At some point, every gardener is faced with the issue of pests and learning how to manage these garden destroyers without using chemical pesticides. This challenge is an essential step in growing a thriving, productive garden.
Preventing pests is a core part of your garden maintenance plan. It is much easier to take preventive measures versus dealing with them after an outbreak.
Gardeners should be wary of using any kind of pesticide, even organic, because they can be just as toxic as chemical products to the soil and could kill beneficial insects. Pesticides can alter the pH balance of the soil, leave a toxic residue on the plants, and destroy beneficial soil microbes.
Tips For Naturally Preventing Pests
Making an all natural pesticide at home is easier than you may think! Here are some quick recipes to try:
Oil Spray: Mix one cup of vegetable oil with a tablespoon of a mild hand soap (we recommend an organic or natural scentless soap, such as castile soap) and mix these together in a container. Cover and shake well to combine. When ready, mix two teaspoons of your oil spray mixture to one quart of water and apply it thoroughly on any areas with mites, aphids, etc.
Soap Spray: Mix one and a half teaspoons of mild soap (we recommend an organic or natural scentless soap, such as castile soap) into one quart of water and spray on trouble spots. This can be useful against beetles, aphids, mites, whiteflies, etc.
Garlic Spray: Take two full bulbs of garlic and puree them raw with one quart of water in a food processor or blender until smooth. Let this sit in a covered container in the fridge overnight. Strain with cheesecloth into a container and save. Save the leftover garlic so you can mix it in the soil where the plant is most affected by pests as a further repellent. When ready to use, mix your garlic water with one quart of water in a spray bottle. Spray affected areas thoroughly.
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