http://www.care2.com/greenliving/garlic-spray-garden-pests.html
Best Ever Garlic Spray for Garden Pests
By Annie B. Bond, Executive Producer, Care2 Healthy Living Channels.
Ever since my friend Doug Harp told me about the great results he got from using soap spray on the gypsy moths that had infested his apple trees, I’ve worked on perfecting the ideal insecticidal soap spray recipe that will work on a wide variety of garden pests.
This is it. It’s fast and easy to make, economical, non-toxic to the environment and to our own bodies - and it works!
Soap has been used for centuries as an all-purpose pesticide. It disrupts insects’ cell membranes, and kills pests by dehydration. The key is not to use too much soap, or you’ll also kill the vegetation near the pests. If you follow the proportions of soap to water in the Basic Soap Spray recipe, below, the vegetation should be fine.
Note: Buy a liquid soap, NOT a detergent. Health food stores have liquid soaps, such as Dr. Bronner’s Pure-Castile Soaps.
Basic Soap Spray
1 to 2 tablespoons liquid soap
1 quart water
Combine ingredients in a bucket, mix, then transfer to a spray bottle as needed.
Garlic Variation
1 to 2 heads garlic, chopped
Enough boiling water to cover
Put garlic in the bottom of a mason jar and cover with boiling water. Put lid on and allow to sit overnight, then strain and add garlic-water to the soap spray. This will decay, so be sure to freeze leftovers until ready to use again.
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55 comments
add your comment »HELP!!!
Know those big black stinging ants? They're all over my garden and nothing seems to work. Sometimes wewake up to find the entire enterance black with a "carpet" of them. Luckily this year it hasn't happened (yet). Last year in despair I bought a "natural" spray based on garlic and herbs and sprayed a few drops right on their nest. It worked surprisingly well, they didn't come back the rest of that summer, but then I realized the container said it was poisonous.
Any ideas anyone???
I'm a bit tired of trying new things that turn out not to work, or to work very temporarily like aromatics, soap, ashes, or just making sure they have plenty of food near their nest so that they don't wander all over the place.
I don't want to get altogether rid of them because I know they have their benifits too (wish I knew what they were, that might make life somewhat easier) but maybe just reduce their population back to what it was before we invaided and started feeding them...
Any comments would be greatfully accepted.
Thanks!
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This sounds crazy. But does anyone think this could work for a horse's fly spray?
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The basic soap solution is a 'treasure find' for me...I have a beautiful pear tree in my backyard, and I am hoping this will help with it...thank you so very much...
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The soap spray should not have any harmful effects on the helpful critters as long as they are not directly sprayed. Since the spray is for foliage, the worms shouldn't be affected, gotta be careful with the ladybugs tho. I've noticed the ladybugs are particular when selecting their plants and because of their presence, do not need to spray those plants. Hope this helped.
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FLEA/PEST FREE PETS sorry be off point ~ some of you might be at work or short on time, sending a time saver URL just in case you need quick ref/info, (hugs) ~dg~
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/pets/pests
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Green mosquito repellent spray
There is also recipe for cats and dogs, I have used quick drop of lavendar oil here and there on me and recently bought lemon oil and one other (??) on sale with weekend project to make up some pet stuff. one is not for cats... I recall they said take great care... I love living as chemical free as possible... I make my own pet food and he is more energetic and happier now, he just smiles... before he was down... I research and save stuff on my notepads and make a lot of week end lists todo.
Happy times for green summers ((hugs)) ~dg~
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/custom-made-insect-repellent.html?print=1
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Jeff posted:What effect does the soap have on helpful critters that can be found in gardens like ladybugs, worms, etc?
Dear Jeff, I wondered this too and have yet to try soap, concerns about unbalance..I think we need some bees have not seen any this year, hmmm. no butterflies, bees, maybe we should look into the good bugs ...what do you think?
Se Sobrevive so sorry your gerbera, mine were blooming beautifully than no blooms after I used only a pinch of tobacco in my spray bottle ~ if this is cause? not sure. I switched to garlic spray and fed and replanted them put dishes beneathe for water hope that helps, maybe yours is not dead and needs plant ER?
ps red pepper is awesome with nontoxic gel on cords pets instant stop chew but I hear works for some bugs somewhere is posted at care2 :)
bright blessings all ~dg~
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I prefer to just use ladybugs. You can purchase a family at your local hardware store. They work well for garden pests.
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Yeah, I remeber my Grandma doing this in her garden. It worked great then, bet it will again!
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Mmmmm...I used it on my gerbera. It died :(
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