Natural pest control formulations

From Sharie

Fortunately aphids are generally only a problem during a few months each year. One of the simplest ways to control them it to use a soap spray.

I prefer dove dish washing detergent and I mix ½ tablespoon with each quart of water. If your problem is bad you may need to spray every day for a week and then back down to every other day for a week and then to twice a week. Add 1/2 tablespoons of baking soda to kill fungi. Add a small amount of sulfur to eradicate mites. Put solution in a properly labeled spray bottle. You may also want to include the proper amount of liquid organic fertilizer in the spray for exfoliating and feed the plant leaves at the same time. Try these other Organic pest control methods.

Basic Oil Spray: This is a general insect repellent.
Mix 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, 2 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid.* Put solution in a properly labeled spray bottle.


Peppermint Tea: This is an all purpose insect spray, and is also useful for repelling ants

. Brew peppermint leaf tea. Cool and place in a properly labeled spray bottle.

Garlic Spray: This spray will repel insects

.
Mix 1 quart of water, 2 teaspoons of garlic juice, 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper and 1 teaspoon of liquid soap. Put solution in a properly labeled spray bottle.

Minced Garlic

: Minced garlic placed around tulip bulbs will discourage squirrels from eating the bulbs.
Lemon Spray: This spray will repel white flies and soft bodied insects. It also gets rid of pet fleas. Boil peels of 3 lemons in 1 quart of water, cool and remove peels. Put solution in a properly labeled spray bottle.

Basil Spray:

This spray will repel white flies.
Boil water and add a few basil leaves. Let it steep and add dishwashing liquid.* Put solution in a properly labeled spray bottle.

Banana Peel Repellent

: Banana peels will repel aphids. The potassium from the peels also stimulates large blooms. Place banana peels around roses and other plants.

Hot Pepper Spray:

This spray will repel insects and eliminate black spots on roses. Mix 2 teaspoons of cayenne pepper, 1 quart of water and _ teaspoon of dishwashing liquid.* Put solution in a properly labeled spray bottle.
Tomato Leaf Spray: This repels insects in the vegetable garden. Mix 2 cups of tomato leaves with 1 quart of water. Bring to a boil, cool, strain and add 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid.* Put solution in a properly labeled spray bottle.

Lemongrass Wasp Repellent:

Place lemongrass in a vase on your picnic table to keep the wasps away.
Natural Alternatives to Controlling Fungus:

Anti-Fungus Spray

: This solution will repel and combat fungal disease. Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil and 1 gallon of water.
Vinegar Spray: Use this solution to combat fungal disease and black spots on roses. Mix 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and 1 gallon of water.
*You can find a natural dishwashing liquid at stores that specialize in organic products.
This Information was found at the following sources, which you can visit if you want to find out more about this topic:
Gardening Without Toxic Chemicals (leaflet), Huber Woods Activity Center, Monmouth County Parks System, Monmouth County, New Jersey
Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey, brochure entitled, "Healthy Farms, Healthy Food, and Healthy Land."