A Dozen Homemade Organic Garden Remedies
126January 3, 2013 by spielbee
Veggie gardens need special care. Vegetable plants are prone to all sorts of disease and fungus. They are highly sought after by pests both big and teeny teeny tiny. A slight negative change in their environment can cause them to stop producing. And we aren’t happy when our veggie garden is just limping along…we want it to thrive!
We also expect our vegetables to be nutritious and safe to eat; and as if that’s not enough, we demand our gardens be harmonious, attractive and a boon to their environment.
This is a lot to ask of our humble garden, but it can be accomplished! Generations of our ancestors have done it, and they’ve done it with less. Maybe we should follow their lead…
You can do it with less by using homemade natural remedies to treat pests and disease. With readily available ingredients, fertilizers too can be mixed up right in your kitchen and stored easily (and attractively) for whenever you need them. They are green, economical and best of all, successful.
1. Organic Oil Soap Pesticide Spray
1 tsp liquid castile soap or natural dishwashing liquid
2 tsp vegetable oil
Add oil and soap to a spray bottle and fill with water. Shake well before each use. Spray the oil soap directly on unwanted pests. The spray smothers them so they need to be as coated as possible.
You can add garlic to your oil soap spray which will help deter pests as well as smother theml. Soak 12 cloves of chopped/crushed garlic in vegetable oil for 24 hours. Strain and add in place of regular vegetable oil in recipe. Hint: Planting garlic and onion in your garden repels pests as well.
2. Pepper Plant Epsom Salt Spray
Dissolve 2 tablespoons of epsom salts in a spray bottle of warm water. Shake well before using. Spray conservatively on pepper plants once flowers start to form and as long as the plant is fruiting. The magnesium in the epsom salt help the pepper hold on to its fruit as it grows.
3. Vinegar Weed Spray
Spray undiluted household white vinegar directly and liberally on weeds. The vinegar will kill the leaves of the plant, but not always the roots, so you may need to reapply. Do not spray on any plant you don’t want to damage. You can add a tsp of liquid castile soap or natural dishwashing liquid to help the spray stick to the foliage.
4. Large Pest Deterring Hair Sprinkle
You can tell a Hope Gardens vegetable garden by the unusual site of hair lying all around the plants. You can use hair from your hair brush or leftovers from a hair salon. The human scent on the hair will repel possums, raccoons, cats and rabbits. And as the hair breaks down, it becomes a nutritious compost for the soil.
5. Seaweed Fertilizer Spray
This is my favorite vegetable fertilizer. It’s super economical, easy to make, organic and really effective. I use a prepared dried seaweed called Sea Magic but you can dry your own too. Simply add the 1 oz. packet of Sea Magic powder to a 1-gallon container and fill with warm water. Shake it up well and this is your concentrate. Then add 3 tablespoons of the concentrate to another 1-gallon container and fill with water. This is the direct-use fertilizer. You can use it as a foliar spray or as a root soak.
Hint: Never spray anything on your plants during the hottest part of the day. Even water left on leaves can burn your plants on a hot, bright afternoon. Water and treat your plants either in the evening, or better yet, in the early morning.
6. Baking Soda Fungicide Spray
Baking soda has lots of uses in the garden. Flour and baking soda mixed together can be sprinkled around the garden and on affected plants to deter cabbage worms and aphids. Baking soda can also be used to avoid fungus. It will not cure a current fungus problem, but it can prevent the spread. The same can be said of all natural fungicidal sprays. Here’s a make-at-home recipe.
1 gallon of water
1 tablespoon of baking soda
1 tablespoon of vegetable oil
1 tablespoon of liquid castile soap or natural dishwashing liquid
Spray lightly on foliage of plants afflicted with fungus or mildew. Avoid over-using or pouring on the soil.
7. Egg Shell Fertilizer
Never throw an egg shell away. They are high in potassium and calcium. In fact, egg shells are 93% calcium carbonate, the same ingredient as lime, a super beneficial soil amendment.
You can rinse the shells, dry them, and turn them into a powder in a blender. Add the powder of up to a dozen eggs to a spray bottle of water or to another upcoming fertilizer tea recipe. You can also add crushed egg shells directly to the garden bed.
