Spring is right around the corner (okay maybe that’s a little bit of wishful thinking, but we’re getting closer by the day!) and a lot of us will soon be planning our gardens. Unless, like us, you’ve been experiencing some winter blues, and you already have it all planned out. Regardless of the situation, you’ve probably considered the ‘p’ word… pests! Personally, we don’t like to use a lot of harmful chemicals in our gardens, so we’re constantly seeking out the best of the best natural pesticides. We’ve rounded up a few of our favorite homemade pesticides, two of which require pantry staples you already have at home, we like, so let’s take a look, gardeners!
(image via: food and wine)
Neem Leaf
If you’ve already done a little research on natural pesticides you’ve probably already seen this name, and for good reason. Neem leaf is a great way to keep bugs off of your plants; this herb has a bitter smell and taste that bugs don’t appreciate. But no worries when it comes to animals, birds, other plants, or even humans, this isn’t toxic. All you do is add a little neem oil, a dash of mild liquid soap, and some warm water to a bowl, stir gently, pour your mixture into a spray bottle, and use immediately. It’s recommended that you use this concoction on baby plants and the mixture will be effective for twenty-two days.
Vegetable Oil Spray
We like this spray because if you’re in a bind and in need of a pesticide immediately, you’re bound to have some vegetable oil sitting around. You’ll simply mix one cup of vegetable oil with one tablespoon of soap, cover your vessel, and shake vigorously to mix. When you’re ready to make your spray, add two teaspoons of the oil spray mix to one quart of water, shake to mix and spray directly onto the plants that are being ransacked by little pests. This oil essentially suffocates the harmful pests, so they won’t be an issue for long.
Salt Spray
Another way easy all-natural pesticide spray to make is salt spray. To make salt spray you’ll just add some salt to water in a spray bottle and you’re done! Shake to mix thoroughly of course. You can also opt to sprinkle salt around the base of your plants as well. Aside from deterring pests, using salt spray on your plants also benefits them by increasing nutrition absorption like magnesium and helps plants take in vital nutrients such as phosphorous and sulfur.