IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER WHEN SPRAYING PESTICIDES IN YOUR GARDEN:
- Follow directions
- Read labels before you buy or use a product
- Always wear protective clothing while mixing and applying
- Never use more than recommended. Remember — LESS IS BEST for survival of beneficial insects!
- Do not apply pesticides in windy conditions, near water sources, people, pets or wildlife habitat
- Learn signs of pesticide poisoning
- Respect your neighbor’s “Right to Know”. Ask neighbors and lawn services to do the same
- Notify your neighbor before using pesticides that could drift, remain active on lawn areas, or settle in water
- Children and pets are easily exposed and can take residues into homes
RECIPE 1 FOR INSECTS
2 whole heads of garlic, cloves separated and peeled
3 cups mint leaves
2 tsp cayenne pepper
2 small squirts of biodegradable dishwashing liquid
Directions:
Add the garlic and mint to a food processor and pulse a few seconds
Transfer the mixture to a large pot and add the cayenne pepper, plus 2 lit of water
Bring to boil, remove from heat and steep overnight
Strain, and add the two squirts of biodegradable dishwashing liquid
To use:
Shake well before use. Spray plants with high pressure, either early in the mornings or very late in the afternoons.
RECIPE 2 FOR INSECTS
2-3 garlic bulbs, peeled
6 large or 12 smaller hot chilli peppers
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tsp of biodegradable dishwashing liquid
7 cups water. (Use about 2-3 cups in the blender, and top up with the rest later)
Directions:
Put the whole lot, except dishwashing liquid into a blender and blend well, then strain.
Add dishwashing liquid. Shake well before use.
To use: Spray plants with high pressure, either early in the mornings or very late in the afternoons.
Experiment with it if necessary and check for results or any damage to young plants. If it fixes the problem and your plants are happy, you’ve got the perfect mix.
But if there are still a few biggie pests, albeit struggling, then lower the water dilution rate or change the ingredient quantities slightly.
It’s best to spray every few days until there’s no sign of pests, then about every week to 10 days for any eggs or larvae that may have hatched out.
Aphids, scale and mites:
Nasturtium spray
Pour 500 ml boiling water over two handfuls of fresh nasturtium leaves and allow to steep for 15 min. For aphids and mites, dilute 10 drops of this tea in 1 lit water. For scale, dilute 250 ml tea in 2,5 lit of water
Fungal diseases:
Garlic Spray
Boil 5 ml of crushed garlic in 1 lit of water for 5 minutes, and strain.
For powdery mildew, try 100ml full cream milk (not long life), mix with 150 ml water and spray preventative.
Aphids and mealy bugs:
Soap spray
Dilute 10 ml of dishwashing liquid in 2 lit of water.
Black Spot and powdery mildew:
Soya bean spray
Dilute 60 ml soya bean oil and 5 ml dishwashing liquid in 3 lit of water
Cutworm, American bollworm, Fruit Fly, Rust and Mildew:
Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) or
Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) insect and fungal spray
Prepare a concentrate by pouring 2 lit of boiling water over 300g fresh wormwood or tansy (30 g dried wormwood or tansy). Steep for 15 min and strain. Use 1 part concentrate to 5 parts water.
or
2 tsp dishwashing liquid, 1 lit warm water and 1 tsp neem oil. Mix and spray where insects are active.
Snails and slugs:
Beer bait trap
Pour beer in a shallow dish with smooth sides and place it among plants that attract snails and slugs. They will be attracted to the yeast and drown.
or
Use vulcanic ash/wood ash and deposit in 3cm trenches amongst your plants
or
Biogrow Ferramol
Ants:
Borax trap
1 cup of warm water, 1/2 cup sugar, and 2 tablespoons of Borax.
Just mix the ingredients together until dissolved, soak a cotton ball with the solution, and place in the line of ants.
or
125 ml bicarbonate of soda and 125 ml icing sugar …. mix and deposit in areas of ant activity
There are other organic alternatives available commercially, eg. Ludwig’s and Margaret Roberts’ products.