• Categories
  • Farming Articles
    • Animals
      • goats
      • sheep
      • chickens
      • natural care
      • farm planning
      • diy projects
    • Gardening
      • soil & seeds
      • fruits
      • vegetables
      • garden design
      • natural methods
    • Health
      • nutrition
      • wellness
      • natural solutions
      • Resources
    • Food
      • lifestyle
      • recipes
      • meal plans
      • preserving
    • Life
      • farm
      • funny
      • diy home
      • homeschool
      • how to blog
  • Our Herd Website
  • Resources
  • Merchandise
  • Shop Oils
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

Weed 'em & Reap

Urban Farming. Healthy Living.

My Organic Garden Pest Control

Published: September 16, 2013 | Last Updated: October 7, 2019 194 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links from which I will earn a commission.

Organic Garden Pest Control

I’m proud to announce that my fall garden is goin’ strong, thanks to my natural garden pest control!

I’ve got my soil composted, organic heirloom seeds planted, labels painted, and my day laborers (a.k.a. the children) weedin’ like nobody’s business.

It’s the stuff of dreams, man. Being a natural person, I wanted to go for only organic garden pest control. My garden was doing fine in the beginning, and then came that little pesky problem…

close up shot of garden

Bugs.

 

garden plant leaf demaged by bugs

And more bugs.

 

leaf and stem demaged by bugs

Seriously, how rude are these bugs? Geez, it’s like they don’t even care that I have a blog or anything.

“Hello! I need my garden to be flawless so everybody thinks I’m perfect and I never have any problems!”

Luckily for these bugs, I don’t believe in pesticides. I’ve had many people recommend all sorts of chemical-laden products. But I decided long ago that this garden was going to be au naturale, dang it! My natural garden pest control will knock those bugs off their feet!

Today’s organic garden pest control recipe is a great natural deterrent for those inconsiderate bugs in your garden. Take it from me when I say this stuff works! It uses garlic, cayenne pepper, onion (and a secret ingredient) to deter the bugs. I use homemade soap to help the spray adhere to the leaves. 

For those “special” bugs in your life:

Start by placing 4 cups of filtered water, 1/2 onion, 2 garlic cloves, & 1/4 tsp. of cayenne pepper (or any other kind of hot pepper) in a pot. Bring to a boil.

boiling pot with garlic cloves, onion, and cayenne pepper

Grate about 1/4 bar of soap. I used my homemade soap recipe here, but you can use any natural soap you like. Seriously, any natural soap like this one (even a cheap one!) is fine.

grated soap

Once your pot of goodies is boiling, just add that soap right in. Stir while cooking an additional 2 minutes or so, and remove it from heat when the bubbles start to rise.

boiling pot with garlic cloves, onion, soap and cayenne pepper

Cover it with a lid and let it all sit together for about 20 minutes.

boiling pot with lid

Once it cools, strain it and put it in a heavy duty spray bottle like this one. 

I’ve been spraying this organic garden pest control on my plants about once a week and it seems to do the trick during those mild months. Also, it won’t leave a residue or flavor on your plants. Since it’s made from real food ingredients, it’s a good idea to store it in the fridge.

What kind of bugs will this spray deter?

I’ve noticed that this organic garden pest control can deter a moderate amount of cutworms, potato bugs, spiders, aphids, caterpillars, ants, aphids, slugs, snails, & squash bugs. 

Need an even stronger organic garden pest control option?

During a heavy bug season (during the late summer for us Arizona folks) I’ve noticed that I need a stronger pest spray. I have had incredible results from using essential oil garden sprays. Essential oils have potent properties that deter bugs when you’re dealing with a big infestation in the garden. Watch my free class on which combination of essential oils is best!

WATCH MY CLASS NOWClick here to watch my
WATCH MY CLASS NOW 
 

organic pest control spray in garden

 

 Can I get a ‘woot woot’ for organic gardening?

