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Homemade Pest Control Solutions for Garden Pests

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There are different kinds of insects and bugs that can destroy your precious garden. Some of these insects and bugs can even be hazardous to your family’s health. Whether you find mosquitoes and flies in your backyard, or leaf-eating caterpillar and aphids in your garden, pest infestation is always a nuisance. For this reason, a lot of homeowners are taking into consideration different pest control solutions to address the problem.

If you are bothered and alarmed by the presence of harmful insects and bugs in your home and garden, you probably have considered using chemical pesticides to immediately take care of the problem, but before you apply that chemical bug spray, you must first consider that chemical pesticide toxicity can endanger your and your family’s health. Long-term exposure to the toxicity of such pesticides can increase the risk of developing liver and nerve damage, reproductive disorders, and tumors. Fortunately, there are natural pest control solutions that you can take advantage of. Organic method of eliminating pest is an excellent alternative to poisonous pesticides because natural products are safe to use around people, pets, and plants.

Homemade Concoctions For Pests In The Garden

Natural pest control solutions are very beneficial for many homeowners since it is less expensive as compared to buying and applying chemical pesticides. It is also safer for your garden, family, pets, and the environment. To promote a greener environment at home that is free from harmful insects and bugs, you can consider making some of these homemade concoctions for the following insects:

Soft-bodied Insects: Mites, Aphids, Mealy bugs, and Earwigs

If you have these insects in your garden, you can drive them away by mixing one tablespoon of canola oil and a few drops of ivory soap into a quart of water. Mix them well and pour it into a spray bottle. Use the mixture on plants since the oil will smother the insects. Another natural pest control solution is to sprinkle diatomaceous earth over the plants and around the edges of your garden beds. The diatoms have particles that are very small and sharp, but it is only harmful to soft-bodied insects and small exoskeletons of insects. The insects won’t develop immunity to such natural pest control solution since it is not a chemical pesticide.

Slugs and Deer

To drive slugs and deer out of your garden using natural remedies, you can use coffee grounds. Coffee grounds add nitrogen to the soil; thus, it promotes the acidity for acid loving plants. You can make caffeine spray which consists of different natural herbs including: yarrow, thyme, lavender, tansy, pennyroyal, rue, catnip and Artemisia. Get a cup of the herbal mixture and mix it with two tablespoons of used coffee grounds and two cups of water. Marinate the mixture for at least a day before straining and pouring it into a spray bottle.

Grubs

For this type of insect, you can use the natural pest control known as milky spore. The granules of this pest control are spread on the soil which will then infect the grubs with a disease that will kill them. This natural pest control will only affect grubs; thus, it is safe for beneficial insects and pets.

Leaf-eating caterpillars

This type of insect can eat away your garden’s healthy leaves. You can easily remove caterpillars manually from your garden. You can pluck them straight off the vine and put them in another area of the yard- away from your garden. You can also eliminate them through insecticidal soap or caffeine spray. To make an insecticidal soap, you have to mix one tablespoon of biodegradable, plant-based liquid soap, and a quart of water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and spray insects and bugs as needed. The soap can lead to the dehydration and extermination of soft-bodied insects.

Before using any of the solutions, you must be aware that some of the natural pest control solutions mentioned above may also kill beneficial insects. For this reason, you have to use these homemade concoctions selectively, and only spray on infected plants.

Kris Lim is a writer for home and garden websites where she offers tips and advice on how to improve gardens. She also occasionally writes Rove Pest Control reviews for the professional pest control company.






Ten Websites to Get Expert Tips on Gardening

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The internet is a valuable resource for all gardeners. Whether you have never planted anything before or are an expert gardener, there is always something to learn. The ten sites below offer expert information for gardeners of all levels. From plant databases to planting schedules to tutorials on a variety of subjects, there is truly something for everyone on these sites.

Gardening With Angus

A presenter for “Gardening Australia,” Angus Stewart offers helpful gardening tips, videos and articles about plants and gardening on his website. The site also offers the Find a Plant Database. This database contains information on many native Australian plants and flowers as well as high-quality photographs of these plants.

Aussie Gardening

This is a must-visit site for gardeners in Australia. In addition to expert articles, the site includes a forum, a seed exchange, an Australian gardening directory, a plant search database and information on plant identification.

