Home Brewed Pest and Disease Control
There are many ways to reduce chemical use in the home and garden. From home mixtures to introducing beneficial species, all is possible for the home gardener. Included on this page are cures and preventative measures for both pest and disease problems.
| Recipe 1- Take an empty
spray bottle and fill about 3/4 of the way with water, then
add a few drops of Ivory liquid soap, some hot peppers or hot
pepper sauce and some garlic. This works well, but needs to
be reapplied after a storm and every couple of weeks. |
Recipe 2- Grind together
three hot peppers. three large onions and one whole bunch of
garlic. Cover mash with water and place in a covered container.
Let container stand over night. Strain mixture through cheesecloth
or a fine strainer and add enough water to make a gallon of
spray. |
| Recipe 3- Mix 2 1/2 tablespoons
of a mild dish washing detergent plus the same amount of a vegetable
cooking oil with one gallon of water. This can be sprayed on
all plants. Remember to spray both the top and the underside
of the leaves. |
Recipe 4- Finely chop 10
to 15 garlic cloves and soak in 1 pint of mineral oil for 24
hours. Strain and spray as is, or add a few drops of soap for
extra stickiness. |
| Recipe 5- Blend 1/2 cup
of hot peppers with 2 cups of water. Strain and spray. |
Recipe 6- Blend 1/2 cup
of hot peppers with 2 cups of water. Strain and spray. |
| Recipe 7- Blend 1/2 cup
of hot peppers with 2 cups of water. Strain and spray.
|
Recipe 8- Combine 1 to
2 cups of rubbing alcohol with 1 quart of water. Test spray
and let stand overnight to see if damage occurs to plant. |
More specific recipes:
| Orange trees and rosebushes- Soak
macerated tomato leaves in water and apply as spray onto leaves
and branches. |
| Red spider mites, spiders,
cabbage worms and weeds- An ounce of table salt to a gallon
of water has been shown to stop these pests. Use a tablespoon
of salt to two gallons of water for the worms. Straight salt,
especially in non-garden areas can stop weeds. |
| Snails- Setting out a tray of beer
or any other yeasty, fermented liquid will attract snails
from all around your garden. |
| Species specific "Bug Juice"-
Collect 1/2 cup of a specific pest and mash well. Mix this
with two cups of water and strain. Mix 1/4 cup of this "bug
juice" with 2 cups of water and a few drops of soap and spray. |
|
A Head Start for Spring Trees
Control insect problems on dormant fruit and flowering trees (this is not for evergreens) as the bugs wake up in the spring, with dormant oil spray. This is available commercially, and may be combined with lime/sulphur for greater protection against fungal diseases.
To make your own, mix 1 part liquid soap with 5 parts oil (mineral oil, baby oil or 10 weight non-detergent, additive-free oil) and add 80 parts warm water to form an emulsion. Use in late March or early April on a calm day, at least 7-10 degrees Celsius. Cover all surfaces, until the tree is shiny.
Spray Recipe used to
control fungi such as
Mildew and Blackspot
Mix 100 parts water with 1 part baking soda and 1-2 drops dish soap to improve coverage of foliage. For severe disease on tough plants, increase concentration up to 20 parts water to 1 part baking soda.
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