Gardening is a relaxing and sustainable way to spend a relaxing day outdoors. But when your garden is overrun by pests, a stress-free day can quickly turn into a stressful one.
Did you know there is an abundance of sustainable and healthy DIY pest control alternatives using ordinary household items you likely already have? Keep reading to get our list of five simple DIY pest repellants for your garden.
1. Essential Oil DIY Pest Repellant
If you’re already using essential oils to boost your family’s health, happiness, and immunity, then these essential DIY oil pest control recipes are sure to be a fast favorite.
- Cayenne Pepper and Citrus Oil Anti-Ant Spray- Mix one teaspoon cayenne pepper with ten drops of a citrus essential oil of your choice with a cup of warm water to send the ants marching home. Simply combine the ingredients in a glass spray bottle, and spray the ant territory to see quick results.
- A Few Drops of Eucalyptus Oil Keeps the Stingers Away- Eucalyptus oil has a ton of health benefits and is a common ingredient in handmade antimicrobials and disinfectants. In the garden, a few drops can ward off bees, wasps, and even flies, so you can garden without the flying pests.
2. Invite Friendly Insects to Control Pests
While it may seem counterintuitive, there are actually a great many insects that help control harmful garden pests, so you don’t have to. These friendly garden-dwellers are easy to attract and can boost your garden’s pest immunity and crop output.
The Praying Mantis
While praying mantis insects are beautiful to look at, they’re also very beneficial for your garden. With a healthy appetite for smaller garden pests, they are a natural and sustainable DIY pest repellent strategy for the avid gardener. Interested gardeners can purchase praying mantis eggs in their local garden store and set them in the garden, where they will hatch and grow naturally.
Ladybugs
Did you know ladybugs eat many common garden pests including mites, aphids, scale, and whiteflies? This makes them one of our favorite DIY pest control solutions. To attract ladybugs to your garden, you can plant botanical members of the daisy family, as well as yarrow and tansy. They can also commonly be found in garden stores. The best benefit of garden ladybugs? If one lands on you, you’ll have good luck!
3. DIY Pest Repellants from the Kitchen
Common kitchen ingredients like baking soda and milk can change the way you deal with unruly pests. Here are a couple of our favorite ways to simply repel pests with common kitchen ingredients.
- Baking Soda Antifungal- For plants affected with fungal diseases, a simple baking soda solution can be your saving grace. Simply mix one gallon of water with two tablespoons of baking soda in a spray bottle and unleash on those affected plants. You can use this solution every few days or until the problem stops.
- Milky Powdery Mildew Solution– Powdery mildew is a fungal disease that can affect many of the plants in your garden, but a simple milk solution can solve it in minutes. Simply mix equal parts water and milk in a spray bottle and treat the affected plants once weekly for three weeks.
4. Foul Flavors Deter Deer
Deer eat about five pounds of vegetation each day but don’t let them get to your lovely plants. Send them away with these deer deterrents.
- Egg Wash Your Plants- Add a quarter cup of water to a whole egg and mix well in a spray bottle. Spray your plants directly. The best quality of the egg wash deer deterrent is that it will stay on your plants through light rain because the egg is sticky. You’ll want to reapply after heavy rains and storms.
- Detergent Deterrent- Add one tablespoon of liquid dish detergent and one ounce of your favorite hot sauce to one liter of water in a spray bottle. Mix thoroughly and spray your plants directly. The foul flavors are sure to be unappealing to your deer friends and will quickly convince them to look for tasty treats elsewhere.
5. Best Pest Repellant is Prevention
The best way to ensure your garden is pest free is to prevent an infestation before it even begins. Here are a couple of our favorite pest prevention methods.
- Keep Your Soil Healthy- Using natural compost from kitchen scraps acts as a strong fertilizer and base material for healthy soil. Mulching and top dressing your garden each spring is a great way to keep your plants healthy, so they can withstand an infestation when it does happen.
- Don’t Spread the Pests- Like humans and animals, plants can be infected by the pests and chemicals lingering on your gardening tools. After working with an infected plant, thoroughly clean and disinfect your gardening tools to avoid spreading the disease around the rest of your garden.
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