8. Coffee Ground Fertilizer
Acid loving plants such as tomatoes, blueberries, roses and azaleas love spent coffee grounds. You can mix the grounds into the soil or simply sprinkle on top. If using as a soil drench, soak 6 cups of coffee grounds in a 5 gallon bucket of water. Let it sit for 2-3 days and then saturate the soil around your plants.
9. Banana Peel Fertilizer/Pesticide
Plants love potassium. Add one or two peels in the hole before planting or bury peels under mulch so they can compost naturally. Rotting banana peels are actually rumored to repel aphids as well.
10. Molasses Fertilizer
Use in place of oil in any of the spray recipes here. I make a molasses fertilizer for my potatoes by mixing 5 gallons of water with a cup of molasses. I let it cure for 24 hours, stirring occasionally and then add it to the potato plants 3-4 times during the growing period. Using molasses in compost tea increases microbes and the beneficial bacteria that microbes feed on. Here’s your ultimate compost/molasses/seaweed fertilizer recipe. Add these ingredients to a gallon of water.
1 cup compost tea (or liquid humate, found in hydroponic stores)
1 ounce liquid molasses
1 ounce apple cider vinegar
1 ounce liquid seaweed fertilizer (recipe above)
11. Cornmeal Fungicide/Fertilizer
Cornmeal contains lots of phosphorus and nitrogen and acts as an effective fungicide. Add a cup of cornmeal to 5 gallons of water. Let it soak for several hours, then strain the liquid so you can add it to a spray bottle. Spray the leaves of plants that are susceptible to fungus. You can combine this cornmeal tea with other teas for even more benefits.
12. Weed/Herb Tea Fertilizer
For lots of reasons you should grow some beneficial companion flowers in your garden. You can harvest them, chop them up and sprinkle them around your vegetables to repel insects. You can also make them into fertilizer teas. And here’s the real mind blower: you can even harvest your WEEDS and make them into a weed tea fertilizer. Those weeds are out there soaking up the minerals from your soil – you might as well use them.
You can use fresh or dried weeds of any kind. I also use same recipe to make a comfrey tea. Pull up your weeds and/or harvest some comfrey, then make this concentrate.
“Sun tea” directions: For every big handful of weeds/herbs add 2 or 3 cups of water in a glass jar and set out into the sun for a day or two. Strain. Stove top directions: Bring the weeds/herbs and water to a quick boil. Remove from heat and cover. Allow to soak for a few hours, then strain.
Dilute one part of weed/herb tea concentrate to four parts of water to make your fertilizer. If using as a foliar spray, add 1/4 teaspoon liquid castile soap or natural dishwashing liquid to help it stick. If you are using as a root soak, you do not need the soap.
Comfrey tea makes a powerful liquid organic fertilizer. The roots run very deep and pull up minerals that other plants cannot reach. It is particularly rich in potassium.
Consistent and careful plant maintenance is always your best defense against problems and your best guarantee of a THRIVING garden. Check out our Winter Garden Guide and our Summer Garden Guide for maintenance tips.
I was inspired to write this blog by the wonderful bloggers at Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways. Check them out!
and check out Miss Amy at http://www.ablossominglife.com/2013/01/frugal-crafty-home-hop-5.html/frugal-crafty-home-blog-hop.
Enjoy creating your homegrown organic garden remedies!
Hope Gardens 
O my gosh I wish I had this last year when I had a garden and got infested with bugs! I would love if you would share this over at my blog hop! http://www.ablossominglife.com/2012/12/diy-liquid-laundry-detergent-video.html
I’d love to blog hop 🙂
This is so informative! I’m definitely going to try these in my garden this year. Thank you for sharing!
Thank you very much for this very helpful information, I will apply this to my orchids.
Thanks so much for this information! 🙂
Got anything for snails?
I’m stealing this directly from Mother Earth news. 🙂 I myself use Sluggo.
A few years ago, a U.S. Department of Agriculture scientist found that crabgrass contains a substance toxic to slugs. Since then, many backyard slug slayers have experimented with crabgrass cookies, which are made by mixing chopped, dried crabgrass leaves with corn bran, cornstarch and beer. The baits are then placed beneath plants, where the slugs eat them and die.