 

 

My Organic Garden Pest Control

  • 194 Comments
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Pin
  • Email
  • Text

ABOUT DANELLE

DaNelle started to take an interest in a healthier lifestyle after suffering from two debilitating chronic diseases. On a mission to create a farm of her own, DaNelle forced, or rather 'lovingly persuaded' her husband to purchase a ranch home on an acre of land and transform it into their very own urban farm. DaNelle blogs at Weed 'em & Reap where she writes about the sustainable backyard farming, traditional food, & natural remedies.

Read More
How to Create a Custom Homestead on ANY size of Land!
From Picky Eater to Food Feaster: How I got my stubborn kid to love ALL FOODS.

Comments

  1. Nicholas Martin says

    July 11, 2019 at 4:57 am

    Thanks for this article. Now I only want to know how to apply any of these oils to protect my garden from ants. The best solution I found for now is diatomaceous earth.

    Reply
    • Bobbi says

      July 11, 2019 at 11:49 am

      Hi Nicholas-

      DaNelle’s homemade pest spray should work on ants: https://www.weedemandreap.com/natural-pesticides/
      Or you can use straight peppermint oil.

      Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)

      Reply
  2. Darlene says

    July 2, 2019 at 2:45 pm

    Did you strain the veggies before adding at soup and putting this mixture into the spray bottle??

    Reply
    • Bobbi says

      July 3, 2019 at 5:16 pm

      Hi Darlene-
      After it sits for the 20 minutes and cools, then you strain it and put it into the spray bottle.
      Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)

      Reply
  3. Tree Expert in Bloomington says

    June 17, 2019 at 7:12 am

    Wow! I admire your patience to use organic solutions to big, frustrating problems like bugs. Thanks for sharing that easy recipe. Will surely try that once I commit to going all natural with pest solutions soon. Thanks for the inspiration.

    Reply
  4. Regina gallegos says

    May 21, 2019 at 1:33 am

    What can I do about the gophers that are eating all the roots of my squash plants??

    Reply
    • Bobbi says

      May 21, 2019 at 3:02 pm

      Hi Regina-
      The first step you need to take is making sure you are dealing with gophers and not some other critter such as voles.
      If you are pretty sure they are gophers than you can try some of the options mentioned in this article: https://extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/default/files/documents/12281/managinggophers.pdf

      I hope that helps! Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)

      Reply
  5. Laura Ibiene Kiri-Kalio says

    February 8, 2019 at 11:08 am

    will this mixture of pepper, onions, garlic and castille oil drive away/harm or kill the bees that i need to pollinate my watermelon plants

    Reply
    • Bobbi says

      February 9, 2019 at 6:51 am

      Hi Laura-
      Yes, pepper sprays can deter beneficial pollinators. So, when using pesticides, even natural ones, do so because your garden is truly being overrun and damaged by unwanted pests and spraying is the best solution.
      If you do choose to use the spray there are some things you can do to mitigate its affects. Spray plants when pollinators are less active (nighttime) and look to attract pollinators in others was such as using the pollinator attractant describe in this article: https://www.weedemandreap.com/natural-pesticides/
      And also creating a space to attract pollinators like in this article: https://www.weedemandreap.com/grow-butterfly-garden/

      I hope that helps!
      Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)

      Reply
  6. Anna A Johnson says

    May 31, 2018 at 10:34 am

    I used a vinegar, peppermint oil, cayenne solution on my plants. My spray bottle wasn’t working. I got impatient, and sprinkled the concoction around. After awhile, my plants had discolored spots? Did I ruin them?

    Reply
    • Bobbi says

      June 1, 2018 at 7:03 pm

      Hi Anna-
      I’m really sorry about your plants. It’s best not to spray vinegar on your plants. It can damage the foliage especially if temperatures are above 80 degrees and/or the vinegar is not diluted enough. To help your plants, be sure to rinse them off, lightly shade them to keep them from getting sunburned, trim the dead and damaged leaves, and check and make sure your soil pH isn’t too acidic. Hopefully with a little time and TLC they will come back.
      I hope that helps. Best of luck with your plants.
      Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)

      Reply
  7. Mandy says

    May 20, 2018 at 1:11 am

    Can I use fresh chilli instead of cayenne pepper ? I have a lot that Ive grown and would like to use the imperfect ones up ! I have made and used this receipe and it works great!

