus flies, though. I’ll have to try the cayenne pepper and garlic. I bet it will kill their eggs if spread in the dirt.
Rachel…..pour boiling water on the weeds…….free & foolproof.
You need Horticultural Grade vinegar to be very effective when used as a weed killer. Many nurseries or feed stores carry it.
Rachel, I’ve used just regular white venegar but after I sprayed it on the weeds, I sprinkled table salt on them. They turn yellow within 24 hours and it has been really effective for me!
oooops, make that ‘vinegar’!
Yep, 9% white vinegar in a spray bottle and then cover the leaves with table salt. I’m highly allergic to posion ivy and this has worked like a charm on some of the largest plants!
I am going to try what you suggested TOMORROW morning! Thank you so much! That poison oak and those bugs don’t know what they’re in for!!
Perfect recipe for weed killer……This will kill any weed, including poison ivy, oak, or sumac.
Get a large plastic container. Mix 2 cups salt, 1 gallon white vinegar and 1 tablespoon dawn dish washing liquid. Shake well and and pour into spray bottle. This will destroy the weeds within hours. Be sure to mix this in a plastic container. You can store it for several weeks. Just remember the plastic. The salt will eat away a metal can. I have used it for years with much success.
Did it harm any plants in the area of the weeds? I have bad weeds around my roses and could use this as long as doesn’t kill the roses or any other plant
Would bamboo be considered a weed? We have some on our property line that is giving me fits! It has been there for at least 56 years. My Mom says it was there when She and Dad bought our house and the only thing she has known to be able to kill them was the dozens of kids running between the properties when we were young.
I use a gallon of vinegar, a cup of salt, and about 2 tablespoons of Dawn dish soap mixed and dissolved in my sprayer to kill weeds. If you can spray then in full sun it works better. It kills everything though, not just weeds. If I’m spraying my decorative rocks, I use more salt. Salt will sterilize the soil, making anything unable to grow there.
Make sure the salt dissolves though, otherwise it gets built up in the sprayer nozzle. It tastes terrible, that’s all I will say about trying to get that nozzle unplugged. 😉
Hi Rachel, try adding salt to the vinegar. I killed poison ivy boiling salt and vinegar, put it in a sprayer and in 2 days it was wilting. it’s been a week with rain and it’s completely gone.
Hi Andrea,
it is so tough finding good insect control, naturally. I can’t wait to try your all purpose spray recipe! May I share it on my blog?
Oh yes! Please share it Anne-Marie…the more people that can use it the better 🙂
Thanks!
Do you have any recipes for repelling ticks? On vacation, both my 5 year old and 10 year old daughters got two ticks each, and my wife got one (I’m not sweet enough, apparently). We pulled each one out, but would like a preventative solution, if possible. Thanks!
It might be kinda weird sounding but garlic helps prevent them. My dad took garlic pills for a while to help with masquitos too though I doubt a 5 yr old would take one
And who makes the choice? A 5 year old decides? Get a spine parent!
Wow, you sound like a really big asshat, cunt.
What a foul way to talk no matter how much you disagree. I agree with the sentiment, if not the spine comment. I once had to pin my toddler down and wash his eyes with saline solution after he fell and got dirt under his eyelids. The doctor told me to. I cried while he screamed. But I did it. The dirt could have scratched his corneas. As it was, the dirt washed out, and we both recovered after 20 or 30 minutes. He recovered much more quickly than I did. Someone should be the adult and caregiver. A five year old is not capable of making those decisions.
Telling the parent to get a spine? Have you ever tried to get a 5 year old to take medicine, or any child in that age range even. I guess you would be one to spank that child if it didn’t take the pill. Although I agree with Gary on his comment I just don’t think that was an appropriate choice of words to use on a public site. LOL!
And who makes the choice? A 5 year old decides?
the Garlic works. If the five year old can’t swallow those big pills you can give her a small thin slice of fresh garlic in peanut butter an have her chew it up and swallow it
Just curious, but does the all-purpose smell absolutely awful??
