Soap has been used by gardeners as a reliable pesticide for centuries.
While any gardener would certainly want to deter pests from picking at his fruits, vegetables and flowers, he might not be so keen on the idea of spraying toxic pesticides on his garden in order to do so. In order to avoid this, avid home gardeners can use soap-based insecticides that they can easily make in the comfort of their own kitchens or gardening sheds. By making your own insecticide spray, you can rid your garden of pests without hurting your plants or yourself in the process. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Boil water in a small saucepan. Meanwhile, put your strong-smelling spices or herbs into the bottom of your canning jar. Once the water boils, pour it over the spices or herbs to the top of the jar and screw the jar's lid on tight. Allow the boiled water and spices/herbs to sit overnight.
2. Mix 1 qt. of water for every 1 1/2 tbsp. of liquid soap in a small, plastic pail. Mix the two well and then transfer to the plastic spray bottle, leaving about a quarter of the bottle empty for the spice/herb concoction.
3. Unscrew the lid of the mason jar and strain the spice/herb mixture after leaving it overnight, saving the potent liquid you've created. Gently pour this liquid into the plastic spray bottle, filling the remainder of the bottle. The rest should be the liquid soap and water mixture. Throw out any unused spice/herb mixture.
4. Spray the insecticide lightly over your garden's flowers, fruits, and vegetables with your homemade insecticide--the soap in the spray should dehydrate and kill any pests that are already in your garden, while the potent smell of the spices and herbs you've added to the mix should ward off any future insect invasions. You can spray directly on any pests you see.
Tags: spices herbs, spice herb, your garden, fruits vegetables, herb mixture, liquid soap, plastic spray