Getting Rid Of Bugs In Your Garden.

Every gardener suffers from time to time with bugs of some kind in the garden,..as i have many rose bushes the greenfly visit every year,..just once,..i spray them with a homemade mix,..from household items.

below are two mixes,..they contain a number of liquids well known to work on their own,..like Liquid Soap,..Listerine,..Baking Powder in water,..Vinegar.

A tad more expensive,.. but natural,.. is the mix of Neem Oil,..its a slower way but a sure way to be rid of bugs that eat your plants,..and not harm Butterflies and Bees who visit but don't eat plants,..Neem Oil also helps plants to remain healthy.

If anyone has Mixes that they have tried and tested do post them please.
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A home Mix for all bugs,..also for rose fungus and so forth.

1 Tablespoon of Veg Oil.
1 Tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar.
1 Tablespoon of Liquid Soap.
1 and a half Tablespoons of Baking Soda.
1 (Teaspoon) of Clear Listerine.

Mix the contents in 1 Gallon of water.
Note do not spray on a sunny day.
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Everything you need to know about Neem Oil,..and its worth reading for gardeners.

Urban Garden Magazine | Neem Oil

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The Neem Oil Mix.


1 Teaspoon of Neem Oil.
and a quarter Teaspoon of Liquid Soap mixed in a Quart of warm water,..then spray.

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Urban Garden Magazine | Neem Oil


( photo / image / picture from Philip Nulty's Garden )

 

Thanks Philip! I've been battling little grasshoppers and I know the big one's won't be too far behind them. I'm going to get me some Neem Oil. Wonder if the "big" nursery carries it?

 

Going to mix me up a gallon of Philip's bug spray.

Neem oil is great stuff and safe to use. I've been using it for several years and won't be without it.

I also just learned that bounce dryer sheets keep wasps away. I had a problem with them in my gazebo, so I hung up a couple dryer sheets. No more wasps.
I used cinnamon for ants in greenhouse and they left in minutes.

 

Oh thank you! I have been trying to stay organic, my veggies I have been mixing dish soap with the water but I've been non organic with my ornamentals. But I will try some of your mixes. Thanks for sharing this. Have a great day

 

Hi Mrs Galeassi,..your Dish Soap/Liquid Soap does work wonders and far cheaper than the Commercial Bug Sprays and as mentioned most households have the ingredients to ward off bugs.

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Hi Donna,..yes nice tip about the Dryer Sheets to deter Wasps and the Cinnamon to evict Ants.

Delighted to see you use Neem Oil,..well done.

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Hi Cheryl,..i got my Neem Oil in the Chemists/Pharmacy its not cheap as compared to normal household mixes but its a step further up the ladder to rid the more persistent bugs,..like Grasshoppers ,..the cost this side of the pond for a bottle size 100 ml is euro 9.40/or $12.32 however as you only use 1 Teaspoon to every Quart of water it will last and get results.

 

Oh awesome tips with the dryer sheets and cinnamon, just read that! I get ants on my patio and they hang around the pots. And I don't have a wasp issue but those guys hurt an aweful lot when you get stung.

 

Powdery Mildew,..Rust,..Black Spot,..well familiar to rose growers but also anyone growing vegetables,..the following article really covers that dreaded Powdery Mildew which if allowed survive and increase will cripple your plants,..So Use Milk.

Milk Mixture
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40% Milk and 60% Water then spray and all the better to work if its a bright day.

Milk Mixture Use,..Everything You Need To Know.

Using Milk to Prevent Powdery Mildew

 

Neem Oil! There is hope for my roses and vegetables--grasshoppers beware! I had no idea Neem worked on 'hoppers. Oh, THANK YOU Philip!

 

Hi Marlingardener,..i am delighted that you found a remedy you can use against your Grasshoppers,..its such an amazing oil and i wouldn't say at all well known,..those firms who sell all kinds of bug spray would not even mention Neem Oil,..anything that eats your plants or fruit will be zapped,..not right away,..they will not lay eggs on your leaves,..they may sample your leaf but will not like it,.. there will be no breeding or reproducing of those bugs in your garden plus it will protect your rose bush leaves.

 

I just went to two pharmacies and called another and called a health food/vitamin place... no one had it.
However, according to their website that big box do-it-yourself store HD has some. So I'll go buy there tomorrow and check them out.

 

Most garden centers carry neem oil.

 

Well there you go,..over here its mostly the Health Food Shop that has it,..my local Chemist/Pharmacy had to order it for me.

 

Will try the home mix on my sage ... damn my back is still aching!!! Looks like have to wait a little, ouch!!!

 

Hey Philip, regarding your home mix for bugs. You say not to spray it on a sunny day....why is that a problem?

 

I'm not Philip, but I'll try to answer your question about not spraying on a sunny day. Each droplet acts like a prism, intensifying the sun's rays and can burn the leaves.
Spraying early in the morning so the spray dries before the sun hits the plant works, as does spraying on overcast days.
Spraying in the evening can be done, but will possibly add the danger of mildew on the plant.