Lifestyle.com.au

The garden section of this lifestyle site is a great resource for everyone from novice gardeners to well-informed gardening enthusiasts. Resources include information, gardening ideas, expert gardening advice, instructional videos and more. The site also has an active gardening forum where users can share gardening ideas and tips and find answers to questions.

The Global Garden

Australia’s first online gardening magazine, the Global Garden is a free resource serving Australia and all areas with similar climates. In addition to articles written by knowledgeable gardeners, the site features a variety of resources including a question and answer column, a gardening community and various helpful gardening guides.

Kitchen Gardeners International

A community of gardeners from over 100 different countries, Kitchen Gardeners International is focused on growing food. The site contains many resources including expert tips and multiple ways to connect with avid gardeners around the world.

Gardens Online

This popular gardening site includes a plant database, articles, an online store, calendars, a glossary and diagnostics for common garden problems. In addition to written content, Gardens Online offers instructional podcasts and videos.

Sustainable Gardening Australia

An extremely popular gardening destination, this site offers information and resources for sustainable gardening.

Dave’s Garden

Containing the largest plant database and reference guide in the world, this is a site that every gardener should bookmark. It has listings and photographs for 191,986 plants and helps gardeners understand which plants grow well in their areas and which ones they should avoid. The site also has information on birds, insects, landscaping and other garden topics.

The Royal Horticultural Society

While it is based in the UK, this site offers valuable information to gardeners the world over. Topics covered by gardening experts include gardening with children, community gardening, the science of gardening and plant identification and selection.

Extension

Based in the US, this site contains a wealth of information from university faculty and other scholars. The site offers in-depth articles, a section where experts answer reader questions, a resource section and online gardening lessons.

Jamie is a gardening enthusiast who loves to work with client on their backyard facelift project. One of his favourite landscaper in Brisbane is www.premiumpg.com.au. Like most other Aussies, Jamie loves to spend his weekends in the backyard with his beautiful wife, three boys and a golden retriever.

Ways to Attract Butterflies to Your Garden

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Butterflies are beautiful, graceful creatures. If you enjoy gardening, there are ways you can encourage butterflies to visit your garden. Here are some ways to attract butterflies.

 

Garden Location

The location of your garden will have a big impact on whether or not butterflies want to visit it. Dry to plant your garden in a space that gets at least five or six hours of sun every day, and that’s relatively sheltered from winds. Butterflies like to be in the sun, but they don’t like wind. The plants you have in your garden should provide shady spots for the butterflies, though, should they want to get out of the sun.

 

Landing Spots

Decorate your garden with several flat stones. The butterflies will land on them to take a break from flying, and the smooth surface gives them a nice place to sun themselves.

 

A Mud Puddle

While it doesn’t seem like a feature you’d want in a garden, a small mud puddle is actually a great way to attract butterflies, because they’ll like to use it to get a drink. They’re attracted to the muddy soil, so dedicate a small area for keeping wet. Alternatively, fill a bucket with sand or pack it with dirt, and keep it wet at all times.

 

No Pesticides

Do not use any type of pesticides or insecticides in your garden, and avoid using any chemicals at all, meaning no weed killer, either. The pesticides can harm or kill the butterflies, which is not what you’re aiming for. The presence of these chemicals is essentially a butterfly repellent.

 

Provide Nectar

The best way to attract butterflies to your garden is by planting plants that are good sources of nectar for them. If your garden is a great spot for them to feast on nectar, they’ll love to frequent it on a regular basis, and a lot of them, too. All butterflies like different types of nectar, however, so be discerning in the plants you choose. Research the types of butterflies in your area, and get the appropriate plants. Also try to plant a diverse selection of nectar types rather than just one. The more nectar there is, the more butterflies you should get.

 

Use Color

Butterflies are attracted to big splashes of color, so make your garden as colorful as possible. Don’t, however, have different types of plants and colors mixed all throughout the garden. Try to create patches of color in which there are many flowers of a single color close together.

 

Use Butterfly Houses

Like bird baths or hummingbird houses, butterfly houses can be another tool to help you attract butterflies. A landing area/house with a nectar feeder that’s easily accessible may attract butterflies. Just fill it with a diluted solution of sugar and water, with a ratio of 1 (sugar) to 4 (water).

 

Caterpillars

Finally, don’t forget that caterpillars will one day turn into beautiful butterflies! If you have caterpillars in your garden, don’t try to get rid of them.

Prepared by John S. a Silver Lake IN, pest control specialist and avid gardener.

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