Natural bug spray for gardens
6 bug sprays for plants |
(Image credit: Getty Images)
While insects are a valuable part of our gardens' ecosystems, sometimes they end up tucking into our vegetable harvests or eating their way through our flower buds before they bloom.
These moments can have us reaching for the insecticides. However, filled with toxic chemicals, commercial insecticides often stand at odds with the sustainable garden ideas that we want our plots to embody.
This is where homemade insect sprays and deterrents come into their own. Created from items you would find in your store cupboard, they are quick and effective ways to ward bugs off your prized plants.
‘Homemade garlic, nettle, soap, tomato and basil sprays are effective against aphids, mites and thrips. The aim is not to kill off all the insects in your garden, but rather aim for a healthy ecosystem,’ says garden expert Leigh Clapp.
Bug sprays – 6 homemade recipes for plants
Homemade bug sprays should only be used as a short term solution – at the same time as treating pests, think of adding other plants to your garden that will encourage insects and animals that prey on the problem bug.
‘Disaster-proof your garden through plant diversity. The wider the range of plants, the less they are plagued by pests, so that if a disease or pest occurs only a limited number of susceptible plants will be affected,’ continues Leigh.
For example, if you want to get rid of slugs, can you attract more birds? If you need to get rid of aphids, could you plant angelica, fennel and dill nearby to attract ladybirds? There are lots of different companion planting ideas that will help you to reduce pests in your plot. By creating a balanced garden, you will find that you have less and less need for bug sprays.
Before using any of these bug sprays on your plants, always do a patch-test. Spray a small amount onto a few leaves of the plant and wait 24 hours to see if there is any damage. Avoid using any foliar sprays during the heat of the day as the exposure to the sun can cause leaf burn.
1. Insecticidal soap
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A popular bug spray for treating a wide range of pests, homemade insecticidal soap, consists of soap, oil and water.
Homemade insecticidal soap is often the first port of call for many gardeners as the ingredients are all store cupboard essentials.
To create insecticidal soap combine one cup of vegetable oil with one tablespoon of dishwashing soap or pure Castile liquid soap. For this method, as well as any others that call for dishwashing soap, avoid those that contain a degreaser or bleach as these can cause more harm than good. Use this oil and soap mixture as a concentrate and dilute one teaspoon with two cups of warm water into a spray bottle. Once mixed with water, the solution’s efficacy will only last for a day.
Insecticidal soap is one of the best ways of getting rid of aphids, as well as lacebugs, leafhoppers, mealybugs and thrips.
2. Neem oil bug spray
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An organic insecticide, neem oil has seen a rise in popularity as a method to treat everything from insects through to fungi.
‘Neem oil has been used in India for thousands of years and is a trusted method to keep on top of pests, without any of the nasties,’ explains John Maree, co-owner of OxyPlants .
‘A spray of Neem oil on the tops and undersides of your plant’s leaves will help remove several pests, including mites, whitefly, aphids, thrip, and mealybugs, at every stage in their life cycle. Using neem oil also helps to get rid of powdery mildew, too.’
To use neem oil as a homemade bug spray mix one to two tablespoons of pure, cold-pressed neem oil with a gallon of water. You can also add one to two teaspoons of dish soap to the mix to help the neem oil adhere to the plants.
Alternatively, you can use neem oil as a root soak to treat root rot. Mix one gallon of water with two tablespoons of neem oil and one teaspoons of pure Castile liquid soap (to help the neem oil adhere). Apply a small amount as a test and wait 24 hours. If all is well, then apply two or three cups to the soil around the plant, then continue the treatment as a replacement to the watering cycle.
A benefit of using neem oil over other pesticides is that it doesn't harm birds, pets or beneficial insects.
This is because neem oil gets absorbed into the plant’s tissue rather than just sitting on the surface and so only affects any insects that ingest the plant.
3. Vinegar spray
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It seems that there is no end to the abilities of vinegar, especially when you take into account the numerous ways of cleaning with vinegar, but did you know that it can also be used as a bug spray?
One of the easiest homemade bug sprays, simply mix one cup of white vinegar with three cups of water. You can also add half a teaspoon of dishwashing soap to help the solution adhere. Shake thoroughly and apply to the affected areas.
The acetic acid in the vinegar will treat a wide range of garden pests but it requires contact. If you have whitefly eggs be sure to spray under the leaves. Furthermore, white vinegar has a strong odor which has been reported to repel ants and other scent driven pests.
'If you are wanting to treat houseplants with a vinegar spray, try adding a few drops of essential oil or some slices of lemon peel or rosemary sprigs to help temper the vinegar smell,' advises Period Living editor Melanie Griffiths.
4. Garlic spray
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You may have heard that onions and garlic make good companion plants as the scent of their foliage helps to repel aphids, slugs and carrot fly. This spray takes it to the next level.
