GARDEN ORGANIC         PROTECTION

INSECTS & FUNGUS

My Number one favorite is NEEM Oil.  It works fabulously on all kinds of insect problems! Check it out at the link.

Ant Problem Solution

Corn meal works wonderfully to get rid of ants, just spread a
little around an ant hole or hill, the ants take the corn meal
into their nest and the cornmeal ferments killing the ants.
Over the years I have used this successfully to get rid of fire
ants, black carpenter ants and this year we moved into a house
with sugar ants, I was out of corn meal and tried grits, no more
ant problems. If you have a very large infestation it may take
a couple of applications. 

Natural Mosquito Repellant
If you want to repel gnats and mosquitoes and don't want to
use anything with chemicals, mix one tabelspoon of vanilla
extract to one cup of water. Apply to the exposed skin with
a cotton ball. This is safe for everyone including babies,
unless of course you are allergic to vanilla, in that case
a mosquito bite might be the lesser of two evils...

Rhubarb Spray (Aphids, June bugs, Black Spot & fungus diseases)

Steep 6 rhubarb leaves in 2 – 3 quarts of boiling water or about 20 minutes.  Allow to cool.  Strain. Add some dish soap for bug deterrent if you want. Apply.* NOTE: Rhubarb leaves contain high amounts of oxalic acid. If ingested, your heart will stop and you will die.

Garlic Spray (Chewing & sucking insects, mildew, leaf spot, rust & spore diseases)

Steep 3 cloves of garlic, 1 medium onion and 1 teaspoon of very hot pepper in 1 quart of water for 10 minutes to 24 hours; strain. Spray daily. Can be diluted with water 1:4 ( I use straight). Don't through away mash; you can bury among plants where insects occur.

Tomato Leaves (Aphids, asparagus larvae, black spot & scales)

Steep 10 chopped tomato leaves and 1 chopped onion in ½ cup of alcohol for a few minutes; apply with cotton swab.

Pyrethrum (white flies)

Steep 1 tablespoon of dry flowers in 2 quarts of hot water.  Pyrethrum (chrysanthemum cineraria folium) is an attractive perennial. (Mum)

Soap Solution (variety of insects)

Mix dishwashing soap with water and spray.

Salt Solution (spider mites, cabbage worms)

1-ounce table salt in one gallon of water. (28 grams to 4.5 liters of water)

Cinnamon Solution
Sprinkle some ground cinnamon on areas of your roses, orchids, flowers or seedlings that
are infected with fungus.

Liquid Manure or Manure Tea (potato blight, black spot, yellowing of tomato leaves)

One bag of manure steeped in a large plastic garbage can half full of water.  pour.

Stinging Nettle Spray (aphids and thrips)

Cover 1-quart nettles with water, cover and steep for 3 weeks, strain & dilute with 7 parts water.

Mullein Spray (White Flies)

Steep 1 part mashed mullein leaves with 5 parts water.  Strain & spray.

ORGANIC WEED CONTROL - See Lawn Care Page

TRAPS AS PEST CONTROL  - Bird Feeders are a great insect control device.  They love bugs!

Aphids: 10” x 10” pieces of masonite or other stiff material, painted a bright yellow and coated with Tack tape or petroleum jelly, placed near susceptible plants.

Earwigs: pieces of corrugated cardboard placed near lettuce, cabbage, flowers or other plants that attract earwigs; they will hide in the corrugations.  After a few days collect during the day and burn.

Slugs & Squash bugs: Lay out borders near affected plants; they will provide daytime shelter for the nocturnal pests.  Inspect daily and destroy.

Commercial Organic Insecticides

Diatomaceous Earth (my favourite), Rotenone dust or spray, Sprays containing Pyrethrums or Thuricides        

Insecticidal Soaps containing potassium salts and fatty acids