Natural Bug Repellent for Flowers
You may find your marigolds, tulips and other flowers pleasing to the eye. Bugs, on the other hand, find your flowers enjoyable for a whole other reason: they taste yummy. If bugs are turning your flower beds into all-you-can-eat salad buffets, treat your flowers with a natural bug repellent. Unlike commercially prepared chemical sprays, such repellents naturally defend your plants in a low- to nontoxic manner. Does this Spark an idea?
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Soap Spray
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The next time you wash your dishes, set aside some liquid dish soap as a potent bug zapper and bug repellent. The soap has a dual purpose: it kills bugs on contact while also leaving a bitter-tasting residue that repels future hungry bugs. To create a potent spray, combine 3 tbsp. dish detergent with a gallon of water. Reapply as needed, such as after an overhead watering session or after a heavy rain.
Diatomaceous Earth
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Diatomaceous earth may look like just a powder, but it presents sharp, microscopic edges to soft-skinned bugs. Dust the powder on the ground around your flower beds to keep pests like snails and slugs at bay. For caterpillars and similar soft-skinned bugs that are eating the flower plant's foliage, dust the diatomaceous earth directly on the plant. You can find this product in many health food stores, as well as in some general plant stores.
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Garlic Spray
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Garlic can lend a bit of zest to your favorite meals, and can also spice up your antibug defenses. This herb emits a powerful flavor and scent that many bugs, such as the ubiquitously annoying aphid, find terribly annoying. Throw 15 fresh garlic cloves into a blender with a pint of fresh water. Blend it and let the mixture soak overnight so that the blended garlic releases its oils. Strain out the solid garlic chunks and spray the infused water onto your flower plants.
Organic Sprays
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If you don't have time to mess with making your own bug repellent for your flowers, don't fret. In many nurseries and garden stores, you'll find organic pesticides. These all-natural products rely on natural, beneficial microbes, such as Bacillus thuringiensis, as well as natural horticultural oils like neem oil. Because they're all-natural, the sprays are also acceptable for certified organic gardens and farms. Thus, you can enjoy all the convenience of a commercially prepared bug repellent spray without the toxic side effects of most chemical products.
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