Just a caution: never use grease-cutting dishwashing liquid on plants (like Dawn) there is something in them that burns the leaves.
I unfortunately found out that using Dawn was not a good idea. Had to replant a few plants as a result.
Try using Castile soap. Should work well for you!
Thank you for posting the warning! I had read yesterday TO use Dawn, and was all fired up to go out tomorrow am and spray my plants and trees with it!!! You have saved lives! lol! Mine included for killing all the plants and trees I just made my husband buy this spring!!!
Wow…..amazing info, Thanks for sharing it 🙂
THANK YOU! I have been battling aphids on my roses for the last two years and have tried everything! I am making the insecticide spray tomorrow!
Do any of these work on ants? They’re my biggest problem!
Use corn meal on ants, they can’t digest it but they carry it back to their nest and within a few days/weeks they will all die off and doesn’t use any harmful chemicals.
Cinnamon works great to keep ants away. I had ants in my cereal cabinet. I bleached the trail they had but they were still in the cabinet. I put a layer of ground cinnamon on the bottom of that cabinet shelf and they no longer bother that cabinet. I now use zip top bags/reusable containers for cereal but the ants didn’t stop until the cinnamon was used.
LOVE LOVE LIVE all organic products. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful ideas. My sister who is still living in Las Vegas, (I recently moved from there to KY) has had no response from other products getting rid of bugs on her house herbs and plants. Do you mind if i share this with her?
To those asking about flea and tick info, I will get the recipe from my wonderful essential oil and herb guru. She has great recipes and they are cheap, organic and safe. Stay tuned…
Jill
how do i organically rid my compost pile of fire ants?
I had an infestation of ants in my compost bin but mine is one of the tumbler types. I poured quite a few pan fulls of boiling water over them.. Got rid of them just fine.
We used to have fire ants when I lived in Texas.. boiling water to their den works great but they’ll move somewhere else.. Also, I’ve heard that DE http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth works really good for fire ants. A friend had an infestation in her yard and they were killing her dogs.. We shared a 50# bag & she just scattered it all over the yard and they died or left.
While you can get it in small cans at garden centers, if you have a farm & ranch store close by, they can order large bags for almost the same price of the commercialized cans.
I’ve also heard that you can use corn meal to kill ants of any sort..
Hope this helps! Good luck.. I know those fire ants are bad hombres.
DE is what I use for ants and it works fantastic. I use it in the house around my cat food bowls. I have no fear she will get poisoned (like in the past years using Raid for the same purpose) and when she licks it off her paws she is getting wormed! You just have to not mind the white powder on the floor.
what is DE
Fantastic! The photo is going to have me scratching all night, but love the detail. Can’t wait to try the recipe on my veggies. My kids eat the herbs and veggies straight from the garden, so we are organic all the way! FYI – I tried an organic gardening experiment using craft netting around one tomato cage and not another. The results were crazy! You might like to try this next season: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3770934345593&set=a.1169666515523.2026291.1043774359&type=1&theater
(I blogged about organic gardening on my business’ blog in March for using fabrics to protect against critters, etc. This link above is to my personal garden experiment.)
The difference is as striking as night & day!!! Is that Tullle fabric you used on the Cherry Tomatoes?
Thanks for the info.. Just wondering… Does anyone know how safe these are to use near my beehives?
We use 1/2 cup sugar to 1 gallon of water sprayed before 10am or after 6pm (time when leaves of plant absorb the moisture) This raises the Brix level of the plant tricking the bugs into thinking the plant is healthy, Should bug eat anyway, it explodes from gas build up – can’t burp lol. I also feed plants at the same time with liquid kelp, fish emulsion and add a teaspoon vinegar, cup of DE and and enzyme to aid in sticking… few drops of Joy dish soap or castile would also work.
Do you think this could be used to tricks cats? My year old kittens eat a few of our houseplants. Thank you
Will this work on Cabbage Lopers?
