Homemade Natural Insecticide for Gardens

Make your own insecticide for your garden.

Gardens are a place of beauty and tranquility. They are not meant to be a home for bugs and insects that want to destroy your plants. Deal with insects easily by whipping up some homemade insecticides. Apply these to the infested areas and areas you wish to keep bug-free. Not only are these remedies easy to make and inexpensive, but they are also natural, so you don't have to worry about chemicals on your plants or in the air.

Things You'll Need

• Canola oil
• Ivory dish soap
• Spray bottle
• Cayenne pepper
• Diatomaceous earth

Instructions

1. Combine 1 tbsp. of canola oil and several drops of Ivory dish soap in a spray bottle.

2. Dilute the oil and soap with 1 qt. of water and shake well.

3. Spray the top and bottom of any plants infested with soft-bodied bugs.

4. Mix cayenne pepper with Ivory soap and water. Add 2 tbsp. of pepper for every qt. of water. Drop several drops of soap into the mixture. Allow the mixture to stand at least 12 hours.

5. Pour the insecticide into a spray bottle and shake vigorously.

6. Spray onto plants that have mites. Shake the bottle frequently while spraying.

7. Spread diatomaceous earth around plants still infested after applying the insecticides. Surround individual plants and the entire garden area with the earth particles.

Tips & Warnings

• Always wear protective gardening clothes when coming into contact with potentially dangerous bugs. Wear gloves when handling diatomaceous earth.

References

• Earth Easy: Natural Garden Pest Control