Another option is spraying coffee on plants that are plagued with slugs. Caffeine in any form — including a few No-Doz tablets mixed with water — is a slug neurotoxin that will kill these unwanted pests.
When you’re down to only a few slugs, you can fall back on the traditional organic control, which is to trap them with beer. Put an inch or so of any beer in a cup, bury it in the garden nearly to the rim, and collect your drowned slugs in the morning. Or, put some beer in plastic drink bottles and lay them on their sides in the garden. The slugs will crawl in and drown. Dump them out and start over again every few days.
Read more: http://www.motherearthnews.com/ask-our-experts/slug-control-zb0z08zblon.aspx#ixzz2NHst1n6R
what do you do to get rid of deer?
lol. you’re out of luck there! get yourself a greenhouse.
Build a fence…
@edith breedlove I did some web snooping and found this! also read that quinoa is deer resistant and can be grown from seed.
http://nwfarmsandfood.com/index.php/deer-resistant-vegetables
people tell me eggs crushed and sprayed over he plants will protect them from the deer …I have seen it work but have never had to use myself.
they don’t like the smell of rotten eggs? I’ve never heard this one! 😉
We drape netting over our plants at night… it’s the only way I’ve ever been able to stop the deer and actually harvest some squash. We have tall stakes in the areas where the plants that are attractive to deer grow, and the netting is permanently attached at the top. We wind it up in the morning and drape it down at night. It’s somewhat time-consuming, but I like to think of it as putting the garden to bed and waking it up. The official ‘deer netting’ is pretty expensive, but I bought bridal netting off of the clearance rack at the local fabric store for 30 cents a yard. We call that area our bridal garden- lol.
Also, a spray made with garlic, hot sauce and raw eggs works- but only if you spray it on every day. (and it STINKS!) You take about 3 tablespoons of crushed/diced raw garlic and 3 tablespoons of any hot sauce and heat them just until boiling in a saucepan. After that cools, add it to an empty gallon jug and add in 3 raw egg whites, then fill the jug to the top with water. Shake vigorously and let it steep in the sun for a day or two. Strain the mixture into a spray bottle and spray all over the plants and the soil. Did I mention that it stinks? This will also keep squrrels away… sometimes. (It depends on how determined the squirrels are!)
A dog out side helps too. When our new neighbor moved in with their hunting dogs. They brought a bit of noise, but he deer problem stopped. I’ve also heard human hair works but haven’t tried it.
I made hoops out of pvc piping like you would in the winter, but instead of covering them with plastic, I used deer netting.
I’ve done this for several years , and it works! I put up sticks, string line between and hang cd’s from them at different heights.
. They catch the light even at night and it only takes a slight breeze to move them. Deer won’t come near. The unusual motion is unnerving to them.
Build a really tall fence, they can clear a 6 ft. fence with ease. Check an Organic Gardening supply catalog, they usually have something you can spray that helps but a fence is best.
Consider companion planting; Deer are not fond of peppers or tomato plants. Do a little research about companion planting. You might find you can build a smelly wall around your plants without using poisons. What is good for the plants (like peanuts) are usually unattractive to predators of the herbivorous variety.
Put bars of soap hanging in your garden. They can’t stand the smell
Does the garlic oil soap formula require refrigeration? Also – are we soaking all 12 of the cloves in two tiny teaspoons? How much water to the 3tsp mixture of oil and soap? Thanks! 🙂
Hello! The garlic oil soap does not require refrigeration. What I did was cut up the garlic, put it in a little jar, covered the garlic with water and then let it steep. Then I strained 2 tsp of the water. I put the 3 tsp mixture in a standard 24 oz. spray bottle with a funnel and filled that with water. Get yourself a bunch of funnels. I go through them quickly. And the sprayers give out pretty fast no matter how much money you spend on a “professonal” spray bottle. Buy lots of those too. Here they are bundled together! Thanks for the great question.
