Enter June. Weeds galore - even in our newly made garden boxes - and bugs going to town on our itty bitty green bean plants.
The weeds we dealt with the old-fashioned way, but what were we to do about our pest problem? If this had happened a few years ago, we would have broken out a can of Sevin dust and happily gone about our business. That won't cut it now since we're trying to go all organic.
I did a little bit of research on organic pest control and decided to try my hand at making a homemade bug repellent before I went out and bought a pricy can of organic pesticide.
Sinus-Clearing Bug (and Husband) Repellent:
- Peel and mince a full head of garlic and place in a quart Mason jar.
- Add 2-3 teaspoons of mineral or vegetable oil. I used the food grade mineral oil that I rub on my wooden cutting boards.
- Sprinkle in a goodly amount of ground cayenne pepper. I used about 1/4 teaspoon.
- Let soak for 12-24 hours, then press the mixture through a fine sieve or a colander lined with cheesecloth. Put the liquid back in the Mason jar, discarding the solids.
- Add a couple of squirts of biodegradable dish soap and 2-3 cups of water. Shake the jar to combine.
- Pour mixture into a squirt bottle and spray on the affected plants.
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| Don't you love the great tan I got from our week's vacation in Florida? |
It has been several days since I applied the repellent and it actually seems to be working. The plants have put out new leaves and there does not appear to be any new damage. Just one caveat: if it is a windy day when you apply this spray, make sure you are not down-wind! Ask me how I know!
Posts
I am totally trying this!
ReplyDeleteI gave this a try and it seemed to really help with the cabbage worms I had. Thanks for the info!
ReplyDeleteKris - Glad to know it worked for you!
ReplyDeleteI am going to try this for spiders in my wood pile
ReplyDeleteDid this work in the long run?
ReplyDeleteStephanie - You have to re-apply it after rains and when it seems like the bugs are starting to bite again, but it did work for us over the entire season. It is not as effective as a pesticide would be, but it also won't cause cancer! ;)
ReplyDeleteThank you for your post. Can't wait to try!
ReplyDeleteThe best thing about this remedy is that it's organic and eco-friendly. The fact that it's made with ingredients that can be found in one's pantry or kitchen is also a huge advantage. I'm glad this kind of thing works, because not only are we able to get rid of pests, we're also reducing our footprint on the environment! Thank you for this solution, I'm definitely going to give it a try myself.
ReplyDeleteThanks
ReplyDeleteWhat I love about homemade bug repellents is that they are economical and you can customize them however you like, especially on the scent part. It can also be a fun and stress-free home project for you. Guys, if you’re looking for inspiration, then check this out: http://backpackingmastery.com/skills/homemade-insect-repellent.html
ReplyDeleteWhat a thrilling post, you have pointed out some excellent points, I as well believe this is a superb website. I have planned to visit it again and again. Bug Zapper for out door and indoor
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ReplyDeleteGrasshoppers can't stand this stuff especially if spray directly on them Thanks
ReplyDelete