ADDITIONAL INSTRUCTIONS TO TENDERERS TENDER FORM FOREIGN DPS P 15 Due Date for Sale of Docs web link to dae unitsHome / Garden & Plants / Natural Homemade Pesticides: Recipes & TipsNatural Homemade Pesticides: Recipes & Tips  111 Comments    Print     EmailThese homemade pesticides are cheap and easy to make with many being just as effective as some commercial products on the market. No fancy ingredients required, everything you need is likely stocked in your kitchen and garden. Most of the ingredients are earth friendly and natural with the harshest being liquid dish detergent–no need to use toxic chemicals!Tip: The best method of pest control in the garden is to keep your plants healthy so they don’t attract bugs. Fertilize as needed (see How To Make Compost Tea) and stay on top of weeds by pulling them as they appear or using weed killers (see Homemade Weed Killer Recipes & Tips).Begin treating for insects as soon as you notice signs of an infestation, the sooner you start the easier it will be to get rid of the critters.

Note: For recipes that require liquid dish detergent, use the basic stuff–nothing fancy with added bleach, nothing concentrated and no special antibacterial formulas. You can also substitute with a gentler liquid soap such as liquid castile or a perfume free, gentle liquid hand soap.Update: As with all pesticides, take care when applying to food bearing plants, handling and storage of the pesticide. No one needs reminding I’m sure, but wash all produce well before consuming.Rhubarb Leaf Mix1 cup rhubarb leaves 6.5 cups water 1/4 cup liquid dish detergent or soap flakesCover rhubarb leaves with water and bring to a boil. Boil for 20 minutes then remove from heat and cool. Strain then add 1/4 cup liquid dish detergent. Good for aphids, june beetles, spider mites, thrips.Rhubarb leaves are poisonous, take care when preparing and handling. Do not use on food bearing plants.Garlic TeaMake your own garlic spray by boiling a pint of water, throw in roughly chopped garlic cloves and steep until the water cools.

Remove garlic bits then apply.Garlic, Peppers & Onion Insecticide2 hot peppers 1 large onion 1 whole bulb of garlic 1/4 cup waterToss in the food processor and add water, blend until a mash is made. miele vacuum cleaner s5481 earthCover mash with 1 gallon hot (not boiling) water and let stand 24 hours. sieger vacuum cleaners australiaSpray on roses, azaleas, vegetables to kill bug infestations. karcher ds 5800 water filter vacuum cleanerBury mash in ground where bugs are heaviest. Good for thrips, aphids, grasshoppers, chewing and sucking insects.Tomato Leaves MixCrush leaves from a tomato plant and soak in water for a couple days. Good for grasshopper and white fly control.Tomato leaves are poisonous, take care when preparing and handling.

Basil Tea4 cups water 1 cup fresh basil (or 2 TBS dried) 1 tsp liquid dish detergentBring water to a boil then add basil. Remove from heat, cover and steep until cool. Mix in the liquid detergent then apply. Onion Insect Repellent For Plants *First published May 18, 2007 and moved to this page for better organizationSave onion skins, peels and ends then refrigerate in an empty margarine-sized tub or ziploc bag until the container is full.Once you have enough, place the onion pieces in a pail and fill with warm water. Soak for a few days, up to a week. Optional: You can keep this on the patio in the sun to steep.After one week, strain the onion bits out and store the onion water in spray bottles. Bury the onion bits around plants that are prone to aphids, spiders and other pests.Spray both house and garden plants with the water to fight aphids and pests.*You could also mix your garlic trimmings in with the onion pieces, bugs hate garlic too.Salt Spray2 TBS salt 1.5 gallons warm waterMix salt and water to dissolve, allow to cool to room temperature.

Use for spider mites, caterpillars, cabbage worms and chewing insects.Epsom Salt Spray2 ounces of salt 2 gallons waterBenefits: Helps with Black Spot, Mildew, Wilt and RustSlug Bait TrapSet out beer in shallow containers to attract slugs, they’ll drown in the beer. See more tips on this page.Diatomaceous EarthAn all natural solution for insects of all kinds (ants, snails, slugs, etc.). Sprinkle diatomaceous earth on top of soil around plants with pest problems.Horticultural Oil Mix1 TBS vegetable oil 1 tsp liquid dish detergent 2 cups waterFill a spray bottle with the ingredients then shake to mix.Hot Pepper Recipe1/2 cup hot peppers (or 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper) 1 quart water 1 tsp liquid dish detergentBring water to a boil, remove from heat and add peppers. Cover and steep until cool. Strain then mix in soap. If using cayenne pepper, no need to bring water to a boil first. Apply.Citrus Spray2 cups orange peels (or lemons) 4 cups waterBring water to a boil, remove from heat and add peels.

Use the lemon mixture to repel white flies.Dish Detergent & Baking Soda2 TBS liquid dish detergent 2 TBS baking soda 1 gallon waterMix all ingredients together then use.Peppermint Tea1 TBS peppermint essential oil (can also use an infusion made with mint leaves, increase amount to 1 cup infusion) 1 quart waterMix together and use as an insect spray (good for ants).Japanese Beetle Bait Trap2 cups water 1 mashed banana 1/2 cup sugar 1/2 cup wine 1/2 tsp yeastMix ingredients together and put in an old margarine container, cover with lid and set container out in the hot sun for a day. The next day, remove lid and set in garden where the beetles have been spotted (use a shallow container).Potato Leaves Tea1 cup potato plant leaves 2 cups waterChop leaves then cover with hot water. Seal container and leave 24 hours in a sunny window. Potato leaves are poisonous, take care when preparing and handling. Neem Spray1 TBS Neem soap (shavings) 1 liter waterAdd soap to water then let sit for an hour.

Shake bottle then use.Mineral Oil Mix3 parts oil per 100 parts waterBenefits: Helps with Aphids, Codling Moth, Leaf Roller, Mealybugs, Scaled Insects, White FlyEasy Soap Flakes Spray2 TBS soap flakes (don’t use detergents) dissolved in 1 quart waterBenefits: Aphid controlPest Prevention Concentrate *First published February 1, 2008 and moved to this page for better organizationHere’s a short and sweet recipe for both garden and houseplants. You can use this as a preventative spray as well as a bug and pest killer.Ingredients:1 cup Sunlight dish soap 1 TBS vegetable oilDirections:Mix ingredients together then store in a plastic, airtight container.When you’re ready to use, take 1 to 2 teaspoons of the concentrate and mix with a quart of water. Pour into a spray bottle.When applying make sure to get underneath the leaves as well as the flower buds and new shoots.In hot weather, repeat every third day (3 applications over 7 days).Warm to cool weather, use once a week for 3 weeks.TipsApply the treatment on top of the leaves as well as underneath–don’t overdo it, excess can cause damage.

Most recipes can be used effectively with just a weekly treatment. Excessive use may affect the plant as well as kill the good insects you want to encourage in your garden (earthworms, bees, ladybugs, etc.). If you aren’t seeing results with a 7 day treatment, you can bump it up to 5 days but watch carefully to make sure plants can handle it without being damaged.Avoid treating during hot sunny weather, do so later in the day to reduce the risk of burning.If it looks like rain, delay until the weather is clear since any rain will wash away the new application. If it has recently rained, wait till greenery is dry before applying to prevent the mix being diluted with water.When trying a new recipe, test on just a couple leaves first (apply then watch how the test leaves react after two or three days, if no signs of damage proceed with spraying the whole plant).Organic Garden Aids*First published June 5, 2007 and moved to this page for better organizationWith a little bit of planning you can help cut down on pests and disease organically by growing natural repellents near problem areas.