    Reply
    • Bobbi says

      May 20, 2018 at 6:57 pm

      Hi Mandy-
      Yes, you can use the chili peppers. Glad the recipe works for you!
      Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)

      Reply
      • Becky says

        May 22, 2018 at 6:54 pm

        Can you use red pepper flakes? That’s all I have at the moment

      • Bobbi says

        May 22, 2018 at 7:38 pm

        Hi Becky-
        Yes, I believe those should work too.
        Thanks -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)

  8. John Billows says

    June 15, 2017 at 5:10 pm

    I would have never thought to use grated soap as a pest control. I’ll have to try creating the soap soup you have the recipe for to see if I can control the bug problem I have in my garden. Ever since I planted my garden 2 months ago the bugs in my neighborhood have made it open season in my backyard.

    Reply
  9. Traci says

    April 25, 2017 at 10:29 am

    If we spray this on our garden, will it also deter bees and other pollinators that are WANTED?

    Reply
  10. Nell says

    August 22, 2016 at 3:07 am

    Perfect ! This is what I was looking for, much better than buying those allergic pesticides from Walmart. Not a pro gardener but love to grow and beautify plants in my backyard. 😀

    Reply
  11. Meghan Schrock says

    July 24, 2016 at 3:57 pm

    Thanks! I meant does it harm any spiders, bugs etc?

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      August 1, 2016 at 10:17 pm

      Nope, it just deters them:)

      Reply
      • Emma says

        October 11, 2016 at 7:18 pm

        Can you use dish soap? If so how much?
        Thxs, Emma:)

      • Henry says

        March 20, 2018 at 8:58 am

        The spray help indoor plants too and the flower plants help too?

      • Bobbi says

        March 20, 2018 at 10:41 am

        Hi Henry-
        Yes, it can help both of those. Thanks -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)

  12. Meghan Schrock says

    July 19, 2016 at 12:57 pm

    This doesnt kill anything right? Just a deterrent? Good info!

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      July 24, 2016 at 9:50 am

      Yes, just a deterrent, it hasn’t killed any plant I’ve sprayed it on:)

      Reply
  13. Marie says

    July 3, 2016 at 10:13 am

    Hi how often should I use the spray?

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      July 4, 2016 at 6:32 pm

      I use it about once a week, more if there are more bugs:)

      Reply
  14. fan says

    June 15, 2016 at 9:46 pm

    Hi,
    I like your post, May i know if it will still work without putting any essential oil ?

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      June 19, 2016 at 7:52 am

      It still works fairly well without:)

      Reply
  15. Marie says

    June 6, 2016 at 11:22 am

    Does this solution need to be diluted or sprayed full strath on garden plants?

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      June 12, 2016 at 8:48 pm

      Sprayed full strath:)

      Reply
  16. Jana says

    May 26, 2016 at 7:22 am

    Thank you for the tips buy I’m bit concerned about adding soap to the pest spray. There is Lye in it and the bottle clearly says it’s poison and it’s used to clear clogged drains. How to avoid that? Thanks.

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      June 3, 2016 at 2:43 pm

      Lye isn’t poisonous or harmful after the saponification process that happens when soap is made.

      Reply
  17. Andrew says

    March 31, 2016 at 6:26 am

    Does this work for rabbits and squirrels, or do you have a different remedy for that?

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      April 19, 2016 at 8:28 pm

      Yes! I have more solutions here: https://www.weedemandreap.com/natural-solutions-garden/

      Reply
  18. April says

    March 18, 2016 at 6:24 am

    How do I order oils from you?
    Thank you for recipe☺

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      March 20, 2016 at 9:46 pm

      Hi April,

      You can purchase them here! https://www.weedemandreap.com/get-essential-oils

      Reply
  19. Julia says

    March 12, 2016 at 11:55 am

    I followed the link to your “Repellent” blend of oils for the spray. I do not see anything there called “Repellent.” Is that product still available, has it changed it’s name? Is there a substitute we could use? Would really like to make this and get my spring garden started! I was a little disappointed with my garden from last year, so I’m going to give it another shot and pests were one of my issues.