Excellent!! My cilantro was devoured by these “lice” that shows your blog. And I have all the ingredients right
Thousand Thanks!
I have a recipe for mites, may work on other pests as well.
Using 1 gallon ( 4 liters ) of water, add 5 ml of Rosemary essential oil
then add 5 drops of a soft soap like Ivory dish soap. Mix well and apply.
The amount of soap ( surfactant ) is up to the user. I never really know how
much soap to add personally and I use organic castille instead of dish soap.
I think more castille can be used since it’s much more mild.
Rosemary is a very powerful anti-oxidant.
Try sniffing it like glue and let yourself drift into bliss.
Journey
PS> Make sure the soap does NOT contain an anti-bacterial.
Journey
Do you have a recipe for house plants? My plants soil has little black bugs that fly.
are there any environmental concerns with using the soap? Would a biodegradable soap work just as well? My plants are in a small planter that has contained soil.
Have you ever tried dichotomous earth, not only does it kill every single kind of bug, including bed bugs, ..you can eat it, feed it to your cats and dogs, totally harmless to mammals,..it is the perfect pesticide,..Google that
For those interested, it’s “diatomaceous earth.” Also can be used as a flea killer on pets, but be sure to use the correct kind. The kind for pool filters is dangerous and toxic to pets.
I just looked up the food grade type. You can put this on herbs, fruits and vegetables as well?
Me, too, on the houseplants. I tried a Pinterest homemade pesticide on those little black flying bugs and nearly killed half my plants. The buds all fell off the Christmas cactus. 🙁 I have African violets so spraying is a problem period.
if you still have little black flying bugs you may want to look around for black carpet beetles, use a magnifing glass.
if you still have little black flying bugs you may want to look around for black carpet beetles, use a magnifing glass.
Just set up my first Veggie Patch so will definately be using this once those pesky aphids start trying to attach my plants!!
wasp spray is a squirt bottle of karosene.
period
the corporate creeps Never needed to add nerve gas component like they did and then call it “Wasp” anything.
just straight karosene kills a wasp So Fast it literally knocks them out of the air.
it was never the nerve gas components, it was pressurinze karosene all the time.
peace, and try to not hose karosene around, it can stain things like paint.
What can I do to keep the rabbits from eating my tulips that are just sprouting out of the ground? Thanks!
Do not use anything around your pets that you are warned not to get on your skin or in your eyes (hot peppers etc). Keep in mind that animals can’t just run and wash out their eyes or paws and will likely lick themselves clean..resulting in a burning mouth etc. it can cause severe damage to eyes etc. so be extrenely careful. 🙂
any ideas on what would work for earwigs?!! since they built the “new” high school in our community we have thousands of them creepy little pinching buggers everywhere. would love any hints on naturally getting rid of them and keeping them out of my house ! thank you !
Would the garlic onion spray leave a flavor? I’d liketo use it on strawberries but don’t want them to taste like onion 🙂
For the people asking about the fungal mites (little black flies) that are a problem with indoor potted plants, try beneficial nematodes. A soap-based spray will help knock down the adults, but for long-term control, you really need the beneficial nematodes in the soil to kill all life stages. Fungal mites are a result of moist soil, but luckily the beneficial nematodes thrive in the same environment. (I looked at them under a microscope at work before adding them to my plants- so cool, “worms” moving around!)
As for the DE, it’s organic and safe in most cases, but be careful that it does not get inhaled (especially by kids and pets), as it can be harmful to the lungs. I’d also be concerned about killing the beneficial organisms in your garden and soil.
Thanks!! Excellent text …great information …!.
Thanks!! Excellent text …great information!
How about aggressive sow bugs? I use Neem and Sluggo, but would like to try something else. Preferably more cost effective- Sluggo is now $25, but worth knowing I won’t loose everything.
I’ve read that a little cornmeal will take care of sow bugs, aka pill bugs.
