Garlic, as well as onions and red peppers, are natural bug repellents.
Garlic, onions and red peppers are popular natural bug repellents used in home gardens, especially for those who don't want to use harmful chemicals or want an organic garden. The three plants are inter-planted around the garden next to the plants they can protect, a method known as companion planting. Homemade sprays can also be used to repel bugs, together or on their own. Does this Spark an idea?
Garlic
Garlic is effective in repelling aphids and is often planted near roses. It is also grown in a circle around apple and peach trees to keep borers and weevils away. Garlic is an effective tool against onion flies, Japanese beetles, potato beetles, black flies, carrot root flies and root maggots -- aiding carrots, celery, potatoes, cucumbers and peas.
Onion
Onions, like garlic, work well to repel aphids and fruit tree borers. Additionally, inter-plant onions with carrots, as they repel carrot rust flies. Onions are also effective at deterring whiteflies and weevils, and and are good companion plants for celery, leeks, beets, kohlrabi, strawberries, dill, lettuce, cabbage and tomatoes. Do not plant onions near beans and peas, as they can inhibit their growth.
Red Pepper
Red peppers planted in the same area as herbs, including parsley, basil, rosemary and marjoram help deter bugs and other pests from the area. Red peppers also protect tomatoes and carrots, and group well with cucumbers, eggplant, escarole, tomato, okra, Swiss chard and squash. Don't plant red peppers near beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower or fennel.
Sprays
Homemade sprays with garlic, onions and red peppers are effective bug repellents. A mixture of the three, steeped in water strained with a drop of dishwashing liquid, will help get rid of the flea beetle in addition to other insects. Concentrated garlic sprays help keep aphids, whiteflies and gnats away. Teas made from red chilli peppers are used as insect sprays.
Tags: onions peppers, Garlic effective, Homemade sprays, natural repellents, near beans