‘Puree two garlic bulbs with one tablespoon of vegetable oil, let it sit overnight, strain, add one teaspoon of mild liquid soap and four cups of water to fill the spray container,’ recommends Leigh Clapp.
Store this mixture in the fridge until needed. In the evening, spray both sides of the leaves with the spray and then reapply every few days when your plants are suffering with infestation. Alternatively, use every one to two weeks as a deterrent.
If you want to be even more sustainable, why not learn how to grow garlic so that you can have an endless supply of garlic spray – plus extra cloves that you can add to your favorite meals?
5. Tomato leaf spray
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If you’ve ever tried growing tomatoes, you will be familiar with the characteristic scent of their leaves, but did you know that these leaves contain a compound called alkaloid which can be used to create a spray that is toxic to aphids and mites? To make a tomato leaf spray, mix equal quantities of chopped up tomato leaf with water and leave to steep overnight.
Let this steep overnight, before straining into a spray bottle and applying to the plant’s leaves.
This is a great way to recycle tomato leaves once you've pruned them – you can learn how to prune tomato plants for a maximum yield.
6. Cinnamon spray
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If you’ve ever grown plants in pots, you’ll be familiar with the problem of stray mushrooms. However, this can be easily resolve with a simple cinnamon spray. Mix two teaspoons cinnamon powder into four cups of warm water. Allow this to steep overnight and then strain through a coffee filter and then pour into a spray bottle. Mist the potting soil and plants.
Cinnamon spray is also reported to be an effective treatment to get rid of ants. If you have an ant problem in your pots or want to keep ants away from dining or patio areas, try applying cinnamon oil or powdered cinnamon to create an effective barrier.
What is a natural bug killer for plants?
Vinegar is a really effective natural bug killer for plants.
Dilute it 1:1 with water in a spray bottle and spray it over and under the leaves of affected plants. You can also use it around the house to deter bugs inside; the vinegary smell will quickly dissipate.
You can also use a hydrogen peroxide and water solution, which is great when trying to get rid of bugs from houseplant soil.
Which homemade bug spray is best for repelling mosquitoes?
The best homemade bug sprays for repelling mosquitoes are those with a strong smell that mosquitoes hate. Other than citronella, which you are probably already familiar with as a mosquito repellent, they include the following essential oils:
- Catnip
- Cinnamon bark
- Geranium
- Lavender
- Lemon eucalyptus
- Peppermint
- Pine
- Rosemary
Having graduated with a first class degree in English Literature four years ago, Holly started her career as a features writer and sub-editor at Period Living magazine, Homes & Gardens' sister title.
Working on Period Living brought with it insight into the complexities of owning and caring for period homes, from interior decorating through to choosing the right windows and the challenges of extending. This has led to a passion for traditional interiors, particularly the country-look. Writing for the Homes & Gardens website as a content editor, alongside regular features for Period Living and Country Homes & Interiors magazines, has enabled her to broaden her writing to incorporate her interests in gardening, wildlife and nature.
5 Homemade Pesticides: Soap Sprays for Plants
There is no magic bullet for keeping your garden and indoor plants free from insect pests. Some tricks I have learned over the years are ways to cope with bugs without resorting to nasty chemicals. Here are my tips, including homemade insecticidal sprays (soap sprays).
Pay Attention to Your Plants
Before resorting to using pesticides (even organic ones), consider the following techniques to discourage insect pests from attacking your plants:
- Nourish your plants with organic amendments such as aged compost.
Strong plants don't attract as many insects and can withstand their assault better than weak ones. If you're using fertilizer, follow instructions closely. Over-fertilized plants will attract pests to eat their lush new growth. - Use companion planting to repel insects naturally. Some plants thrive together; some do not. See our Companion Planting Guide.
- Use barriers like row covers to block pests from attacking your plants, especially tender transplants. (Remove the covers when plants are established and in bloom to allow for insect pollination.) Additionally, "collars" (paper towel or toilet paper cardboard rolls) inserted around the small transplants (1 to 2 inches into the soil) will prevent insects such as cutworms from eating the young stems.
- Time plantings to avoid peak insect populations. For example, plant squash as early as possible to avoid squash vine borers, which lay eggs in early to mid-summer. Plant carrots after June 1 and harvest by early September to avoid the carrot fly.
- Select varieties that are naturally resistant to some pests. I grow a lot of butternut squash because it is highly resistant to attack from the squash vine borer.
- Make your garden welcoming to beneficial insects and they will do a lot of the work for you by keeping the bugs they feed on in check. For example, lady beetles are an effective biological control of many insect pests. If you see a tomato hornworm with white cocoons on his back (above photo), leave him alone. A parasitic wasp has laid her eggs on him and soon her babies will eat him from the inside out. A fitting death for such a gruesome pest!