“1 1/2 teaspoon any type of liquid soap (i.e. castile, dish washing soap, ivory, etc.)
1 quart water” I have issues with the amount of soap you are suggesting in such a small amount of water. Normally, a few drops in plenty. And please TEST an area before you spray everything! Also never spray these solution in the heat of the day. Either early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The sun intensifies the effects and can burn your plants.
I have over 30 years experience as an organic only gardener, I am a former certified VA Master Gardener as well. These home remedies are very effective, but like any toxin (and they are toxic) you need to use caution and some common sense to your application.
would the citrus dr bronner’s be ok? I don’t have the unscented kind and don’t want to buy any more. my family complains about the smell. I have rose, almond, and citrus. also, how often should I spray? this is for herbs and just various plants outside. thx!
Today I used the apple cider vinegar/salt/Dawn soap mix for the weeds and within 2 hours I saw them wilting 🙂
Did it harm any plants in the area of the weeds? I have bad weeds around my roses and could use this as long as doesn’t kill the roses or any other plant
Hi, I’m from Sydney, Australia and cannot wait to put these recipes to use in my garden. Just one question, you mentioned Castile soap, what would that be comparable to as we don’t have that brand here in Australia? thanks
Castile isn’t a brand; it’s a type of soap. The most well-known American brand is Dr Bronner’s, which I believe is available internationally. Most castile soaps can be found with all-natural/organic soaps.
Corn meal works great with killing ants and the colony. I get huge ant hills in my yard and I have 3 small children. Sprinkle corn meal near or on ant hill, they will take it back to the nest, eat it and die. Great ideas on natural bug killers, can’t wait to try.
I used the garlic, cayenne etc. spray on a horrible infestation on my plum trees. I had a bumper crop of plums that year and continue to get plums than I ever wanted! The bugs were dropping like raindrops!
What do you suggest to get rid of snails and slugs?
I tried sprinkling coarse sea salt in my flower garden hoping to get rid of snails….they are not as bad as they were, but not all gone….yet.
I need a insect spray for my apple trees and grapes. Then I also need to kbnow how much and when to spray. They have not been sprayed with anything in ove 10 years and I want to go “organic”, thanks
Great information I am going to share with my followers. I see a past question as to whether the garlic leaves a taste on food plants. Any input on that?
Does borax work the same as the castile soap?
I suppose I’ve selected an unbelievable and interesting blog.
Great information, thank you so much. I am a new gardener of herbs and vegetables. One question, will the flavors of the garlic and peppers effect the taste of herbs and vegetables?
Thank you,
Theresa
Wondering, I hope I am not overlooking the info I am asking for, if anybody has tried or could give advice regarding the use of these combos in an aquaponics system…some speak for themselves but wondering about others.
Hi guys you could also try making a Tomato Leaf Spray. Completely Organic and easy to use..
Tomato plants, as members of the nightshade family, contain toxic compounds called alkaloids in their leaves. When the leaves of tomato plants are chopped, they release their alkaloids. When the alkaloids are suspended and diluted with water, they make an easy to use spray that is toxic to aphids, but still safe around plants and humans. To make tomato leaf spray, simply soak one to two cups of chopped tomato leaves in two cups of water. Let it steep overnight. To make the spray, strain the leaves out of the liquid using cheesecloth or a fine strainer. Add another one to two cups of water to the liquid and add it to a spray bottle. Caution: While this spray is very safe for humans, some people are allergic to members of the nightshade family. If you are one of them, use care in making and applying this spray
Gosh I was just looking for something natural to help with buggies eating my container planted zucchinis and roses….I didn’t expect to be so enterained! Was laughing out loud at the garlic pill interchange. Thanks everyone for all the tips on so many solutions to the buggie issues. And I’m a mother who raised three kids, DO have a spine, but would never expect a little one to take a garlic pill or demand that they do. Just sayin………
forgive the typo……meant “ENTERTAINED” and big time entertained
1 gallon spring water, or fluoride free water. 1/4 tsp unscented liquid soap, 1/4 tsp listerine, 1 tbs non-menthol cigarette tobacco. Combine and gently mix listerine and soap. Bag tobacco in a tea bag and add it to the mix. Let it stand open for a day or tow (if there is cluorine in the water this will also help it evaporate). Add the mix to your spay bottle on stream and spary leaves and stems of your plants. I’ve used this for many years and it works on just about every bug that harms my plants.
