Suzy's Gardening Tips

There are so many everyday products available that can be used for pest control around the house, in your garden and even on your landscape plants.No need to spend a fortune on expensive commercial pesticides, or risk using harmful chemicals around your home. This is especially true if there are young children in and around the house.Consider making your own and take control!

There are numerous products that you probably have on hand right now that can substitute for harmful commercial products. There is quite a list and we will look at a few of them.

Liquid Soap
Liquid dish soap goes a long way as a pest control.It is especially effective on soft body insects such as spider mites. Long before organic was the way to go, rose gardeners used it to keep the aphids away. A few drops of a mild liquid dish soap mixed with water in a spray bottle goes a long way as pest control. This is one of the few methods that will control aphids and it is very effective. Liquid soap is also effective on slugs, but there is an even better way to control them if you are willing to part with some of your brewsky.

Got a cold beer?
This is the ultimate slug control.Slugs are attracted to beer. So why not use this to your advantage. Put a small amount of beer in a shallow container and then place the container at soil level in the dirt. The slugs will be attracted to the smell, crawl over, fall in and we all know the rest of the story. What a way to go! Simply collect the containers and slugs in the morning and dispose of the pests.

Garlic

We know how good garlic is for your immune system.Have you heard of using garlic to ward off garden pests? That’s right. Garlic doesn’t kill pests, but it is effective at driving them away. Use a garlic mixture that is similar to the liquid soap mixture above. Mix crushed garlic with water or oil and make a spray. Then spray the mixture on plants to help keep furry critters like rabbits away from the greenery.

Marigolds

Marigolds are more than just a pretty flower. Well, have you ever smelled a marigold? Their scent helps to repel insects and attracts butterflies as well. Plant rows of marigolds in your garden next to the vegetables and you will have fewer problems with bugs invading your crops.

Oils

Home made horticultural oils can also be used on pests. Pests with hard shells such as scale can be effectively removed with a spray mixture of water and a few drops of vegetable oil. A product containing neem oil also works just as effectively. Spray plants in early morning or late afternoon to avoid leaf and fruit burn from the sun

You don’t have to use expensive commercial products to control pests around your home and garden. Just use the products you already have on hand and become a kinder to the environment gardener!