Pest control

Home made

Home-made treatments

There are a number of commercially available pesticides that are certified for use in organic gardening, but it is also possible to make effective pesticides and deterrents using ingredients from your local grocery or health food store, or from what you have in the garden.

We often prefer to make our own treatments and sprays because

  • they are inexpensive
  • their strength can be adjusted
  • they can be made as needed
  • they generally have low toxicity

Take care not to harm beneficial insects

Care needs to be taken when using any of these treatments as in some cases they will harm beneficial insects as well as pests. For example, the larvae of hoverflies and lady beetles, which feed on soft-bodied insects such as aphids, also have soft-bodies and will be affected by contact sprays.

To minimise the effect on beneficials:

  • Don’t allow any sprays or powders to come into direct contact with the beneficials, although once they have dried on the plants they are harmless.
  • Try not to spray on flowers. Many beneficials  feed on nectar and pollen.
  • Don’t spray when beneficials are active e.g. bees are not around late afternoon, so this is a good time to spray flowering plants.

Planting to deter pests

Many insects can be deterred by incorporating plants with natural repellents into your garden. These plants have been given their own section, which can be accessed via the home screen.

Be aware that milk thistles attract aphids as a food source, so regularly removing them will make your life easier.

Trapping

Many pests come out only at night. Placing traps in the garden overnight is one way to get them when they are out and about.

Use food stuffs to attract the pests

  • Broad leaves or pieces of cardboard daubed with molasses or black treacle will attract and trap pests that are attracted to sugar.  
  • Pieces of raw potato and carrot will trap wire worms.
  • Orange or grapefruit cups left upside down
  • Lettuce and spinach leaves

These can just be placed on the ground and pests will either hide under them or be trapped.

Other traps

Leave a bucket of water under outside lighting.

Shallow containers of sugar water, honey, beer or dried yeast will also trap many pests.

Frequent reapplication is often needed

Pest insects have very short reproductive cycles allowing them to quickly build up their populations. In order to reduce or eradicate them, it is important to break their reproductive cycle. Few treatments seem have any effect on the eggs so we need to target pests after the eggs have hatched but before a new lot have been laid. The general frequency of application is at weekly intervals if you have an infestation. Few insects have an egg to adult time frame much less than this.

Furthermore, most of the sprays and treatments used in organics will either break down quickly or deteriorate in the sun; they also wash off more readily than chemical sprays. It is therefore necessary to repeat applications more often than with chemical sprays.

A couple of useful tips

It is best to make smaller quantities as required as they lose their potency quickly. If making more than needed at one time, store out of sunlight. 

It is a good idea to do a test spray on a few leaves to see if the plant is sensitive to the spray. Check leaves after a couple of days and if they have wilted or look burned, do not use the spray. The spray will still be effective if it is applied to the soil around these plants.

It is preferable not to spray during the warmest part of the day as some sprays may burn the leaves of the plants

To help sprays stay on the foliage  dish washing detergent is added as a ‘sticking or wetting agent’ to the mixture prior to application. We generally add 10 ml to a litre of liquid spray.

Where soaps are recommended it is best to use one which has a potassium base and no added chemicals.

Take care when handling ingredients

Always take care when handling these treatments as even the home-made ones such as chilli and garlic may cause irritations. It is important to follow the manufacturers’ instructions and recommendations on all commercial products.

Disclaimer

These treatments are a compilation of some of the products available to the organic gardener and are not guaranteed as fail-safe or 100% effective. No responsibility will be taken if a product proves to be ineffective as conditions and circumstances are variable.

Bug juice

Usage:   Deters many pests

Source:   Collected individuals of the same species or family. 

Preparation:  Take approximately ½ cup of the pest you are targeting, grind them up, and place in a bag made of cheese cloth or a similar material that will allow water to soak through. Cover with water and soak overnight. The resulting brew will be strong, so only a little needs to be used; 10 ml to a 10 L watering can.

To make a smaller measure, use 1 teaspoon of bugs soaked in 2 cups of water.

Application:  Spray on the same type of pest that the bug juice was made from.

How it works:  All insects carry their own pathogenic diseases which, when juiced and sprayed on infested plants, will provide a biological control. Also, being able to detect dead individuals of one’s own species often acts as an alarm, deterring the pests.