I was admiring everything I read here until the comments section- spielbee! Sluggo is NOT safe. heres the deal- the manufactures say that since its mostly iron phosphate- a common presence in the environment and low solubility in water. but wait- If Iron Phosphate is common in soils globally (and it is) why are there any slugs or snails at all, since that is the active ingredient? well, think of it like this. iron phosphate is not toxic if you dont actually digest it. And mostly, nothing can- without the EDTA that is added to sluggo, it’s inert. EDTA is a chelating agent that causes the iron phosphate to release its elemental iron easily into the digestive systems of not only slugs and snails but of pretty much anything that eats it- birds, cats, dogs, etc. and in fact, once that iron is free, its deadly. The following is a fair description about the effects of iron poisoning in humans from the Linus Pauling Institute:
“Accidental overdose of iron-containing products is the single largest cause of poisoning fatalities in children under six years of age. Although the oral lethal dose of elemental iron is approximately 200-250 mg/kg of body weight, considerably less has been fatal. Symptoms of acute toxicity may occur with iron doses of 20-60 mg/kg of body weight. Iron overdose is an emergency situation because the severity of iron toxicity is related to the amount of elemental iron absorbed. Acute iron poisoning produces symptoms in four stages: 1) Within 1-6 hours of ingestion, symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, tarry stools, lethargy, weak and rapid pulse, low blood pressure, fever, difficulty breathing, and coma; 2) If not immediately fatal, symptoms may subside for about 24 hours; 3) Symptoms may return 12 to 48 hours after iron ingestion and may include serious signs of failure in the following organ systems: cardiovascular, kidney, liver, hematologic (blood), and central nervous systems; and 4) Long-term damage to the central nervous system, liver (cirrhosis), and stomach may develop two to six weeks after ingestion”.
In fact, veteranarians are starting to come round to this and its starting to appear in google searches more easily; sluggo is in fact a deadly combo for many four pawed frineds, as they, unlinke humans, have little to no metabolic processing that will remove it from their system, so it bioaccumulates until they die, whereas in humans we can pass some of it through metabolic process, so have a small buffer of safety. Google around and see for yoruself; its just over the last year getting to be understood that the iron phosphate is not benign in the presence of EDTA. I used sluggo for about 4 years until a neighbor who is a veteranarian showed me the science…
I appreciate your reply and will definitely dig around. I sprinkle so little of it…I can’t imagine it doing any harm…but when a beer trap will work just as well, why take the chance? Thank you for the information.
I used to have a lot of slugs in my strawberries. The last couple of years I sprinkled diatomaceous earth (generous amounts) a few times throughout the summer all over the dirt and around the base of the plants. This year I haven’t seen a single slug yet. Don’t know if the DE is what did it but the slugs seem to be gone so I’m not complaining. Thanks for all the wonderful home remedies…can’t wait to attack the aphids.
[…] A Dozen Homemade Organic Garden Remedies. […]
I have always been an assistant gardener. Working for csa farms or market gardens of friends of mine. It wasn’t until the last couple of years that I have tried my hand at my own. I have met my match with squash bugs. I have tried a variety of natural deterents (flour mixed with garlic powder and chili powder), but I am so glad I found this blog and will try many of these recipes and tips this year. Thank you for sharing.
What would work best for Squirrels? They keep coming back to dig my basil, arugula planters and don’t know what to do… would love to find a solution this year. Does anyone use Wolf pee (sold on stores) on veggies?
I use the fox urine (Shake Away) and that works some. Believe it or not, I planted a fig tree and the squirrels spend all their time in there now. They also stay full on all the free bird seed. Try giving them an alternate food source. You can also cover up your basil and arugula with some homemade chicken wire cloches. http://www.thistlewoodfarms.com/how-to-make-a-1-04-wire-cloche
Hi!
Thanks for your comment! Both Fox urine and wire cloches sound awesome. I will try urine and I will plan on making some wire cloche, looks easy! Bird seed idea is also a nice one, didn’t think of it! Thank you for your feedback! So excited about the planting season now! 🙂
We have a persimmon tree and the squirrels eat them green. Take a bite and go for another. Drives us crazy. So we put muslin bad over some and what we couldn’t bag, I boiled some fresh cayenne peppers and some red hot peppers in a pot of water. Let it set over night and strained it off. Put in spray bottle and sprayed the tree. As long as it doesn’t rain it will last for 2-3 days. This year is the first time we have so much fruit still on the tree and growing big. So happy.
