Pest Control Tips

Growing your own food can be a lot of fun, but when critters start eating your crops, it can make you want to quit! Below are some natural, organic, and creative ways to save your plants and get back to what you love. Best Repelling Plants – growing these around your plants can help repel hungry critters. 

• Catnip – prevents aphids, beetles, caterpillars, and shield bugs.
• Dill – prevents aphids, caterpillars, shield bugs and spider mites.
• Mint – prevents aphids, beetles, caterpillars, shield bugs and whiteflies.
• Nasturtium – prevents aphids, beetles, caterpillars, and shield bugs

Attract “good” bugs – by planting herbs that flower or some edible flowers, these plants can attract natural predators to help with pests. For example, Ladybugs and their larvae feed on aphids and other soft-bodied pests. Below are some examples,

• Thyme, Cilantro, Rosemary, Dill, and Marigold to name a few. 

For Snails and Slugs, placing cracked eggshells around your plants can help turn these pests away.  Laying coffee grounds around the perimeter to your plot or pots can help too.

Below are DIY Recipes for Sprays that can be used to fight pests! These are easy to make at home with natural products.

Organic pest Control Garden Spray Recipe – Makes one gallon

• 1 medium onion
• 4 cloves garlic
• 2 cups mint leaves OR 20 drops peppermint essential oil
• 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
• 2 tablespoons liquid castile soap (or biodegradable liquid dish soap)
• Water

Instructions: Place the onion, garlic, peppermint, and cayenne in a blender, and pulverize it. Allow the mixture to soak/steep for a couple of hours (optional, but do it if you can), then strain with a fine-mesh strainer. Add the onion/garlic mixture to a one-gallon contain (an old milk jug or vinegar jug will work), add the soap, and enough water to make one gallon. Pour into a spray bottle and spritz on any plants being attacked by bugs.Spray 1-2 times per week, or after heavy rain.

Insecticidal Soap + Neem Oil Spray for Most Insects
This recipe helps fight against aphids, mites, thrips, whiteflies, and other small, soft-bodied insects.

• 1 tablespoon of insecticidal soap
• 1 tablespoon of neem oil
• 1 gallon of water

Instructions: Using a funnel, pour all these items into a spray bottle and use as needed.

Tips for birds and Squirrels

Hang reflective ribbons, or reflecting items in trees. The flashes of light discourage them and scare them away. Below is a recipe for a Pepper based spray that helps keep them away.
Recipe: 

• Powdered red pepper (the hotter the better)
• Water
• Liquid soap.

Instructions: In a large jug, stir 2 tablespoons of the pepper into a gallon of warm water, then add six drops of liquid soap. Stir well, put the lid on and let it sit overnight. Use as needed, recommended to spray leaves and during evening hours to avoid damaging the plant.

If you have successfully tried something and it worked driving pest away, Please share it and we will add it to this helpful list. Email Diana Campos, dcampos.lacgc@gmail.com