One of my favorite vegetables to grow is garlic.
Besides loving to eat food with lots of garlic in it, I also like to use garlic to help repel and kill damaging insects in my garden.
It isn’t only vampires that don’t like garlic – bugs don’t like it either. Garlic is toxic to bugs and it also helps to bacteria and harmful fungus from harming your plants.
Making your own garlic spray is a great organic tool for a healthy vegetable garden. So are you ready to battle damaging insects with garlic? Here is how to make your own garlic spray:
Garlic spray is made up of four ingredients: garlic, mineral oil, dish soap and water.
1. Add the 4 cloves of minced garlic to a tablespoon of mineral oil and let sit for 1 day.
2. Strain out the minced garlic and add the oil and 1 teaspoon of dish soap to a pint of water.
3. This ‘garlic mixture’ is in a concentrated form and must be diluted before use. Fill a spray bottle with 1 pint of water and then add 2 tablespoons of your concentrated ‘garlic mixture’. Shake to mix and you are ready to use your garlic spray.
4. Be sure to test your spray on a small hidden part of your plant(s) and wait for a day or two to make sure that there is no damage to the leaves. If there is yellowing or other damage, you can further dilute your garlic spray.
5. Spray where you see insect damage or where you see the bad bugs themselves. Bugs like to hide underneath leaves, so be sure to spray there as well as on the top and stems. (Garlic spray works especially well against aphids).
*Garlic spray will also kill beneficial insects, so use wisely.
So make some of your own garlic spray to get rid of the bad bugs in your garden. It’s effective, inexpensive, organic and easy to make!
To learn how to plant and grow you own garlic, check out the following post:
{ 13 comments… read them below or add one }
Will it kill or get rid of japanese beetles?
Yes
Great idea,
using garlic for bug spray since I have lots of it growing on the side of my yard.
I also add some powdered chilli and a dash of dishwashing liquid to the garlic tincture. It works a treat if you apply it regularly. Jacinta
Does it work for ants? If not, any ideas?
I but the garlic in the little jars that is already cooked. Add water to it in a sauce pan and boil. Cool and and put in a spray bottle. This also works on the Japaneze Beetles.Almost kills them instantly.
second word is buy
..I’d think with with the soap and an extra dose of garlic and some diluted salt, it’d be a useful “pepper spray” for an intruder into the home as well,, maybe add some white vinegar or bleach after boiling the concoction ,, be sure to get a leak proof spritzer or toy water pistol and aim for the eyes ,, that’ll give time to get the .38 or .45…
Yes I do have a problem and will definitely try this remedy. Will let you know how my plants are doing on Wednesday.
will it kill flies
This sounds like a good fix for many things. But I have a question of my own, please help?
Where do I go to ask questions on birds and gardening? I have looked all over and have not found a place to ask.
Sorry I don’t know what you mean? I’m new to this.
will it kill colorado beettles
{ 2 trackbacks }