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      March 12, 2016 at 10:31 pm

      Sorry about that Julia! The trade name for it is TerraShield

      Reply
  20. Jason says

    January 15, 2016 at 8:27 am

    Thanks for sharing…this is a great recipe!

    Reply
  21. Sakthy says

    January 13, 2016 at 11:29 pm

    Hi DaNelle,
    I am sakthy from India, recently i saw your blog and find much informative. Thanks for sharing . I have a question plz answer me when u get time. How may day once we need to use this spray for the plants?

    -Sakthy

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      January 17, 2016 at 8:04 pm

      I usually do every other day:)

      Reply
  22. Julie says

    August 3, 2015 at 11:29 am

    I would love to learn soooo much more – I need to learn how to make my own natural bug repellent for the family to use. Any suggestions?

    Reply
  23. Elizabeth says

    July 20, 2015 at 9:02 am

    Hello, thanks so much for the recipe, my dahlias are being eaten alive and I need something to help them but hate using chemicals. I’m still waiting though for the email with where to buy the repellent oil. Also do you have an all natural mircale grow recipe? With the late spring my plants are all very stunted and I’d like to give them a boost because at this rate the first frost will be here before a flower ever appears.
    Thanks for any help

    Reply
  24. Barb says

    July 13, 2015 at 7:07 pm

    I am so excited to have found this non chemical ‘bug b gone’ recipe. 2 questions: is it safe for free range chickens and could I use dawn liquid soap. Thanks!!

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      July 26, 2015 at 5:59 pm

      Yes and Yes!

      Reply
  25. Amanda Bryan says

    July 8, 2015 at 6:42 pm

    I was wondering how much of the repellent blend to add to water for an insect repellent. The mosquitos are crazy right now!

    Reply
  26. Beth says

    June 29, 2015 at 10:56 am

    It was a homemade lye soap

    Reply
  27. Darlyn says

    June 23, 2015 at 8:16 am

    Help I have goffers eating my new shoots on my strawberries. Could you
    offer some advice on repelling them. My owl does not work

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      June 27, 2015 at 10:33 pm

      Hmmm, I’m not an expert on gophers. Sorry!

      Reply
  28. Beth says

    June 22, 2015 at 6:11 am

    I made this and it gelled? Did I put too much soap? Or let it cook too long?

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      June 27, 2015 at 10:34 pm

      Hi Beth, it could have been the soap you used. What brand did you use?

      Reply
  29. michael atwell says

    June 13, 2015 at 7:51 pm

    I am looking for a good, safe way to keep squirrels & chipmunks from my patio garden. Early in the year when I have sprouts and seedlings just starting, I go out in the morning to find holes in the soil with plants either completely missing, or lying beside the freshly dug hole, roots up! I start most of my flowers and vegetables from seeds that I have harvested the previous year. I do buy a few, for I like to try unusual plants, just to see if I can succeed. Any way, I invest lots of time, and sometimes it is so disappointing, I’m ready for some squirrel stew. Some things I have tried are human hair, pet hair(dog), cayenne pepper, blood meal, bone meal, bone & blood meal. these critters seem to like everything I give them. My latest is plastic forks, tines up. I just did that today, so I don’t know if it works or not. Help!

    Reply
    • Marsha says

      June 15, 2015 at 12:38 pm

      This is a link for a critter repellent cage to grow veggies in 300 sq ft and not too expensive to make: https://growyourowngroceries.org/the-advanced-tree-rat-defense-system/

      Reply
  30. Rori says

    May 29, 2015 at 3:29 pm

    I was wondering, I recently bought some ‘Kiss My Face’ brand pure olive oil soap that is fragrance free. Would that work for the soap part of this recipe?

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      June 28, 2015 at 10:14 am

      Sure!

      Reply
  31. Vickie says

    May 28, 2015 at 11:52 pm

    thank you, great post. Dose it work on apple trees.