Chilli

Usage:  Aphids, snails, codling moth, white butterfly, caterpillars, wireworm and ants.

Preparation:  Boil 250 g of chopped chillies (with the seeds) in 1.5 litres of water for 10-20 minutes. Allow to cool then strain off the liquid. Dilute in 1.5 litres of water.

If using chilli powder- 1 ½ teaspoons powder to 1 litre of water.

Quantities can be varied to change the strength of the spray, however if it is too strong it may burn the leaves of plants.

Application:  Spray directly onto pests and also on plants as a deterrent. Do not spray in direct sunlight as this will increase the risk of burning the plant. Spray weekly or more often if it rains.

How it works:  It may be the capsaicin in chillies which harms pests or perhaps it’s just the smell and taste that they don’t like. Boiling the chillies extracts the capsaicin.

Effect on beneficials:  This spray is harmful to bees.

Comments:  Garlic and chilli are a good combination. See the information on garlic below.

Gloves are recommended when handling chillis

Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium)

Usage:   Wide range of pests

Preparation:  Boil 100 g of dried flowers in 1 L of water for 20 minutes, then strain.

Application:   Spray directly onto pests.

How it works:  This is the flower that produces the pyrethrum chemical (see the information on pyrethrum in the entry on commercially available treatments). Combine with neem oil to give more protection to the plant.

Effect on beneficials:  It will also harm beneficials if they are sprayed.

Comments:  This preparation will only last 2 months after which time it loses its potency.

Coffee grounds

Usage:   Slugs and snails

Source:   Any used coffee grounds e.g. home plunger or filter, or ask your local cafe. Instant coffee is not strong enough.

Preparation:  Add 1 cup coffee grounds to 10 litres of very hot water, stir, and allow to stand overnight. Pour off liquid and dilute  1 part liquid to 5 parts water. It will not be as effective if it is too weak.

Application:   Pour around plants.

The coffee grounds can be spread directly around plants but they can make the soil more acidic so it is best to dilute them using the method described above. Plants which like a lower pH (e.g. strawberries) will be fine with scattered coffee grounds.

How it works:   It is the caffeine that gets them. They absorb it as they slide over the coffee- a little will repel them and more will speed up their metabolism so much that it kills them.

Comment:   Coffee grounds also have many other beneficial properties for the garden. They contain nutrients that will benefit the plants, are a good soil conditioner and can be used as a foliar spray.

Flour

Usage:   Grasshoppers and caterpillars.

Preparation:   Use dry or as a paste mixed with water.

Application:   Smear paste over leaves, or dust dry flour over the pests if you can. Dry flour dusted on leaves will be blown away.

How it works:  Caterpillars- dry flour will suffocate and dehydrate them.
Grasshoppers - paste gets over them and will suffocate them as well as slow them down, making it easier for birds and other predators to catch them

Effect on beneficials:  Beneficials may also get bogged down with the paste.

Garlic

Usage:   Aphids, snails, codling moth, white butterfly, caterpillars, wireworm and ants.

Preparation:   Soak 4 crushed cloves in a litre of water for several days.

For a more potent spray use 2 garlic cloves and 6 chopped chillies blended together then added to a litre of water with 2 tablespoons of pure soap, preferably a potassium-based one (not detergent). Strain and dilute this in 5 litres of water.

These quantities can be varied to make a stronger or weaker solution.

Application:   Spray directly onto pests and on plants as a deterrent. Do not spray in direct sunlight as this will burn the plant.

How it works:   The strong odour and taste of garlic make it a really effective repellent,. If your spray is strong enough it will kill the small soft-bodied pests.

Effect on beneficials:  Could also be harmful to beneficial insects if they come in contact with it.

Comments:   Nettles and basil can also be added to the mix. Use hot water to bring out their compounds as you would for a tea.  

Herbal teas

Usage:   Many insects are repelled by specific herbs e.g. basil will repel aphids, peppermint will repel ants. See information in plants section for more examples.

Preparation:   Gather a couple of handfuls of leaves and place in a saucepan, cover with boiling water (for larger quantities – 500 g of plant in 5 litres of water) and soak for a few hours. Cover with the saucepan lid so that the oils do not evaporate. Allow the liquid to cool and add a small amount of detergent, then dilute to 1 part tea to 4 parts water.