WONDERFUL!
[…] 12 Homemade garden remedies Growing seeds in egg cartons (because I have about 10 of them…) Colorado Planting Guide […]
Awesome ideas!
Awesome! Any good recipes for super pesky squash bugs?? (other than hand-picking) Thanks!
Squash bug soup? 😉 I find a squirt of the hose keeps those buggers off the plants. Sometimes I see 100s of them but not a terrible amount of damage to the plant. As long as the plant is okay, I wouldn’t over-worry about the bugs. You can plant radish seeds near your squash to repel them, and if you plant nasturtiums (always a good idea) they will be drawn to nasturtiums and away from your squash. Catnip, marigold, mint, beebalm and tansy are also said to be repellers. When handpicking squash bugs drop them into a bucket of soapy water.
If you are desperate, or going to be away, you can also cover plants with floating row covers until the flowers appear and then uncover for pollination, or leave covered and hand pollinate. This works really well if you can anchor the row cover to keep it from blowing away.
Look for a squash bug’s eggs and destroy those too. There’s some good photos here of the eggs and the babies. Good luck!
Anyone have any ideas or suggestions on what to do about about tomato hornworms??
Planting borage nearby helps. I find in my garden, that once I see those tell-tale big holes, I can start looking for them. From there I just hand-pick them off.
Every year I put pine needles around the base of my tomato plants. I don’t have a problem with horn worms.
[…] April 1 – Found a great website with “A Dozen Homemade Organic Remedies” […]
Reblogged this on From Michigan to Montana and commented:
I think I may have to try some of these…
Reblogged this on Newzaholic.com.
I am so lucky I found this site and am ready to apply all that I have learned!
I made an organic homemade deer spray last year that worked wonderful! I will be blogging about it down the road I’m sure. Thanks for sharing these ideas. Some of them I was unaware of. I use tons of vinegar! 🙂
I would love to know your secret. The deer destroyed my yard, in the middle of town, the last 2 summers. Nothing seems to help for more than a few weeks.
What is that deer spray would appreciate to know your wonderful find.
thank you
Reblogged this on The Urbanette's Farm.
Will Canola oil work the same? We never buy vegetables oil….
Yes!
I loved this site.i use coffee grounds everywhere not a slug in site.any coffee shop will probably be glad to get rid of some
So glad you like the site!
Are the coffee grounds harmful to any kinds of plants? Sounds good but don’t want to kill anything by accident.
Coffee grounds are pretty safe. I mean, it’s always a good idea to not have your amendments come in direct contact with your plants but work them into the soil. A fence is your best bet. I’m also loving this pop-up for raised beds. I use the taller one. And I need to put a stake inside to make it stand up. http://www.gardeners.com/Insect-Pop-Up-Net/GardenPests_Insects,38-767RS,default,cp.html
I’ve been saving my coffee grounds for weeks when I read that it would not only deter slugs, but are also great for hydrangeas. Then I heard that coffee is toxic for cats, so if you have a kitty, be careful!
Reblogged this on Get your Eco on! and commented:
Awesome!
[…] of plants, here are 12 homemade organic garden remedies for things like pests, weeds, and fertilizer. (via Hope […]
This is a great list of remedies; some of which I was completely clueless about. I have always had trouble with aphids on the pepper plants I grow in the summer, and I hate the idea of using insecticides on something I will be eating, so some of these recipes are a huge help. Deer are a problem for me too, but the big issue I have is a woodchuck or groundhog. We have one or two a year that show up every now and then, waddle into the yard, and eat the flowers off of my vegetables and perennial flowers. Occasionally they’ll eat the bottom off of a pepper as well. Any ideas on how to get rid of these guys aside from chicken wire?
I use human or dog hair (pull it out of your hairbrush or I collect it when I get my hair cut) as the scent sometimes deters animals and the hair is a great compost for the garden. Other than that, I think you need a fence. I use the plastic chicken wire…easier to use and I’ve yet to have anything chew through it. Good luck!
erin
Will olive oil work in place of the vegetable oil?