Which spray would be best to use on squash bugs? My friends and I have each lost several squash and zucchini plants to them. The onion spray is not working.
Did you get a reply on squash bugs? I am losing all of my squash plants. Those things multiply by the thousands. Please let me know if you found out something.
I haven’t seen a good reply about the squash bugs, either. I’ve been using diatomaceous earth and it’s helping a little, but just searching through every leaf for eggs and bugs and then squashing them (eewwww! Gross!) seems to be the only thing that really works. And it’s apparently impossible to find them all because the next day I’ll find more eggs, babies, or adult bugs that I must have missed. I may try the all purpose recipe, and the reply saying to spray sugar mixed with water sounded interesting.
Thank you for your wonderful recipes..
Before I’ve read your wonderful reci[es, I’ve made myself a simple but effective Organic Insecticides & Pesticides solution.
In a spray bottle: 750 ml plain water, 8 drops of Tea Tree oil, and shake wel before use.
Within 3 days, all the unwanted pests are gone. But.., still keep checking the plants en if neccessary, take the spray bottle again and shake well before use.. It is now 3 weeks later, and I haven’t seen a returning of those pests..
CAUTION!!!
Dont use the Tea Tree solution on your dog’s, cats ect.. It is leathel for them. So be careful using this solution.
PS: I’m from The Netherlands and I hope my email didn’t drop in your spambox.. Kind Regards, BJ
What causes leafs to turn yellow and dark spots on my tomato plants—please help
What is the mite that is in the picture? I am curious because I have seen it before…
how do I control the Squash bugs that bury in the stem and kill my plant?
I am anxious to try these recipes. I had given up gardening because of the white flies. I have noticed that the one basil plant I have potted directly next to my rosemary doesn’t have as many pests. So, I started picking rosemary sprigs and sticking them in the pot next to the few potted herbs that I have and it helps. I was wondering if anyone has ever experimented with rosemary based sprays to keep the pests away???
What if in the first recipe I leave out the castile soap because I don’t have any on hand or may I put something else?
ivory dish soap, not detergent.
is it ok that we’re gonna get and use some information in our INVESTIGATORY PROJECTS?
There’s definately a lot to know about this topic. I really like all the points you’ve made.
Had a curious result from putting coffee grounds around a newly planted apple tree. Dead snails!!! They were around the trunk and I could see where the trails led to the trunk, they just died.
what kind of puree?
Nice suggestions. Let me try them.
I use neem oil mixed with water and spray it on my plants. I have use cayenne powder on the soil so far there are no slugs or squirrel digging up the plants.
Place some “GRITS” next to an ant infested area.
The ants will carry the grits into the below ground nest area and feed on it.
When consumed, the grits will swell up, rupture the ants stomach, and kill them instantly.
What can I use on my rose bushes to stop black spots and yellowing of the leaves ?
Thanks for the information! I will will try this out on my garden.
Mark Davies
Christchurch
http://OrganicGardeningAdvice.net
This is what I use on my roses & other flowering plants for aphids.
1 can unflavored chewing tobacco
1/4 cup castille soap or ivory (unscented)
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
Put tobacco in 5 gallon bucket and cover. let steep for 24 hours and strain. Add cayenne & soap, stir.
Put in sprayer bottle and spray plants, make sure to do the underside of leaves. Let sit for 2 hours or so and then with the sprayer on your hose lightly spray your plants with fresh water. May need 2 or 3 applications. Never do this during the heat of the day, early morning is best.
