Story by Mark A. Tamn
Photo by BJ Cothran

Cooking up a magical elixir to control landscape and garden pests in the comfort of your kitchen, can be gratifying, fun, and of course, environmentally responsible. Interestingly, many of today’s common pest problems were non-existent or considered insignificant prior to the advent of commercial pesticides in the United States.

This is due to the fact that many insects and other predatory organisms have excellent adaptation abilities.  Over the years, they have developed immunities to some of the common chemical compounds that you might buy at your local hardware or garden center.  This created the need for chemical manufacturers to develop new pesticides to control these now resistant pest species.  In an effort to stay competitive, most of the chemical manufacturers showed little concern that these products were not target specific. Many of these toxic materials reduced or destroyed some of the beneficial life forms in our soils and waterways.

Over the last several years, more and more folks have questioned the need for some of these harsher commercial pesticides.  In some cases, it may not make sense to select a potentially threatening product, if the pest pressures or activities can be reduced to acceptable levels through the use of a safer alternative, common sense cultural practices, or a combination of both.

Here are some recipes for controlling various garden pests that you can formulate in the comfort of your own home.  Please keep in mind that most of the natural, safer-type formulations may need to be applied with more frequency.  Also, the goal is not necessarily to kill every harmful insect on the plant, but to lower the populations down to levels which will not be harmful to your plants.

HOMEMADE RECIPES FOR A HEALTHIER GARDEN

INSECTICIDAL SOAP

2.5 Tablespoons of Liquid Dish Detergent
1 Teaspoon of Cider Vinegar
1 Gallon of Water

Spray liberally on all parts of the infected plants and repeat as necessary.

HORTICULTURE SPRAY

2 Tablespoons of Vegetable Oil
2 Tablespoons of Liquid Dish Soap
1 Gallon of Water
(Shake Well Before Using)

SPIDER MITE CONTROL

1/3 Cup of Flour
4 Teaspoons of Buttermilk
1 Gallon of Water
Repeat as Needed

NATURAL DISEASE CONTROL
(Black Spot, Leaf Spot, Powdery Mildew)

4 Teaspoons of Baking Soda
1 Tablespoon of Vegetable Oil
Mix well in one Gallon of Water

Repeat every 14 days as needed

CHILI PEPPER INSECT REPELLENT

                                                4 Hot Chili Peppers
                                                1 Tablespoon of Corn Oil
                                                1 Cup of Bottled Water

Mix in a blender until the peppers are liquefied.  Pour in one gallon container and top off with water.  Spray on your plants monthly to help repel harmful insects.

BAMBI CONTROL
(DEER)

                                                1/2 Cup of Whole Milk
                                                1 Teaspoon of Cooking Oil
                                                2 Whole Eggs
                                                1 Ounce of Hot Sauce

Mix in blender and then add ingredients to one gallon of water.  Pour into a spray bottle or pump up sprayer.

COMPOST TEA FOR HEALTHIER PLANTS

Place compost in a nylon stocking, cheese cloth, or a loosely woven bag.  Submerge the compost in a barrel or bucket of rain water or distilled water for five days.  Do not use tap or well water.

Apply to the foliage or the base of your plants monthly for healthier plants.

WORLD’S BEST ROSE FOOD

                                                2 Tablespoons of Fish Emulsion
                                                1 Tablespoon of Liquid Sea Kelp
                                                1 Gallon of Water

Apply to the base of your roses monthly for healthier plants and prolific blooms.

MARK A. TAMN has been in the lawn and landscape industry for over thirty years.  Mark is an agronomist, NC Certified Turf Grass Professional, radio talk show host of “In the Garden,” author of the book Olde Time Gardening For New Age Concerns, and President of Freedom Lawns USA and Freedom Franchises, Inc.