The time of year is upon us to start seedlings, and prepare the ground for our gardens! Opting to keep things as safe for my family as possible, I have sought out many natural garden pest control recipes over the years. These are a few solutions that have been exceptionally effective. Enjoy!
Black Tea and Cinnamon
This is my favorite recipe for keeping bugs at bay in my vegetable garden. I love this because its cheap, and super simple.
Gather your materials!
– Spray bottle (8 oz capacity or more)
– Cinnamon Sticks (4)
– Black tea (4 bags)
– 8 oz of water
Directions:
Place cinnamon sticks in a small boiler and add water.
Bring to a boil.
Remove the water and cinnamon mixture from heat, then add the tea bags and allow it to brew.
Allow the tea bags to remain at least 30 minutes.
Once the cinnamon and tea mixture has cooled, simply pour the liquid into your spray bottle.
Spray directly on seedlings, leaves, stems, fruit veggies etc.
Be sure to repeat this process, after watering or rainfall.
It may sound intimidating, because it will likely need to be done daily, but it is actually very easy work. Make this in larger batches, and set aside as well. There is no need to refrigerate unused mixture, as the more sour the tea, the more effective it is.
At harvest time, be sure to wash your edibles thoroughly. It’s also worth mentioning, I have not experienced any lingering flavors, from neither the tea nor cinnamon.
Garlic and Castile Soap
This is another very effective recipe. The only downside to this one is there is a little more prep involved.
Gather you materials!
-Blender, or food processor
-Cheese cloth, or other very closely knit strainer
– One whole bulb of garlic
– Castile Soap
-Teaspoon of vegetable oil
– About 20 oz of Water
– Spray bottle
Directions:
First, place entire bulb of garlic (no need to peel) in a food processor or blender. Add the pureed garlic to a small container and add about 4 oz of water.
Let the garlic and water mixture sit over night.
Next strain the water off of the garlic into a larger container, for mixing. Add a tablespoon of castile soap and a teaspoon of vegetable oil to the garlic water and blend thoroughly.
Pour the finished garlic and castile soap solution into a spray bottle. Shake well before each use.
This should be sprayed directly onto any potentially infested vegetation daily, preferably in the evening, after watering your garden. Be sure to wash veggies thoroughly upon harvest.
Chili Pepper Spray
This one here is uh…. potent. Not only will it deter insects, but it will also deter rats, rabbits, raccoons and other wildlife from feasting in your outdoor buffet.
A word of caution, you must wear gloves faithfully, and a dust mask is also extremely advisable. This spray will cause irritation to skin, mucous membranes, and the respiratory tract. Use this one very carefully!
-Gather your materials!
– Cheese cloth
– About 5 hot chili peppers
– Castile Soap
– 16 oz of water
– Spray Bottle
– Gloves
Directions: Put on a pair of gloves, and cut chili peppers into small pieces. Put the chili peppers, along with their seeds, into a small boiler, then add water.
Open a window! Bring the water, peppers, and seeds to a boil for about 5 minutes.
Remove from heat and allow to cool. Strain the Chili Pepper water into the spray bottle. Add a teaspoon of castile soap, then shake well, before each use.
When using this spray, be sure to wear gloves and a respirator mask! Spray directly onto all desired vegetation. Make sure to wash any treated veggies extremely thoroughly before consuming or prepping.
Not a Recipe, Just Neem Oil
Neem Oil, is a safe effective natural pest control that can be found at garden shops, and general merchandise stores virtually anywhere. It may come in a concentrated, or ready to use form, so be sure to read the label!
This can be sprayed directly on plant life safely, so no worries! I have found that neem oil does not usually have to be sprayed daily, as it is curiously strong, making it a good method for a person that lacks a lot of time to garden daily.
No Harm Done
I like these pest control recipes for obvious reasons. No harm to the yard, no harm to my family. I hope you enjoy using these recipes! And as always, Happy Healing!