Thanks for the questions. Yes you can use olive oil.
Oil plays two roles in organic sprays. One, it helps the ingredients in the spray adhere to the leaf and two, it can actually suffocate the insect. Use oils sparingly and right on the pest if possible. Olive, vegetable, mineral oil…all the same.
[…] A Dozen Homemade Organic Garden Remedies. […]
Erin – SUPER LOVE THIS!!!!! Would really like to do a blog referring my readers to this. Do you also, have other ideas for more cosmetic, household cleaning, and minor league medicine substitutes?
Hi Heather! I am working on something medicinal but it’s a long way from done. Please feel free to share this post though. I’m honored!
[…] I found it on this site. […]
I have tried a few things with my garden and the one that seems to work best it grass clippings soaked in water. I take about 3 or 4 handfuls of grass in a 5gallon bucket fill with water and let it set for at least 24 hours put water(no grass) in a spray bottle and spray your plants down. It makes the plants smell like grass and the bugs don’t fool with them!
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H3ello, I am wondering if anyone has ideas about weed tea? I have started just putting my garden weeds, of which there are tons, in a bucket fill it with water and let it sit in the sun for anywhere between 20 minutes and 2 hours. Then I’m just pouring off the water, which is slightly green and using that when I plant seeds or starts to fill the hole. Do you think this is okay?
I think that sounds fine. I usually use liquid fertilizer on established plants fyi.
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[…] Hope Gardens […]
Hi there! This blog post couldn’t be written any better! Going through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He constantly kept talking about this. I will send this information to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!
Thank YOU for reading!
I’m not a computer person, but I did find your page. Love it! any suggestions to kill squash vine borers, and maybe something for squash bugs besides picking off the eggs and bugs? They decimate my squash every year!
Hi! A few thoughts. These squash are usually not affected by borers: butternut squash, cucumbers, melons, and watermelons. A second planting of summer squash made in early July will mature after adult borers have finished laying eggs and therefore, potentially, not be affected. Promptly pull and destroy any plants killed by squash vine borers.
You can physically exclude adult borers by placing floating row covers over your vine crops when they start to vine (or for non-vining varieties, starting late June or early July) or when you first detect squash vine borer adults. Keep the barriers in place for about two weeks after the first adult borer has been seen. Be sure the row covers are securely anchored to prevent adults from moving underneath it. Generally we do not use floating row covers anytime crops are flowering. This prevents bees from pollinating your vegetables which will have a negative impact on plants. An exception to this would be if you pollinate your crops by hand while the floating row cover is erected. There is info on hand-pollination in my spring guide:
For squash bugs, it is most effective to hand pick and destroy squash bugs and eggs. Another option is to place boards or shingles on the ground next to the plants. At night the squash bugs will aggregate under the boards and can then be destroyed each morning. Using resistant varieties such as Butternut, Royal Acorn, or Sweet Cheese and maintaining a healthy plant through proper fertilization and watering are also important to limiting squash bug damage. It is also necessary to remove debris in and around the garden area that could possibly be used as shelter by the bugs.
Good luck!
Thanks for the info. I have used the floating row covers, but didn’t realize they would go under the covers. And I will definitely try the board. I use a board to catch slugs in the Spring when it is so wet and the slugs are so active. So now I’ll keep the boards down longer to get squash bugs! Thank you for your help, jenx
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[…] plant before you even see the mildew. The most-recommended, well-researched organic treatment is milk and water. A 10% milk to water solution sprayed on the leaves 2x a week. I used to say compost tea was the […]
[…] How To Make A Dozen Organic Garden Remedies […]
how do you get rid of beatles on rose bushes?
Roses are not my specialty unfortunately. Most times a regular shot with the hose works the best.
Reblogged this on How 2 Be Green and commented:
Great site.
Very soon this web page will be famous among all blog visitors,
due to it’s pleasant posts
Reblogged this on elisabethlhines and commented:
This is a great list of safer alternatives for you gardeners and those of us who are visited by bugs. As a holistic wellness practitioner I am always looking for and recommending solutions for a healthier you.
Thanks.
