Through sustainable gardening, we’ve found another way to save our planet. We seem to have suddenly awoken from a coma; after spending long centuries damaging our environment, we’re finally ready to make a change.
Green thumbs know how much plants and the soil need fertilizers to survive. However, we also know that store-bought ones are not always organic with their chemical components. We know better than to use these options, especially in large quantities. This is why we compost our kitchen waste, one of the freebies for sustainable gardening.
Pest and bug infestations also occur and are enough to discourage even the strongest of us when the havoc they wreak gets out of hand. If you’re growing a plant that a rodent finds mouthwatering, it may destroy all your hard work to get to it. Of course, you can also expect that other rodents will come along.
Since sustainable gardening frowns at anything that involves putting chemicals on the soil, we need alternatives that are just as effective at repelling pests. This article will explore three of them, so please stay with us!
DISH SOAP
Now, you need the perfect proportion of dish soap and water that’s just enough to repel pests but not strong enough to kill your plants. Experts recommend putting dish soap inside a spray bottle and spritzing some on the leaves the bugs frequently disturb. If you don’t have dish soap, you can use castile soap. Avoid spraying the leaves when the sun is fully out. This natural remedy is excellent for aphids, beetles, mites, and whiteflies.
VEGETABLE OIL
You can also use vegetable oil to dissuade bugs from coming to the garden. You’ll follow a process similar to the one we used above, but you’ll be mixing vegetable oil with the dish soap this time. Add a tablespoon of dish soap and vegetable oil into a spray bottle. Then, add some water to this mixture, shake well, and spray on the leaves that the bugs land on often. Ensure the leaves are well covered, and since you’re combining oil and other fluids, you’ll have to stop occasionally to give the bottle an additional shake. This natural remedy is fantastic for fighting mites, beetles, aphids, and thrip.
PYRETHRIN
Pyrethrin is a natural insect killer, and you can buy them as ready-made products from a store. It comes in a spray bottle. Alternatively, you can make your own at home – You need the flowers of the Pyrethrin Daisy to make it. Get into your protective gear – gloves, goggles, and a mask, and grab some dried Pyrethrin leaves. Grind them in a blender until they become powder. Then, add some water and some drops of dish soap. Then, pour the solution into a spray bottle and spray a considerable amount on the leaves you want to protect.
CONCLUSION
Tending a garden without relying on environmentally harmful substances and practices is relatively easy. All the suitable substitutes are just under your nose, and most times, more affordable options.