- Learn to identify the bugs in your garden. You can't beat them if you don't know who is friend and who is foe. Learn what their larvae and eggs look like to head them off before they become adults.
These aphids have done some damage, but don't spray if you see the black and orange alligator-like ladybug larvae attacking them. He will do the dirty work for you by eating up to 50 aphids a day!
5 Organic Pesticide Sprays for Insects
If you have exhausted all these methods and feel you must resort to using a spray, don't reach for harsh chemicals.
They will do more harm than good by polluting the watershed, killing good and bad bugs alike, and eventually the insects you are trying to kill may grow resistant to those chemicals requiring you to use even stronger ones! They can also harm birds, animals, you, and your children!
Try a more natural approach by making one of these homemade insecticidal sprays. Bear in mind that although they are less toxic they are not totally harmless. Keep them away from kids and pets. Test them on a few leaves before you go all in to make sure they won't injure your plants. Be sure never to spray them on your plants during the sunny, hot part of the day or they will definitely cause foliar damage. Spray in the evening, when bees and other pollinators are not active.
- Dish Soap Spray: Dissolve 1 tablespoon of a mild liquid soap such as a pure dish soap (no bleach, degreaser, or detergents added) or castile soap in 1 quart of water. Dr. Bronner's soap may be expensive, but it uses no animal fats, which makes it a good choice for vegans.
Insecticidal soaps are good for killing soft-bodied insects. Be sure to cover the whole plant—both sides of the leaves and on the stems. Soap sprays only work when wet, so they will need to be reapplied every 4-7 days or until you notice that populations have decreased. After a few applications, if rain hasn't done this for you, spray the plants with plain water to rinse off any soapy residue.
- Oil Spray: Mix 1 cup of vegetable oil with 1 tablespoon of mild liquid soap. Add 2-8 teaspoons of this mixture to 1 quart of water and spray your plants as above. The oil in this spray smothers the insects so it is effective on aphids, thrips, mites, and scale.
- Tomato Leaves Insecticide: The leaves of tomatoes contain solanine and tomatine and can be used as an insecticide. Soak 2 cups of fresh leaves in 1 quart of water overnight. Strain and spray. It kills aphids and many types of chewing insects, but also attracts beneficials. Don't use it on other nightshades like eggplants, peppers, or potatoes because it could spread disease from plant to plant.
- Garlic Repellent Spray: Despite all you've read, garlic acts as more of a repellent than a killer. Puree 2 bulbs of garlic with 1 cup of water and let sit overnight. Strain the liquid into a quart jar, add 1/2 cup vegetable oil, 1 teaspoon liquid soap, and fill the jar the rest of the way with water. Put one cup in a 1 quart sprayer, fill with water and apply to your affected plants. It is good for repelling aphids, cabbage worms, leaf hoppers, squash bugs, and whiteflies.
- Hot Pepper Repellent Spray: Hot pepper is also a good repellent and works on rabbits and deer as well as many insects. Mix 1 tablespoon dried chile powder, 1 quart of water, and 1 teaspoon of mild soap. Spray full strength on the plants under attack.
If you have lots of hot peppers growing in your garden, you can make a fresh concoction from 1/2 cup chopped peppers pureed in 1 cup of water. Add the puree to 1 quart of water and bring to a boil. Let sit until cool and then strain.Add 1 teaspoon mild soap and spray full strength on plants. You might want to wear gloves when working with this spray and be sure not to get it into your eyes!
Many other plants have been reported to have insecticidal qualities, including hyssop, lettuce leaves, onions, pennyroyal, peppermint, and radish leaves.
There is no one-size fits all when it comes to pest management. At best we can try to maintain a healthy balance of good guys and bad guys and still get some decent produce for us!
Now that we've learned how to minimize insect pests, let's tackle weeds. Here are tips on coping with weeds, including 5 Homemade Herbicides.
Bona Forte natural insect repellent spray, 500 ml in Moscow - prices, specifications, reviews
Courier available: in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Khabarovsk
Bona Forte natural insect repellent spray, 500 ml
Product description "Bona Forte natural insect repellent spray, 500 ml"
- 500 ml container nine0013 Package dimensions - 24.
- Packaging - plastic spray bottle
- Purpose - to protect plants from crawling and flying pests - insects
- Store between +5 C and +30 C
- Country - producer - Russia
5/9.5/5.3 cm Distinctive features of Bona Forte spray
Ingredients: natural pyrethrins, stabilizer, emulsifier, synergist, water. Natural feverfew is considered one of the most potent insecticides. It is worth noting that insects do not get used to pyrethrins. The active components of the spray quickly decompose, they do not harm human health, do not accumulate in the environment. nine0007
Insecticide "Bona Forte"
Recommended for the protection of indoor plants, ornamental flowers growing outdoors. This spray has been proven to be effective in instantly killing many types of insects.