Elisabeth Hines, C.N.C., C.B.P.
Holistic Wellness Practitioner
Health by Design
http://www.mybodycanhealitself.ca
Thank you for such great advice!
There are plants that are meant to deter cats, to name two: coleus canina or rue. Best opyion to keep cats away from your garden.
Thank you! Just remember rue is considered non-veggie-compatible meaning in some gardens it can prohibit the growth of fruits and vegetables.
[…] Source […]
very nice and thanx kc we learn a l0t 0n ths
[…] A Dozen Homemade Organic Garden Remedies […]
I hope you get notified of my reply! I have a question: If I’m having a problem with spider mites and possibly other insects that are giving my roses, petunias and geraniums brown edges, how often should I spray the garlic-soap spray? That treatment has been effective so far on a small scale for some of my flowers, but now several large roses bushes are now under attack.
Hi! The garlic/soap spray can be used weekly but I would also give the roses a shot with the hose in the mornings until the darn pests get the message. I would also recommend a chlorine filter for your hose. http://www.amazon.com/Garden-Hose-Filter-Chloramines-Pesticides/dp/B007I6MN72 That will prevent some of those brown edges too.
I don’t know whether it’s just me or if perhaps everyone else experiencing problems with your site.
It appears as if some of the text in your content are running
off the screen. Can someone else please comment and let me know if this is
happening to them too? This could be a issue with my
internet browser because I’ve had this happen previously.
Thank you
Sorry you were having trouble…
Wow using seaweed as a fertilizer, this is such a unique list.
i didn’t know this information and it will really help dozens of farmers like me
OK, love this blog, have pest in my garden and learned so much! But I do have a question that will show just how much of a beginner vegetable Gardner I am. Where do all of these different but common insects come from? We don’t see them it seems until we plant a garden every year and then suddenly we are infested in the garden area. I am just baffled by their sudden appearance. Thanks for humoring my “why is the sky blue” curiosity with this.
LOVE this question! When we plant a garden we are definitely inviting these buggers to the party. They know where the action is at. Most small bugs feed on decaying material which they normally find below the surface of the soil but when we plant a garden, there is lots more decaying material at the top…whether that be leaves at the bottom of the plant close to the soil, debris that falls or gets trapped under plants or fruits that fall off the plant, etc. There are also the bugs that feed on bugs and of course they get the memo that there are more bugs at the surface of the soil and so they fly on over. All of this wonderfulness of activity is exactly what a garden needs: LIFE! It is magical that they suddenly appear. Maybe there’s a bug internet? Insectbook? Tweeter?
LOL…that was the perfect explanation, so basically, they live in the basement of the complex until we plant a garden and then they move up to the Penthouse!???
Hi, am new to gardening and am thankful I came across this site!
Thank you for all the helpful recipes and tips!!
I have Japanese beetles that are infesting my rasbperry bushes and rose bushes. I flick them off and squash them but they always come back
They munch away at the leafs leaving holes in them.
I read somewhere that neem oil/water spray would work but now am wondering if I should do the garlic one?
Also do I spray all over including the stems or just the leafs?
Thanks for your help!
Am loving gardening so far 😀
[…] A Dozen Homemade Organic Garden Remedies | Hope … – Jan 03, 2013 · Veggie gardens need special care. Vegetable plants are prone to all sorts of disease and fungus. They are highly sought after by pests both big and teeny …… […]
[…] A Dozen Homemade Organic Garden Remedies | Hope Gardens – O my gosh I wish I had this last year when I had a garden and got infested with bugs! I would love if you would share this over at my blog hop! […]
[…] A Dozen Homemade Organic Garden Remedies | Hope Gardens – Veggie gardens need special care. Vegetable plants are prone to all sorts of disease and fungus. They are highly sought after by pests both big and teeny teeny tiny. A slight negative change in their environment can cause them to stop producing. And we aren’t happy when our veggie … […]
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[…] A Dozen Homemade Organic Garden Remedies […]
Reblogged this on Watch My Garden Growing.
