10 Tried And Tested Remedies To Prevent Pests In Your Garden 

Like many gardening enthusiasts, I’ve started to grow the vegetables I consume daily. Unfortunately like most of them, I was subject to pest infestation. Many of my friends suggested using chemicals. But, the whole point of growing my own vegetables was to avoid consuming the toxic chemicals that are used in the commercial production of vegetables.

So using chemicals on the plants which I grew didn’t make much sense to me.

I tried some of the organic pest control options available in the garden stores but, it burned a huge hole in my pocket. Later I found out a renowned pest inspection expert and he suggested me that simple home remedies work well at eliminating pests.

Here are some of the tried and tested remedies to get rid of bugs

1.    Diatomaceous Earth

 (Diatomaceous Earth)

Indoor pests like a spider, roaches and the common garden pests like aphids and thrips can be destroyed by using diatomaceous earth. It is very dangerous to pest insects because they contain small sharp particles that pierce through the insects and dry them out. You can sprinkle the powder on the plants, or mix it with water and spray on them. And make sure you only get the ‘Food Grade’ powder. While applying the powder wear a mask because it will cause irritation to the eyes and nose.

2.    Neem Oil

 (Neem oil)

Neem is considered to be one of the handy pest control remedies by many gardeners. Neem oil is extracted from the seeds of a tree that are grown in India. Apart from an effective insecticide and fungicide it also used in the preparation of soap and oil. Many of the natural cosmetic products also use it as an active ingredient. It is effective at warding off mites, aphids, scales, and whiteflies. If you spray more than the prescribed amount, you will end up killing the plant. So spray a small amount on the plant. Let the mixture stay for a day and check if there are any damages.

3.     Citrus Spray

(Citrus Spray)

Aphids and ants are small creatures, and we know that it’s hard to rid them off. To make the spray, you will need 2 cups of orange or lemon peels and 4 cups of water. Add the peels to hot water and let the mixture stay overnight. Strain the mixture and pour it in a spray bottle and use it on the plants. It will repel whiteflies and other soft-bodied insects. Unlike the other natural sprays, this mixture has a refreshing smell. So you’ll enjoy using this spray.

4.    Vinegar

(Vinegar)

Both apple cider and white cider vinegar are effective in eliminating pests. But, compared to the white cider, apple cider is cheaper. So most of the gardeners prefer the inexpensive alternative. To make the vinegar spray, mix 3 parts of water, 1 part of vinegar, and 1 teaspoon of dishwashing detergent into a spray bottle. Mix them thoroughly and spray it on the plants. This spray will ward off pests such as slugs, moths, and ants. Also, make sure the mixture is diluted properly because the spray should not harm your plants.

5.    Epsom Salt Solution

(Epsom salt)

Epsom salt is used as a body scrub and to relieve aching muscles. But, It can also be used to deter pests that attack plants. To make the solution you have to mix 1 bowl of Epsom salt in 5 gallons of water. Slugs will stay away from the area that smells of Epsom salt, and it also repels beetles. You can sprinkle Epsom salt around plants which will safeguard them from pests and also give them a nutritional boost.  

6.    Garlic, Peppers & Onion Spray

 (Garlic, onion, pepper)

To make this solution, you will need 2 hot peppers, 1 large onion, I whole bulb of garlic, and 1 gallon of water. Mash the pepper, onion, and garlic into a thick paste. Mix this paste into a gallon of hot water and keep the mixture aside for 24 hours. Strain the water and pour it into a spray bottle. You can spray this mixture on roses and vegetable plants to keep bugs off. It also protects your plants from thrips, aphids, grasshoppers, and other sucking insects.

7.    Tomato Leaf Spray

(Tomato leaves)

Tomato leaf spray is effective on grasshoppers, aphids and, whiteflies. To make the spray take 2 cups of tomato leaves and soak them in water. Leave it overnight and the next day discards the leaves from the water. You must add two more cups of water to the solution and pour it into a spray bottle. Tomato leaves are highly poisonous so you must be careful while preparing them. Do not spray this on vegetable plants.

8.    Mineral Oil Mix

 (Mineral oil)

Mineral oil is derived from petroleum and is widely used by gardeners to control corn earworm. It also gets rids of aphids, moth, leaf roller, mealybugs, scaled Insects, and whiteflies. To prepare the mixture, you will need 1 cup of mineral oil and ¼ cup of dish soap. Mix these ingredients in a bowl and keep it aside. This mixture has to be diluted before use. Mix 1 tablespoon of the mixture in a liter of water.

9.    Coffee grounds

(Coffee grounds)

If you want to increase the acidity of the soil, you can use coffee grounds. It also helps to increase the nitrogen content of the soil. Slugs, ants and even house pets such as cats can’t stand coffee grounds. You can get them from coffee houses who would be more than happy to give them free of charge to gardeners. They can be used to cure some of the fungal diseases of plants like Fusarium, Pythium. Also, coffee grounds have certain properties that help the plants to grow better.

10.    Beer trap

(Beer trap)

If you want to get rid of snails and slugs from your garden, the beer trap works like magic. These pests have a weakness for beer. Find out the place through which they enter your garden because this is where you will need to place the trap. Once you locate the source, all you have to do is fill a pan with beer and place it in that area. The slugs will be attracted to the beer and fall into the trap. The next morning you will find them struggling to move. Pick those snails from the trap and dispose of it.

Winding up

Any one of these above mixtures can be used to destroy common pests. So you must be wondering why there are 10 solutions. You must know that every garden is different, some of these mixtures may harm your plants. Also, try some of the homemade remedies from the NYCity pest control if you run out of options. It’s always safe to have an alternative so that you can experiment and find the best remedy to keep pests away from the plants. 

And if you have larger pests, like mice you could get in touch with PestDaddy exterminators in Toowoomba

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