Application:   Spray where the pest insect is likely to be.

How it works:   Will act as a deterrent to the insects that don’t like that particular herb.

Comments:   It is possible to buy an essence or oil extracted from some plants, which will work just as well. Use 10-15 drops in 1 L of water.

Milk

Usage:   Spider mites, aphids, and other soft-bodies insects.

Preparation:   Mix equal parts full cream milk and water.

Another recipe for two-spotted mite is mix 1/2 cup of flour and 1/2 cup of milk in 3 ½ litres of water

Application:   For mites, spray on plants, making sure to get right into the centre of the plant where the mites hide. This needs to be done every few days as they breed very quickly. For aphids, monitor how effective it is and spray as needed.

How it works:  Soft-bodied insects are unable to digest milk sugars and therefore acts like a poison. My understanding is that insects do not produce lactase in order to break down the lactose in milk. See note in comments.

Also, as it dries it will smother their breathing tubes, which are connected directly to the outside through holes along their abdomen.

Effect on beneficials:  It will also harm hover fly larvae. Generally once the milk has dried it will not harm beneficials.

Comments:   The milk may leave a white film on the leaves but this can be washed off.

Raw milk obtained direct from the farmer is good to use as a fungal spray, especially on powdery mildew. Yoghurt can work well too as it will also have the beneficial cultures which are thought to out compete the fungal spores. Another theory is that the proteins in milk react in sunlight and create an antiseptic, destroying the fungus. A solution of 1 part milk to 4 parts water is what we use.

Milk is also suggested as an additive to soil and compost as it contains amino acids, proteins, enzymes and natural sugars; all good microbial food.

NB: Experiment on cockroaches- H.S.Single-Department of Zoology and Entomology, Ohio State University analyzed digestive enzymes and found no lactase present.

Molasses

Usage:   Caterpillars, butterflies and moths, nematodes, aphids.

Source:   Some grocery and health food stores. Produce stores and co-operatives should also stock it.

Preparation:   Mix 2 tablespoons of molasses with 1 litre of water. Allow to cool and add a small amount of detergent.

Application:   Spray on leaves. Soak the ground around plants for nematodes.

How it works:   It is a mild insecticide as excessive levels of sugar will result in insect death particularly in the larval and nymph stages. Insects require a specific level of sugar (Journal of Experimental Biology-dietary sugar in insects). Caterpillars will drop off the plant while butterflies and moths will be deterred because it is sticky.

Another theory- plants emit wavelength frequencies which insects are able to detect, relating to the plant as a food source. Plants with a good mineral balance ie. healthy plants, emit a different frequency to those that have deficiencies. Those with a high Brix level (measure of sugar content) have a higher immunity to pests. Molasses increases the sugar levels in plants.

Effect on beneficials: Bees are able to process sugars so molasses is not harmful to them. We have not seen any detrimental effect to earthworms in our garden.

Comments:   Molasses will feed the beneficial bacteria in the soil, allowing their numbers to increase and, in turn, help balance other micro-organism ratios, creating a better environment for beneficial organisms and thereby reducing the populations of pest organisms.

Nicotine

Nicotine is often included as a home-made insecticide treatment, along with tomato leaves, which are related.

I have not included them as I believe they are too toxic. 

Onion

Usage:   Repels red spider mite and aphids.

Preparation:   Blend onions with skins until they reach a milky consistency. Dilute this by half.

Application:   Spray on plants regularly as a repellent.

How it works:   Insects don’t like the taste or smell.

Oranges

Usage:   Slugs, snails, mealy bugs, aphids and other soft-bodied insects. Lemon peel works for whitefly.

Preparation:   Chop or blend the peel from 1 orange, add 2 cups of boiling water and soak for 24 hours. Strain liquid and add a small amount of detergent.

Application:   Spray directly onto pest or on plants.

How it works:  As a contact spray, it destroys the waxy coating on scale and mealy bugs.  

Pepper

Usage:    General deterrent as well as insecticide soft-bodied insects such as larvae.  It is also an effective repellent for ants.

Preparation:   Buy ground or freshly grind your own as this may be stronger.

A mix of ½ teaspoon of ground pepper in a cup of warm water. Can be used as a spray.

