Pesticides help you keep your garden bug-free. But is exposing your home to dangerous chemicals worth the extra produce? Michelle Hinkley, lifestyle blogger and HomeAdvisor contributor, offers three all-natural recipes to keep your family safe and your garden bountiful.
Diatomaceous Earth Mix
Keep pesky insects and other unwanted visitors away from your garden with a mixture of Diatomaceous Earth, chili power and water.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- 1 cup of Diatomaceous Earth (Diatomaceous Earth is an organic, powdery mixture used as an insecticide. You can purchase Diatomaceous Earth at most lawn and garden stores).
- 1 tablespoon of chili powder
- 2 liters of water
Mix your ingredients together, whisk and let it sit over night. You can pour your mixture over or around your plants, or you can use a spritzer to give your garden a protective coating.
Hot Pepper Spritz
Spicy peppers are like kryptonite to most garden-foraging critters. Use peppers and household veggies to ward off pests.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Food processor
- 2 hot peppers (jalapenos, habaneros or serranos)
- 1 large onion
- 1 clove of garlic
- ¼ cup of water
Use a food processor to blend ingredients into a mash. Transfer the peppers and veggies to a bowl and add one gallon of hot water. Let the mixture sit for 24 hours. Strain the liquid into a spritzer and spray onto your garden when needed. Spread the pepper-vegetable mix around the base of your plants for added protection.
Soap and Orange Blend
Orange extract, water and dish soap create a safe, great-smelling pesticide that’s perfect for indoor use.
Here’s what you’ll need:
- Orange extract
- 1 tablespoon of dish soap
- Warm water
Pour your ingredients into a spritzer bottle and shake thoroughly. Your orange-based pesticide is a perfect guard against indoor pests. If you can’t find orange extract, use boiled orange rinds instead.
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