Some insecticides can be damaging not only to yourself but to your children and pets too, this isn’t good for the environment either. Here are a few more natural ways to combat those pesky pests in your garden.
1) Neem oil insecticide
This oil is extracted from the seeds of the neem tree and is a great natural insecticide. It actually disrupts the life cycle of insects at all stages which is great for you if you’re a gardener. It also acts as a hormone disruptor and as an “antifeedant” for insects that feed on leaves and other plant parts and the best part is that it’s biodegradable and nontoxic to pets, birds, fish, and other wildlife. To add to that it also is a natural fungicide that can combat powder mildew and other fungal infections on plants. You are able to find these at many garden stores or natural foods markets. In order to use neem oil as an insecticide you can follow the instructions on the bottle you purchase at your local garden store.
2) Oil spray insecticide
Also a homemade insecticide made which you make from vegetable oil and mix with a mild soap. You can use castile soap. This works wonders on problem insects like aphids, mites, thrips, etc..
Recipe: Basic oil spray insecticide
1 cup vegetable oil with 1 tablespoon of soap (cover and shake it like you mean it). When it’s ready to apply you add 2 teaspoons of the oil spray mixed with 1 quart of water, shake it again and spray directly on the surfaces of the plants which are being affected by the little pests. What this insecticide does is coat the bodies of the insects and helps to get rid of them in your garden.
3) Soap spray insecticide
This is similar to the oil spray. It’s great at effectively controlling mites, aphids, whiteflies, beetles, and other hungry little insects.
Recipe: Basic soap spray insecticide
You mix about 1 and half teaspoons of a mild liquid soap (you can use castile soap here too), with 1 quart of water. Spray the mixture directly on the infected surfaces of the plants. The soap spray insecticide works similar to the oil spray pesticide. It’s better to NOT apply this during the hot sunny part of the day, but rather in the evenings or early mornings.
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