For slugs & snails, I use a mix of coffee grounds, contents of used tea bags, sawdust (not from pressure treated wood) and crushed eggshells around the base of plants. Evidently they don’t like crawling over the “gravely” texture.
Only use salt if you never want anything to grow in that spot again. Vinegar as a weed deterrent will harm other plants if sprayed directly on the good stuff. But it dissipates and salt does not, salt sterilizes the soil completely.
Does anyone know a good recipe for “assassin bugs”? I hear they are good for gardens as they kill most pests, but I have some in the house and can’t seem to kill them. They are small and resemble fleas when small, or white flies. But if you have “scratches” that seem to appear out of nowhere, they are the culprit. They went away for a while after I caught the mother (scary looking creature), but I guess there was another lurking. I only see one every once in a while, but I would like to be done witg this very annoying problem. Thanks.
What prevents tomato hornworms?
Does anyone have a natural remedy for head lice ?? I know this is not a gardening question, but I am desperate to find something that works…My granddaughter comes over and 7out of 10 times has this…I know it needs to be treated at the source ( dad’s) but I can’t do it for him and he won’t listen ….I just want to stop them from being in my house
Sorry about the troubles Paula. But I’m afraid the only way to stop the nits, nymphs and adults is to go to the source, and eliminate there. In all probability your granddaughter is not the only one with them – her dad and anyone else in the house probably does too. Treatment must extend to them all to effectively get rid of the pest. If she alone is treated, chances are she’ll pick up from other family members/ friends she usually hangs out with.
Perhaps you could go over to her place, or invite every single person over, and treat them simultaneously? If you want this exterminated, you’ll have to be really firm about it. Because treating at your own place (each time the granddaughter comes over) is not going to be a long term solution.
That is how I personally feel.
For a remedy… all you need to do is really oil her hair deeply… every strand must be coated. Use olive oil, coconut oil, mustard oil… whatever. Then pin up her hair like hairdressers do when they want to trim portion by portion. Start from the base of the head, and using the lice comb, slowly comb from the roots to the tips. Nits et al reside at the scalp. Work your way to the top of her head, and you should have them all. If you’re able to, repeat the procedure daily for a few days. Just make sure you have a lot of light shining on her head – it makes it really easy to see then. Remember to keep checking the comb after every slide, and crush the eggs when you get them.
Here is a good website.
Great article.
But I would like to know what works with fungas gnats and tiny flies… We use Neem Oil here in UAE, and it works great with white flies.
But those flies and gnats are a pain. Which of your remedies would work with them?
Thanks.
i have a very big problem about flies. I am selling a fruit shake in front of our house. When the time i am started selling this will be the time that flies started to bug and screw my little business. there so many and it gets very annoying to my costumers. Thank you and i hope you can help me with this.
I have planted 4 Dahlias. They have come up beautiful & have blooms on them. My problem is something is starting to eat holes in the leaves. What could this be and how do I fix it? Thank you!
Any suggestion to prevent small dark bored holes on bottom of new green tomatoes?
Hi, I enjoyed reading about growing nasturtiums, I already have a few seedlings. Can I substitute any other type of liquid soap for the ” liquid castile soap” in your homemade insecticidal spray recipe? …btw, I tasted one of the nasturtiums leaves…I think i’ll have to acquire a taste for it though ( it’s bitter). I can’t wait for the plants to grow and bless my eyesight with beautiful blooms!!
Does anyone know if insecticidal soap or another organic recipe works on lacebug? My azaleas need to be sprayed with something but I don’t want to use a chemical pesticide because of my dog. Thank you!!
Oops I was making this with my daughter and we accidentally put the soap in soon as we were done blending it.. I hope putting the soap in early doesn’t mess up the batch.. In gessing it will?
I JUST WANT TO THANK YOU COZ IFOUND THIS SITE!now i know how to make insecticide for making my experimental project!thank you so much
please suggest a solution to get rid of ants in hibiscus flowers.i am afraid to pluck the flowers because of this.