Homemade Bug Sprays For Your Garden

Here are a few homemade bug sprays that I’ve found in one of my books. I haven’t had a chance to try any of them yet, as pests haven’t even found my pitiful little garden worth invading!

Molasses Spray for Leaf Miners

  • 1 part molasses
  • 5 parts water

Stir to combine the molasses and the water. Spray on plants infected with leaf miners.

All Purpose Insect Spray

(Best for leaf eating bugs. Keep out of eyes!)

  • 1 garlic bulb
  • 1 small onion
  • 1 tsp powdered cayenne pepper
  • 1 quart water
  • 1 Tbsp liquid dish soap

Chop garlic and onion in a blender. Add the pepper and water. Steep for one hour, then stain through a cheesecloth. Add the liquid dish soap, and mix well.

Spray mixture on your plants, covering both sides of the leaves. This mixture will keep for up to one week in the fridge when stored in a covered jar.

Ammonia Spray

Useful for aphids, flea beetles, scales, thrips, and whiteflies.

  • 1 part ammonia
  • 7 parts water

Combine ingredients. Store in spray bottle. Test on a couple of leaves before spraying the whole plant, as it may burn some plants. Do not apply in very hot or dry weather.

Garlic Oil

Useful against aphids, imported cabbage worms, leafhoppers, larval mosquitoes, squash bugs, and whiteflies, along with some fungals and nematodes. Will also kill beneficial insects, with the exclusion of ladybugs.

  • 3 oz finely minced garlic cloves
  • 2 tsp mineral oil
  • 1 pt. water
  • 1/4 oz. liquid dish soap

Soak garlic in mineral oil for 24 hours or more. Add water mixed with soap. Stir well and strain into a glass jar to store. When ready to use, combine 1-2 Tbsp of the concentrate with 1 pint of water to make a spray.

Test one or two leaves before spraying whole plant. Wait 2-3 days for any signs of damage before thoroughly spraying.

Starch Spray

Useful for aphids, spider mites, thrips, and other small pests.

  • 1 cup potato starch
  • 1 gallon water
  • 1/2 tsp liquid nondetergent soap

Combine starch and water, stirring well. Wait 5 min. then add the soap and mix again. Spray plants covering them thoroughly.

You’ll have to make a fresh batch of this every time you want to use it.

Hot Pepper Spray

Useful for deterring insects as well as cats and dogs.

  • 1/2 cup hot peppers
  • 2 cups water

*If peppers irritate your skin, you may want to wear gloves while dealing with this mixture.

Puree the peppers and water in a blender. Strain the liquid through a cheesecloth and use as a spray. Apply every 5-7 days until pests are gone.

Hope this helps!! I found even more homemade pesticide recipes at Tipnut.com!

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