Keeping pests off of your greens is a time consuming, but critical task for every gardener. Nothing is more frustrating than coming out one morning to find all of your plants destroyed and realizing thinking about all of that lost time and effort. Now before you’re tempted to run out to the store and grab the nastiest looking bug killer off the shelf, there are a few things to consider.
1. Are you growing an organic garden? If yes then your options have just gotten a lot smaller already. Almost every insecticide at your local store will be non-organic and probably not something you would want around anything that is or will be edible.
2. Are you growing food? Again, you probably want to stay clear of all of that chemical junk. Yeah, it’ll kill almost everything that eats it, but if that’s the case, why would you want to eat anything that’s been treated with it!
3. Do you have small children or pets? Be careful when selecting a pest control product. You don’t want anything that can hurt your kids or your pets! Check the label to see if what you’re about to buy is pet safe.
So now you’re thinking great, what can I use then? Here are a few of my recommendations to keep the pests off without the worry.
Dish Soap!
A simple mix of two tablespoons of dish soap per gallon of water can work wonders. Mix well and use a sprayer to cover the entire plant, including the undersides of the leaves. This will deter a lot of insects but won’t stop them all. You’ll also need to reapply often as this fix won’t last past a few waterings.
Spice it up!
For a homemade solution that works even better than dish soap alone, try adding some hot peppers to your mix. The heat from the peppers will deter even the most stubborn pest while staying completely safe for pets and kids! While there are plenty of recipes out there, I’ve been using the same one for years with AMAZING results season after season! I’ve finally gotten around to writing down the directions for this tried and tested brew and have made it available to all of my subscribers via the MiSproots eLibray! Not a subscriber yet? Click here to sign up for access to the library!
Neem Oil!
For those who are looking for a pre-made solution that works wonders, is completely organic, and is non-toxic when used properly, neem oil is the best of the best. I always have a bottle on hand for those times when I’m out of my pepper brew or if the infestation is getting out of hand.
Interested in picking up some neem oil or a sprayer for your garden? Check out the links below for our recommendations! Everything ships directly to you from Amazon®.
Happy gardening!
-MiSproots Team
Here are some links to my favorite products that you can buy directly from Amazon®!
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