Using Garlic as a Natural Pesticide

Everyone wants to have a safe garden, but insects certainly make it difficult. Insecticides can be used to keep pests away, but there is the risk of exposure to people. Many birds that eat the infected insects die as a result of ingesting insects that have been tainted with insecticide. Natural products can take a bit more time to use and formulate but they are worth the effort. Garlic is a very good all-purpose insect repellent that can be used in several different easy to ward off a myriad of pests.

Garlic in its simplest form is used to keep insects off of several plants. Companion planting, or placing plants together for a mutual benefit, works especially well with garlic. Plant garlic bulbs near lettuce to keep aphids away. Planting garlic near roses deters the formation of black spot and sooty mold. Tying garlic stems around the base of roses keeps aphids away. Plant garlic bulbs in a circle around fruit and flowering trees to keep borers that become beetles and moths away.

Planting garlic near beets and cabbage is even said to improve their flavor. Other plants that seem to have improved flavor by being near garlic are beets and tomatoes. Garlic will also keep red spider mites away from these plants. But not everything likes to be near garlic. It doesn't seem to cooperate well with beans, peas or potatoes.

Garlic spray is also very effective in keeping away moths, cutworms, earwigs and even mosquitoes. To mix up a batch, throw 2 bulbs of garlic in the blender with 2 cups of water. Liquefy this as smoothly as possible, and then pour through a strainer. Add enough room temperature water to make 1 gallon. Add a few teaspoons of olive oil to help the mixture adhere to plants. Let it sit for a few days before using to allow the garlic to permeate the mixture. Spray on roses to eliminate aphids or around lettuce or cabbage plants. You can also use garlic oil in place of sulpher sprays to help combat fungus problems

If you don't have time to mess around with homemade varieties of garlic repellant, try Garlic Barrier, a very strong liquid garlic extract that mixes with water and is sprayed on farm and garden plants to keep insects off. The garlic used in Garlic Barrier is a very powerful variety that the company refers to as "super garlic", which is much more potent than the garlic found in grocery stores. In addition to insects, the company says the product keeps deer, rabbits, birds and even armadillos form eating your garden out from under you.

http://www.cdcg.org/pests.html

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