Application:   Can be sprinkled around plants ‘neat’, or combined with flour to help disperse it.

How it works:   Insects don’t like the smell or taste of it. Insects are less likely to lay eggs on leaves sprayed. Works as a contact and stomach poison.

Effect on beneficials:   Harmful to bees.

Comments: Pepper is also a natural antibacterial and will help protect plants from some fungus and bacterial infections. 

Quassia chips

Quassia chips are bark chips from the Quassia tree (Picrasma excelsa), native to the West Indies.

Usage: Kills flies, red spider mite, aphids, caterpillars, small beetles and nematodes.

Source:   Nurseries, horticultural stores.

Preparation:   Add 1 tablespoon of quassia to1 litre of water, soak overnight, then bring to the boil and simmer for 30 minutes. Cool and strain. Add ½ teaspoon of biodegradable liquid detergent. The amount of chips can be increased for a stronger spray- one recipe suggested 100g to a litre of water. The chips can be reused but I’m not sure how strong they will be.

For aphids dilute 1 part quassia solution in 5 parts water.

For caterpillars dilute and 1 part quassia solution in 4 parts water

Application:   Spray on the ground around plants or directly onto leaves. It is not a good idea to spray the parts of the plant you want to eat as it is extremely bitter.

How it works:   It is a stomach poison that affects sucking and chewing insects. It will also act as a contact insecticide.

Effect on beneficials:   Don’t spray directly onto beneficial insects as it will harm them.

Comments:   It will also repel possums. It has been suggested that spraying on the buds of fruit trees may deter birds because of its bitterness. It is safe for humans and pets.

Preparation should be used straight away. It can be taken up by the plant systemically when sprayed around the stem.

Rhubarb

Rhubarb makes a very potent insecticide but it should not be used on food crops because of its toxicity.

I have not included it for this reason.

Soap

Usage:   Aphids and sucking pests.

Preparation:   Dissolve 250 g of common, pure laundry soap in 10 litres of water. If using a liquid soap (make sure it doesn’t contain chemicals), mix 5 tablespoons with 4 litres of water. Boiling water will dissolve the soap easier.

Application:   Spray on pests in the early morning or late afternoon as the liquid will not dry out as quickly as it would in the midday sun.
Hose the soap spray off shortly after spraying as the soap will damage the foliage. Repeat if the aphids still look lively.
Eggs may not be affected, so it could be necessary to spray again after a week to break the reproductive cycle.

How it works:   It dissolves the waxy external skeleton of the pest.

Tea

Usage:   Insects in general.

Preparation:   Soak used tea leaves in water for a couple of days. Strain liquid.

Application:   Spray foliage as well as the soil around plants. Do not put on plants that like more alkaline soil as it is acidic and may lower the soil pH.

How it works:   Natural insect repellent.

Comments:   The tannin and nutrients in tea are also good for plants.

White oil

Usage:   Sap-sucking and leaf-eating insects such as aphids and scale. Also mealy bugs and caterpillars.

Preparation:   Shake or blend 500 mL of vegetable oil (sunflower or coconut oil are good) with 125 mL dish washing detergent until mixture is combined and turns white. Dilute 1 part white oil to 10 parts water.

Application:   Spray directly onto pests. Avoid using it in hot weather or direct sunlight as it will burn the foliage. Don’t use too often as it will block the leaf pores hindering the growth of the plant.

How it works:   Suffocates insects by blocking the pores (spiracles) that they breathe through.

Comments:   This mixture will keep for 3 months. Horticultural oil is the commercial equivalent.

Wood ash

Usage:   A variety of pests, especially snails and slugs. Deters leaf-eating pests .

Source:   Ash from fireplaces and wood stoves

Application:   Sprinkle around plants sparingly and not close to the stems as it usually contains salts which could harm the plants. 

How it works:   A good deterrent, especially for pests such as snails that would have to “slide” over it. Moisture is drawn out of the pest when it comes into contact with the ash, effectively dehydrating them.

Comments: Wood ash contains liming properties so it will increase the pH of the soil. Do not sprinkle around plants that prefer low pH or if the soil is already alkaline. It also contains potassium. It is very soluble which makes it quick to react with the soil.  A good additive to the compost heap. It also contains potassium.