Easy-To-Make Natural Pest Control Solutions

Various pests can easily invade a garden. Without the right pest control strategies and their immediate implementation, you will end up having a yard that is home not just to your plants, but to several insects as well that can cause your foliage to wilt and die.

Here are some natural pest control products and solutions for your garden that you can easily make at home:

For Aphids

To make a natural insecticide that will help you deal with aphids, you need to have 1 cup chewing tobacco juice first. You can make this by placing three

pieces of chewing tobacco in an old nylon stocking and soak this in a gallon of hot water. Once the mixture turns dark brown, run it through a sifter to remove the particles from the juice.

Mix the tobacco juice with 1 cup of liquid dish soap and 1 cup antiseptic mouthwash. Pour the mixture into a 20-gallon sprayer and fill the rest of the container with water. To get rid of aphids and keep them away, spray the mixture on vegetables and plants every other week.

For Scale

Scale insects suck sap from leaves, stalks, and stems. If you allow these pests to live on your plants, they will cause the death of the stems.

To get rid of scale, mix 1 tablespoon of ground mustard seeds and add 20 parts of water. Mix well, put in a sprayer, and drench the affected plant.

For Shield Bugs and different types of leaf-eating Insects

Nobody wants to have plants with leaves that are slowly being devoured by insects. To effectively deal with leaf-eating insects, hard-surfaced pests, and even scale, chop 4 bird’s eye chillies (or other really hot types of chillies), 2 bulbs of garlic, and 4 large onions. Combine all of these in a container with 2 litres soapy water. Allow the mixture to steep for at least 24 hours. Strain the mixture and dilute with water, if necessary, then pour it into a sprayer. Spray the affected plants. You can store the remaining mixture in a sealed container and keep it in a dark place but make sure to use the leftover product within 2 weeks.

For Ants

To get rid of these pesky insects, put 10 to 15 drops of peppermint essential oil in a spray bottle with water. Spray the area where ants usually are – they won’t come back since they hate the smell. If you have cats, make sure they don’t go to the sprayed area since this product can be harmful to them.

For Caterpillars and other sucking Insects

Caterpillars, mealy bugs, and slaters are just some of the sucking insects that can inflict a lot of damage to your garden.

For a homemade natural insecticide that targets these pests, combine 90g of chopped garlic cloves and 2 tablespoons of mineral oil or liquid paraffin and let it steep for at least 48 hours. When ready, dissolve 15g of pure soap or soap flakes in a container with 500ml warm water. Mix the 2 solutions together and strain. To use, add 1 part mixture to 50 parts water and spray on the affected plants.

With some common products in your home and a bit of ingenuity, you can have a pest-free garden. For more garden and landscaping tips, tune in for more Jim’s Mowing NZ blogs.