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      June 28, 2015 at 10:18 am

      Yes!

      Reply
  32. Courtney says

    May 27, 2015 at 8:14 am

    I have the essential oil blend. How many drops to you think I need to add to just water for bug spray on just me and the kids?

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      June 28, 2015 at 10:20 am

      You can put it straight on the skin, as it’s already diluted a bit, but I like to mix with witch hazel and put in a spray bottle I’ll put an entire bottle of it in a 16 oz. spray bottle with witch hazel.

      Reply
  33. Christine says

    May 20, 2015 at 8:03 am

    OMG, this concoction smells so bad I almost threw up pouring it into my spray bottle! I used crushed red pepper flakes bc that’s what I had on hand and my natural soap is lavender scented so you can imagine why it smelled so terrible. Hopefully it works, this is my first year doing a vegetable garden so let’s hope for the best.

    Reply
  34. sito web says

    May 11, 2015 at 9:57 pm

    This is a great post! So helpful.

    Reply
  35. anne says

    May 1, 2015 at 1:13 pm

    Does it also repel pollinators? I’m nervous to spray it on my flowering vegetables…..do you think it’ll be ok?

    Thanks,

    Reply
  36. Bianca says

    April 28, 2015 at 2:05 pm

    Wonderful information. I have a heavy earwig infestation all over my yard. Will this recipe work to eradicate them? Also any suggestion on ridding powdery mildew from pumpkin and cucumber plants other than milk and water? I’m vegan so I really don’t like to have to buy milk! Thank you again for your information.

    Reply
  37. Sarahjane says

    April 23, 2015 at 8:10 am

    I have to look up the article that I read regarding the toxic plants that are insect repellents but I do know that among them is eucalyptus.

    Reply
  38. alison says

    April 23, 2015 at 8:05 am

    which of the constituents in the essential oil blend recommended for insect repellant is of concern for dogs? I read also in this blog that the product could be used as a tick/flea repellant for dogs.

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      May 8, 2015 at 9:32 pm

      Hi Alison,

      All of the essential oils in the TerraShield blend are considered safe for pets:)

      Reply
  39. Anneke says

    April 21, 2015 at 9:18 pm

    Thank you for you Natural Garden Pest Control recipe I can’t wait to try it but I have 2 dogs and I was wondering if it could hurt them in any way and if so is there anything else you can recommend also what can I use on them for fleas? Thanks for any help you can give.

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      May 8, 2015 at 9:36 pm

      Hi Anneke,

      This mixture is safe for dogs:) For fleas, you can use a drop of the Terrashield blend on their collar:)

      Reply
  40. Ella Gene says

    April 21, 2015 at 9:54 am

    DaNelle,

    Thanks for this recipe; this is just what I’ve been looking for! Have something eating all the green leaves on my Dahlias. Just one question – Can I make this WITHOUT the soap? Will it still work? Let me know when you get a chance. Thank you.
    Ella

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      May 8, 2015 at 9:37 pm

      Hi Ella,

      The soap helps the solution attach to the leaves, but feel free to leave it out and see how it does:)

      Reply
  41. alison says

    April 19, 2015 at 8:28 am

    Would this recipe repel deer from eating plants ALL over my property? Or, do you have a recipe for this purpose. I’m going to try your recipe to start with for garden plants. Also I noticed people saying that the end product would solidify. If you’re using shaved soap in the recipe, once it is cooled in the frig, it makes sense that it would get hard. What’s the trick to that?
    Love your generosity in sharing your wisdom–very grateful. Thanks so much.

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      April 19, 2015 at 9:07 pm

      Haven’t used it on deer yet so I’m not sure, but it’s definitely non-toxic if you’re concerned about that:)

      Reply
      • Jodi R says

        April 20, 2015 at 5:11 am

        i have heard human hair is a natural deterrent. Maybe check with a local barber or hair salon and ask them to gather their clippings for a week. Simply scatter around th perimeter of the areas they bother. Good luck.