The components of the spray through the skin penetrate into the body of pests and paralyze them. The spray is effective against the following types of insects: caterpillars, bedbugs, whiteflies, leaf beetles, flies, centipedes, moths, aphids, spider mites, flower beetles, etc.
Application of Bona Forte Insect Repellent Spray
Shake the bottle before use. It is recommended to process plants in the early morning or evening. Do not use in bright sunlight. Indoor plants should stand separately, avoid close placement near heat sources (batteries) and air currents (open window, balcony).
Spray insecticide no closer than 30 cm from the plant. Carry out circular pollination, paying attention to the lower leaves. If you want to destroy insects that live in the open field, you should spray the soil. nine0007
Carefully spray plants with thin, delicate leaves, avoid contact with flowers.
Benefits of Bona Forte insecticide
Bona Forte spray kills pests quickly and is absolutely harmless to humans. Does not pollute the environment, decomposes in a short time. Economically spent.
| Designation | Manufacture | nine0051 Price|
|---|---|---|
| BF, Insect Spray, Natural 500 ml | Russia | 350 |
| Against cockroaches 100 g and ants ARGUS Granules | Russia | 150 | nine0057
| Anti-insect dust Ecokiller, 3 l (doypack) | Russia | 1000 |
| Anti-cockroach dust Ecokiller, 500 ml (bottle) | Russia | 620 |
| ARGUS Anti-ant granules, 100 g jar with dispenser | Russia | 150 |
Ask an expert
Is it possible to treat upholstered furniture with an aerosol from bedbugs? How long can you sit on it?
Dr. Klaus aerosol against bedbugs and fleas can treat any upholstered furniture from the underside, along the seams and edges of the upholstery, where bedbugs most often live. After processing, it is necessary to ventilate the room for 30 minutes, after which you can use upholstered furniture. nine0007
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Is it possible to treat woolen items and fur coats with a moth aerosol? Does it leave stains?
Dr.Klaus moth aerosol can be used to treat any woolen items, fur coats, winter shoes and other clothes. It does not leave stains or streaks.
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Is natural insect pest spray safe for plants? How often can it be used? nine0007
Bona Forte is a natural flying insecticide that is non-phytotoxic and completely safe for plants. The agent completely decomposes to safe environmental residues in 2-3 hours. We recommend using as soon as insects appear.
This means of contact action, that is, only those insects that were on the plant at the time of spraying die.
Therefore, we recommend processing in the early morning hours or late evening hours, when the maximum accumulation of insect populations is on the flower. nine0007
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Can a bark beetle ejector be used indoors?
Ejector from bark beetle Dr. Klaus must not be used in a residential area. This tool is intended only for processing live trees (spruces, pines, firs, cedars and other conifers) or lumber located on the street.
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Can granulated horse manure be used for plant nutrition along with ash?
It is impossible to mix organic fertilizers (cow and horse manure, bird droppings) with ash. When mixed, nitrogen is released in the form of ammonia, which significantly reduces the efficiency of manure application.
You can read more about ash fertilizer in the article: Ash as fertilizer
Is Bona Forte Citrus Fertilizer Suitable for Coffee Tree Beauty Series? nine0007
This fertilizer is well suited for growing coffee trees.
The composition is enriched with a large amount of nitrogen, which is good for building up the vegetative mass. And also the fertilizer contains a lot of potassium for potential flowering and fruiting.
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Will Bona Forte fertilizer series Beauty for cacti be suitable for Zamioculcas?
The composition of fertilizers Bona Forte series Beauty for cacti is ideal for Zamioculcas. This evergreen plant, like cacti and other succulents, contains water-storing cells (parenchyma).
But the application regulations for Zamioculcas will be slightly different. This plant does not have a pronounced rest period, like cacti, it grows very actively even in the winter months, especially with good lighting. Therefore, in the period from November to February, it is advisable to feed zamiokulkas, especially if you grow it in a small pot. nine0007
And zamiokulkas grows better in small flowerpots, when the roots are slightly cramped and there is not much soil.
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How long after transplanting a plant can it be fertilized?
Transplanted plants can be fed no earlier than 7-14 days after transplantation. To provide plants with all the necessary nutrients for growth and health, we recommend alternating the use of mineral fertilizers Bona Forte of the Beauty series and organo-mineral fertilizers of Bona Forte of the Health series with a frequency of 2-3 months. nine0007
How long can the working solution be stored after diluting the fertilizer in water?
It is recommended to store the working solution for no more than 7-10 days, since after the expiration of this period it may “bloom”.
What is the best fertilizer for avocados?
To feed avocados, we recommend using the Bona Forte fertilizer for citrus fruits from the Beauty series. nine0007
More about fertilizer
How often should houseplants be fertilized?
Indoor plants should be fed from March to October 1 time per week and from November to February 1 time per month.
