Bye Bye, Bugs: Natural Pesticides You Should Know About

Whether you're growing fruit, herbs, flowers, or something in between, it gives you a sense of pride to see your creations flourishing and bearing fruit. However, nothing can stop a profitable garden in its tracks quite like bugs, and bugs exist in every land, climate, and growing season. But what if you don't want to spray chemical pesticides from your supermarket on your growing lovelies? If you're looking for some information on natural pesticides that you can use, then here's what you need to know.

Citrus and Cayenne

The first natural bug-be-gone on this list is made out of things you can probably find in your pantry or fridge, which is good if you want to take care of the problem right now without wasting time at the supermarket. Take about ten to twelve drops of citrus oil and mix it with a cup of warm water and a teaspoon to a teaspoon and a half of cayenne pepper in a spray bottle. Once the ingredients are combined, spray it directly on your plants to protect from small biting insects like ants that can climb up and munch on leaves without you seeing them.

Soap, Citrus, and Water

If slugs, ants, and roaches are the current pests tormenting your garden, then this next natural pesticide should be right up your alley. Take the citrus oil from the first pesticide, separate out one ounce of it, and mix it with 3 tablespoons of some sort of liquid organic soap (any brand is fine, just as long as it's organic). Add that mixture to a gallon of water and shake well before spraying it onto your plants. Take care not to over spray – citrus oil is quite strong and can be damaging if you use this spray more than two times a week or so.

Tomato Leaf and Water

If you're growing tomatoes, then this will be one of the easiest pesticides that you can make. Take a few handfuls of fresh leaves off your tomato plant (enough to equal about two cups) and chop them up finely. Don't worry if your leaf pieces aren't exactly uniform – you're just trying to release the alkaline in those leaves (the tomato is part of the nightshade family, after all) that helps protect against insects like aphids. Soak the leaf pieces in about a quart of water and leave it alone for a night, then take out the remaining leaves and spray it on your plants.

For more assistance, contact a landscaping company like Glynn Young's Landscaping & Nursery Center.


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