When I plan my garden every year, I also have to strategize how to get rid of squirrels who thrive on ruining my plants. Natural remedies for pest control in gardens are a great alternative to chemical pesticides. They’re safer for the environment, more affordable, and readily available.
Natural pest remedies work by repelling or killing pests without harming your plants, but they’re not as potent as chemical pesticides. With that said, you may have to apply or monitor them frequently. Also, some fixes are more effective for certain pests than others. It’s important to identify the pests in your garden before choosing a solution.
There are some tips, like companion planting, that are beneficial to your garden in other ways. Companion planting is a natural way to control pests by placing certain plants next to each other. For example, planting marigolds around your vegetable garden can repel nematodes and other pests.
Let’s dive into some of the most popular and effective natural tips for garden pest control. And use our resources for a stress-free spring and summer. We have tips on finding free seeds, starting an indoor garden, and homemade weed killers. As always, we also recommend you download The Krazy Coupon Lady app for money-saving deals sent directly to your phone.
Use pantyhose to keep bugs away.
Pantyhose have endless uses in the garden. Stretch a pair of pantyhose over your baby tomato plants to keep birds, squirrels, and other animals out of them. You can pull a pair over almost any small fruit, vegetable, or wire cage to keep the bugs away, too.
Pantyhose are also helpful in preventing ground rot in melons. Slide a newly formed melon into the foot of one of your old nylons, then tie the other end to a stake so that the melon is hanging just above the ground as it grows.
Egg shells act as a fertilizer and pest deterrent.
I use egg shells to help fertilize (thank you, calcium) my tomato plants, but they’re also good for keeping deer and elk from snacking on your plants. How dare they?! You don’t even have to worry about crushing them up first if you don’t want to. Crushed or halved — it doesn’t matter.
In addition to adding calcium to the soil, eggshells can also help to deter certain pests, such as slugs and snails, that can damage your plants. The sharp edges of the crushed eggshells irritate the soft bodies of these pests, causing them to avoid the area.
Related: Grocery Essentials on a Budget — Where to Buy Cheap Eggs?
Ants won’t love cayenne pepper in your garden.
Cayenne pepper is great for keeping bugs, especially ants, away from your garden. Simply sprinkle the spicy stuff on top of the dirt. You’ll have to add more on a regular basis, as watering will wash it away. Additionally, if you have a dog that rejoices in digging up your garden, the cayenne should help stop his busy paws from ruining your hard work. It helps keep cats from using your garden as their own personal litter box, as well.
Trusty dish soap can also act as a garden remedy.
A dish soap and water solution sprayed over your plants is the perfect way to keep aphids away. In a clean spray bottle, mix 1 part dish soap to 10 parts water. Spray it over your plants and the aphids will go find their lunches elsewhere. A small amount of dish soap will not harm your plants or anyone who eats them.
With just a few items we’ve all got at home, you can protect your garden for a fraction of the cost of buying specially prepared pesticides! Save when you use Dawn dish soap coupons.
Neem Oil
Neem oil is a natural insecticide that’s effective against a variety of garden pests. It works by disrupting the insect’s hormonal balance, preventing it from feeding and breeding. Mix a small amount of neem oil with water in a spray bottle and apply it to your plants.
Essential Oils
Essential oils such as peppermint, lavender, and eucalyptus are natural insect repellents. Be sure to dilute essential oils with a carrier oil or water. Test a small area of your plants first to make sure they don’t have any adverse effects. To remain effective, you may need to reapply more frequently.
Peppermint oil: This stuff has a strong scent that repels many insects, including ants, aphids, and beetles. Add a few drops of peppermint oil with water to a spray bottle and start spritzing.
Lavender oil: Also a natural insect repellent, this oil can repel garden pests like moths, fleas, and mosquitoes. Add a few drops of lavender oil with water in a spray bottle, just like you would with the above mentioned peppermint oil.
Eucalyptus oil: Similar to the other two, eucalyptus oil has a strong, pest-repelling scent. It targets aphids, whiteflies, and spider mites. Mix a few drops of eucalyptus oil with water in a spray bottle, then apply it to your plants.
Tell us what you think