    • Tammie says

      June 13, 2015 at 5:31 pm

      Human hair works for about 60 days. I put it in old stockings and hang in on my plants. But, it has to be replaced regularly cause the human scent goes away. This year I read somewhere that strips of white cloth tied on the plants makes the deer think its the underside of the tail of another deer, which is a warning sign for them. I tried that this year (used old t-shirts of the hubs and tore them in strips). So far, so good. They usually destroy the leaves on our fig tree as they come out, but they haven’t touched it at all.

      Reply
  42. lynette henderson says

    April 18, 2015 at 11:15 pm

    Thank you so much. I have a very bad sinus problem that simply cant tolerate those commercial brand pesticides and ido love the garden , but ha e had so little success because of not enough nutrients to the soil or plaques of ravenous insects . I have banana tree that could be unlucky enough to fall victim to a bug that is going through the farms up north of this state. Ithasruined that industry before a d the bananas had to be imported and so the cycle started all over again. I am hoping to miss out on it by using an old remedy. It entails pouring buckets of water from the washing machine a few times a week.My old Mother in law now deceased, did it to her trees years ago and saved them. Thank you so much cause this recipe for pest control is going to be a Godsend to me. As I live in Australia in Queensland we do have a lot of summer bugs and they all have an appetite for anything that grows in the garden. Midges Aphids , lace bugs , caterpillars, fruit flies , and heaps more.We also have a bug that eats leaves but is also attracted to white clothing and linen on the clothes line. It draws the water out of the item its on but leaves a big yellow stain when it’s finished its time on the bit of white clothing or sheets. Once again, thank you for this help I do appreciate it greatly.All the best. Lyne

    Reply
  43. Kakie Duren says

    January 26, 2015 at 7:52 am

    Where can I purchase a bottle of Terrashield. Every time I hit the Weedemandreap.com website it does not bring anything up.

    Thank-*you,
    Kakie Diuren

    Reply
    • Carly says

      June 14, 2015 at 11:39 pm

      I’m not an employee or connected with any store but, Whole Foods is the only place that I know that might carry Terrashield. I hope there is a store near you. If you are too far away, I think they will ship it to you, if you look online. They may have a mail order website.

      Reply
  44. Maroula says

    December 31, 2014 at 10:55 pm

    Hi there,
    I’ve just made potion, I left it out over night and it has solidified.
    I was afraid to put it in the spray bottle for the fact that I wont be able to spray it?
    And if it goes in the fridge wont it be worse?

    Can you please help?

    What do you use the potion you made for?
    You’ve listed other ways you use Terrashield; is that with the mix you made on the stove?

    And lastly can you use it on your bed as a deterrent?

    Thank you so much and I really look forward in hearing from you,
    Maroula

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      January 25, 2015 at 10:27 pm

      Hi Maroula,

      I only use this spray in the garden, and I’m actually pretty surprised that it solidified. Terrashield is used separately for the other things listed.

      Reply
  45. plants for privacy says

    November 21, 2014 at 3:59 pm

    If some one wishes to be updated with latest technologies then he
    must be go to see this web page and be up to date all the time.

    Reply
  46. Annie says

    July 10, 2014 at 9:16 am

    Will this work without the your favorite brand of oil?

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      July 22, 2014 at 7:03 am

      Sure! I’ve found the oil gives it a boost, but I’ve made it without as well:)

      Reply
  47. Elizabeth Beattie says

    June 21, 2014 at 6:55 am

    The above recipe sounds easy and I’m going to make it today. The only thing not mentioned is “what time of day to you apply it to the garden. I’m new at this, so could really use your help.

    Thanks in advance

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      June 22, 2014 at 4:51 pm

      Anytime is fine:)

      Reply
  48. Barb Whittemore says

    June 18, 2014 at 7:27 am

    I am a 4-H leader, and our club works extensively with gardening. They each have raised beds and we coordinate a community garden with our local church youth group. This year we are making many of the products for our garden as additional projects. These recipes are wonderful, just what I have been looking for.

    Reply
  49. Ret J. says

    June 15, 2014 at 10:24 pm

    If I don’t have your favorite brand, but do have a good variety of essential oils, which ones would you recommend I try?

