If you’re one of the hundreds of people who started a garden during quarantine, you may be looking for ways to keep your vegetables, herbs, or flowers safe from pests. And if you’ve made your way here, then you want to go the DIY/chemical-free route. We’ve put together our favorite homemade garden pesticides just for you. 

Vegetable oil spray insecticide

Uses:

• Small insects such as aphids, thrips, and mites
• Kills pests on contact, so this is perfect if you’re looking to get rid of pests that you can see right now

Ingredients: 

• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tbs mild soap
• 1 quart water

Directions:

• Mix vegetable oil with soap, cover, and shake thoroughly
• Before applying, mix 2 tsp of the spray with 1 quart of water, then shake thoroughly
• Spray directly on the surfaces of your plants that are being affected

Soap spray insecticide 

Uses: 

• Controlling mites, aphids, whiteflies, beetles, etc.

Ingredients:

• 1.5 tsp mild liquid soap
• 1 quart water

Directions:

• Spray the mixture directly on the surface of the infected plans
• Best to spray during the evenings or early mornings 

Garlic insecticide spray

Uses:

• As an insecticide as well as (likely) a natural repellent

Ingredients:

• 2 whole bulbs garlic, pureed with some water
• About 1 quart water
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 1 tsp mild liquid soap

Directions:

• Let the pureed garlic and water mixture sit overnight, then strain into a quart jar
• Add vegetable oil, soap, and enough water to fill your jar
• Mix 1 cup of mixture with 1 quart of water when you’re ready to spray
• Spray directly on infested plants

Essential oil insecticide spray

Uses: 

• For any plants being attacked by bugs

Ingredients: 

• 1 medium onion
• 4 cloves of garlic
• 20 drops peppermint essential oil (or 2 cups mint leaves)
• 2 tbsp cayenne pepper
• 2 tbsp liquid soap
• Water

Directions:

• Place the onion, garlic, peppermint oil, and cayenne in a blender and pulverize
• Let the mixture steep for a few hours
• Strain with a mesh strainer
• Add mixture to a one-gallon container
• Add soap and enough water to fill up gallon container
• Pour into spray bottle and spray on attacked plants 1-2 times per week or after heavy rainfall 

Baking soda insecticide spray

Uses: 

• Kill aphids, spider mites, and white flies, but not harmful to beneficial insects

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp baking soda
• ⅓ cup olive oil
• 1 cup water

Directions:

• Mix ingredients in a spray bottle
• Shake thoroughly
• Spray directly onto affected plants

Baking soda direct sprinkle

Uses: 

• Discourage rodents from eating plants
• Get rid of slugs

Ingredients:

• Baking soda

Directions:

• Occasionally sprinkle baking soda lightly around flower beds to discourage rodents 
• Sprinkle directly on plants to dry up and kill slugs

Take care of those quarantine gardens! If you need some extra protection for your backyard or  home, we’re here for you. Check out our services here.