Totally awesome… you mentioned roses are not your speciality any suggestions for one that works with safe treatments?
does anyone know how to get rid of the earwigs eating on plants
Hello! Earwigs are generally harmless is the garden. They prefer to eat decomposing materials and so generally leave plants alone. However, sometimes they latch on to your precious growing plants when their populations get too big. To discourage the presence of earwigs make sure the garden area is clear of decomposing debris and pull back on the watering. When earwigs are present, sprinkle them with diatomaceous earth. This is a harmless to humans material used in swimming pools and bed sheets. It’s not a poison but when earwigs and ants and other soft-bodied insects cross over it, the material is very sharp to their body. You can use this often and it is ok if some gets on your plants. Good luck!
[…] A Dozen Homemade Organic Garden Remedies. […]
This is good
Very informative and helpful, many wonderful solution in one page. I can’t thank you enough for this great effort.
A Canadian with some tips that might help your landscaping or gardens,To kill pesky ants use borax laced with icing sugar (cheap costs), sprinkle it on their nests and around your home or inside where they are seen amassing. Please, if you have small pets or children use a child proof containter and poke a small hole into it and out of kids reach so the ants can still get access to the sweet poison. Ants are resilient but you’ll see results soon but may have to reapply 3-4 weeks later and this mix is not harmful to the planet. If you are bothered by slugs, use table salt about 3 feet from your plants and make a barrier as slugs will implode into a gooey death. If you want a weed free landscape project around flower beds and shrubbery try this trick; mine has been maintenance free for over 9 years. Instead of buying costly landscape fabric, grab some new defective window bug screens rolls and/or reuse and recycle damaged ones to keep them out of landfills. This westcoast resident layered three sheets of bug window screens around my plants, etc. and covered them with lava rocks or drain rock and suppliers are often anxious to get rid of defective rolls even if a small cost is applied but in my case I got them for free. Weeds fight to weasel their way through the fabric and very few show their heads and can be whacked easily with 50/50 mix of vinegar and water. Many spend considerable time weeding their gardens and that takes time away from more pleasurable things to do. Window bug screens are porous and air & water will still hit your plants whereas, landscape fabric is costly and compounds the soil. Again, I am no expert but these ideas are easy on the pocket and very effective. Which is better to use costly store bought products that might be dangerous to pets, curious youngsters and the environment (many contain warnings) or to think outside the box and recyle and reuse? These hoe remedy tips will help your manicured gardens but be aware bark mulch looks rich and fabulous when it is new but it is an attractant to bugs, ticks, ants and slugs whereas, lave rock lasts a long time. Good luck..
Really its worth reading beautifull information on home made simple remedies thanks a lot …
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[…] A Dozen Homemade Organic Garden Remedies | Hope … – Jan 03, 2013 · O my gosh I wish I had this last year when I had a garden and got infested with bugs! I would love if you would share this over at my blog hop! […]
[…] A Dozen Homemade Organic Garden Remedies | Hope Gardens […]
Bugs are eating all flowers and vegetables I’ve seen little wprm things earwigs and ants not sure what’s eating my plants what do I use on them
To treat pests organically it is very important that we know what is eating our plants. Ants don’t generally eat plants but they can assist aphids in eating your plants. Earwigs can do damamge and often come out en masse at night. So check again after it gets dark. Little worms can be cabbage worms. Are they light green? Those can be picked off by hand and destroyed. They are easy to pull off the plant but very good at hiding. Also, try to see if you can find them at night.
Earwigs and ants can be controlled with diamaceous earth. Good luck!
You can create your own DIY natural ingredients that cannot harm your plants.
natural solution for Blythe and fungus on rose plants ? affected my apples too
Hi
My tomato plant and brinjol plant leaves has got some worm kind of thing.
I have prepared green chilli,garlic n onion spray.should i spray it on leaves or stem?
Please reply and guide
Thank you
Swati
Do you have a remedy for the rose midge? A local community garden has a large problem with these and would like to cut down on toxic solutions.
I have a Mexican sunflower plant, and need to know how to make it blossom.and to keep the bugs off it.for some reason it’s not blossoming, is it because we planted this year?
I would make sure it is in full sun! We prevent bugs with soap spray. Good luck!
Wish I read this before I started my garden last spring. Nice and affordable tips for gardening! Thankyou