As a homeowner, you want to protect your plants from pests. Pests can be harmful and even carcinogenic organisms that can slowly kill plants. There are many types of pests, but caterpillars, cutworms, mealybugs, beetles, aphids, etc., are the most common in gardens. You need to get rid of these pests to save your plants – and organic Salt Lake City pest control methods are the best ways to do it!
Here are five simple DIY pest control methods you can use:
Homemade Organic Pesticide Spray
Homemade organic pesticide is easy to make by using kitchen recipes. Garlic is the organic thing to make the organic pesticide. We have summed the tips and steps to make this pest control for you. Let’s see this short guide:
Pesticides are a great way to get rid of pests, but they can also be expensive and toxic. If you’re looking for a more affordable and healthier way to keep pests away, try making your own homemade organic pesticide.
There are many different recipes for homemade organic pesticides, but all of them use ingredients that you can find in your kitchen. One of the most popular recipes is made with the following ingredients:
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Ten chopped garlic cloves
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100 ml mineral oil
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150 ml neem oil
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Three tablespoons of dish soap
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Three tablespoons of BT (Bacillus thuriengensis)
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1-liter gallon of water
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1 spray bottle
Prep Your Garlic Cloves
Preparation is simple. First, start by mincing your garlic as finely as possible. Once minced, place into a bowl with enough mineral oil to fully submerge your garlic. Cover the bowl with a lid and let it soak for 24 hours. Doing this lets the sulfur mix with the oil which will be more effective in killing pests. You can use this method for mealybugs, caterpillars, cutworms, and aphids.
Screening The Garlic
Next, screen the soaked garlic. Take a screener from your kitchen and put it on the glass. Pour the soaked garlic into it. Push the garlic on the screener to get more flavor out of your cloves. Add BT (Bacillus thuriengensis) solution for the best DIY organic water solution for pest control.
Combine the ingredients
Lastly combine a gallon of water with your filter garlic, mineral oil and BT solution. You can also add neem oil and dish soap to this mixture. This will help the ingredients mix better and act as an emulsifier.
Pour your solution into a spray bottle and use it on any plants that are suffering from pests. Be sure to reapply after it rains. This pesticide will last up to six months when stored in a cool, dark place.
Here are another 4 simple DIY organic pesticides you can make at home:
1) Citrus Spray: Combine one part citrus peel with two parts water in a spray bottle and spritz directly on insects or areas where they are congregating.
2) Soapy Water: Mix one tablespoon of dish soap with one liter of water and spray liberally on plants to drown pests.
3) Neem Oil: Dilute neem oil with water at a ratio of 1:10 and spray onto plants every 3-4 days to repel pests.
4) Hot Pepper Wax: Melt one cup of wax (either beeswax or paraffin wax) and add one tablespoon of hot pepper sauce or flakes. Pour into a spray bottle and spritz onto plants as needed. Reapply after rain or every two weeks.
With these recipes, you can make your organic pesticide at home with ingredients that are most likely already in your kitchen. Not only are these solutions more affordable than store-bought pesticides, but they are also more effective and healthier for both you and your plants. If you’re looking to stay away from pesticides altogether, then here are a few other DIY pest control methods you can incorporate into your home and garden.
Wash your Plant Leaves with Organic Controls
One way to keep pests away is by regularly washing your plant leaves with a hose. This will remove any eggs or larvae that may be present, as well as any harmful chemicals or pesticides that might have been sprayed on the plants. If you don’t have a hose, you can also wash your plants with a mixture of water and dish soap.
Another very similar method is to gently wipe each leaf and stem down with a soft cloth and an organic control solution. This method is highly effective against soft-bodied pests such as mealybugs, aphids, and whiteflies.
Physical Pest Control
The third method is removing pests and infected plants by hand. Physical pest control is a very effective way to get rid of pests that are visible to the naked eye. Small numbers of caterpillars, mealybugs, and aphids can be removed by hand and killed or safely disposed of. This is a great way to control pests early on in the growing process before they have a chance to multiply.
Cover your Plants
Cover your plants with fine mesh netting to keep out pests. This can be purchased at most garden stores and on Amazon. The mesh will also help to protect your plants from birds, insects, and other animals that may try to eat them.
Set Traps
You can also set traps to catch pests. Insects are attracted to certain scents and colors, so you can use this to your advantage by setting sticky traps that use these attractants. For example, yellow sticky traps can be used to catch whiteflies, aphids, and other small flying insects.
There are a variety of rodent traps that you can also set to catch mice and rats that may be eating your plants. From humane methods that allow you to catch and release the animal far from your home, to more lethal traps that kill the rodent instantly, there is a trap available to fit your needs and preferences.
To Sum, it All Up
There are many ways to protect your plants from pests, and these five methods are just a few of the most effective solutions. If you’re looking for an organic way to get rid of pests, then try one of the recipes we’ve provided. You can also wash your leaves with water and dish soap, or use physical pest control to remove them by hand. Another solution is to cover your plants with fine mesh netting or set traps using scents and colors that attract insects and rodents. Whichever method you choose, be sure to reapply after it rains or every two weeks for continued protection. If worse comes to worst and you are struggling to keep pests out of your garden then call your local pest control experts for help.
