Have you been seeing holes in the leaves of your plants in the backyard? Well, I do believe that you have some unwelcome company who are competing to eat your fresh produce. Common pests include moths, caterpillars, flies, beetles, grasshoppers and slugs. One insect I recommend you keep in your garden, however, is the lady bug which feeds on invading insects.

Care must be taken in quickly eradicating the population of these pests. They not only do damage the foliage, but they may introduce plant diseases. Here are some relatively inexpensive and environmentally friendly pesticides to use in your garden.

Insecticidal Soap Spray

Soap is an effective all-purpose pesticide. Furthermore it is less detrimental to the environment than commercial pesticides.  It can be used on vegetables up to harvest.

Soap spray is effective due to the sodium/potassium salts and fatty acids content which dehydrate the pests. However, too much soap may dry the plants as well. Make sure to use liquid soap and not detergents, which are more acidic and harmful to the vegetation. Also avoid spraying the garden during hot, sunny periods of the day.

How to Make
Combine 1-2 tablespoons liquid soap and 1 quart water in a bucket. Mix, then transfer to a spray bottle as needed.

Vegetable Soup Spray

How to Make

1. Combine 2 small onions, a scotch bonnet pepper and a clove of garlic to a gallon of water.
2. Add cut vegetable or peels to the pot.
3. Strain the liquid into a container. Preferably use a cloth to remove all sediments which may block the spray nozzle.
4. Add 2 tablespoons of dish soap to the liquid.

Salt Spray

Salt has been used for centuries to cure food. Why not apply the drying potential of salt to killing pests?  The salt-water solution is used for cabbageworms and spider mites.

How to Make 
Just mix 2 tablespoons of salt to 1 gallon of water.

Dead Bug Spray

Have you ever heard the saying “Cock mouth kill cock”? Well let’s turn it around and let dead bugs kill bugs. Simply collect dead bugs, crush them up and mix with water. Strain the mix so that it will flow out of a spray bottle.

Self-rising Flour

To protect your vegetable patch from cabbage worms, dust cabbage with self-rising flour in the morning.  The worms will eat the flour, and it will expand and kill them as the day warms up.

How to Make
If you don’t have or wish to purchase self-rising flour for pesticide purpose, just add 1y teaspoons of baking powder and 1/2 teaspoon of salt to a cup of all-purpose flour. Mix well.

Slugs Spray

Mixing 1 part ammonia and 1 part water will kill the slugs damaging your vegetables. Additionally, the ammonia will turn to nitrogen and feed the plants. You couldn’t have asked for a better combination!

Plant Repellents

Some flowers and vegetables contain chemical properties that naturally repel insects. By simply planting these among you garden crop will help to keep unwanted insects away. Try these along the hedge of the beds or make them staple plants in the garden.