    Thanks!

    Reply
    • Ret J. says

      June 23, 2014 at 9:39 am

      To clarify, I meant if I don’t have your favorite brand‘s Terra Shield, but do have a good variety…

      I tried this without any essential oils a few days ago and it hasn’t stopped the ants (they just walk right over it) from munching on the leaves. I also found that something (in just a few hours) chomped down on my bell peppers’ leaves. I found 3 or 4 catepillars/worms cocooned on the underside of some of the leaves. I pruned those off and threw them away.

      Any suggestions?

      Reply
      • DaNelle Wolford says

        July 8, 2014 at 3:34 pm

        I know for sure that ants hate Peppermint!

  50. Jeani Scott says

    June 13, 2014 at 9:37 am

    This is great! Thank you for posting. I am a new user to your favorite brand and just got TerraShield so I am happy to read this on how to use. I do have grapes and fruit trees that this will work on. Can you use your remedy on flowering plants as well?

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      June 22, 2014 at 5:04 pm

      Yes!

      Reply
  51. Linda Lou says

    June 3, 2014 at 12:32 pm

    Does this recipe do away with grasshoppers? If not, What will? Please tell us how we can use this recipe in a hose end sprayer. My garden is too big for a squirt bottle.

    Reply
    • Lisa says

      June 6, 2014 at 1:40 pm

      Linda, here’s a quick-and-dirty math conversion to make a more concentrated version of this recipe to use in your hose-end sprayer. Spraying at an 8oz per gallon rate, you would need to brew up a solution 16x as strong. So, 8 onions, 32 cloves garlic, 4 tsp hot pepper in 4 cups water – except that you won’t fit that many onions into 4 cups of water! :-/ You would have to use more water, just to cover the onions, and then after removing the onions, you would need to slowly boil it down to concentrate it. Then add maybe a whole bar of grated soap and 80 drops of essential oil, to end up with roughly 1 quart of the concentrate to spray through the hose-end spayer @ 8oz/gallon setting.

      Reply
      • DaNelle Wolford says

        June 8, 2014 at 10:13 am

        This is great, thanks!

    • DaNelle Wolford says

      June 8, 2014 at 10:31 am

      Hmmm, I’m not sure about grasshoppers. Sorry, I wish I could be more help!

      Reply
  52. Eva says

    May 30, 2014 at 8:02 am

    Thank you! I needed this recipe.

    Reply
  53. Eugene says

    May 18, 2014 at 9:32 pm

    Awesome post! Gardening is an awesome hobby and it’s very rewarding when you grow your own veggies. But pest control is a big PITA, thank Mother Nature for her goodies that also keep the bugs and critters at bay.

    Reply
  54. Kelly Vaughn says

    May 17, 2014 at 12:55 pm

    Hi,
    I followed your recipe and mine did not turn dark brown like your picture for the bug spray, did I miss an ingredient?
    Thanks Kelly

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      May 18, 2014 at 9:51 am

      I’m not sure Kelly. I did leave the skin on my onion, maybe that made a difference.

      Reply
  55. Nella says

    May 13, 2014 at 11:56 pm

    Hi, I am new to all of this, so I have a few questions. Can Dr. Bronner’s Castille bar soap be used? I had heard that spraying certain things on plants can burn them with direct sunlight. Is there a best time of day to spray so that the plants aren’t burned in the sun? Can it be sprayed directly on leaves? What about directly on flowers? Does it work with cabbage worms? What about beneficial insects like bees? I know, a lot of questions, but I just want to be sure that I am using it properly to obtain maximum benefits. Thank you.

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      May 18, 2014 at 10:00 am

      Hi Nella,

      Yes, Castile soap can be sued. This recipe does not burn the plant. You can spray any time of day directly on the leaves or flowers. I don’t know if it affect cabbage worms, but it doesn’t harm bees:)

      Reply
  56. Kristina says

    April 30, 2014 at 7:35 pm

    This is a great post! So helpful. How long can it be stored for?

    Reply
  57. Deanee May says

    April 30, 2014 at 11:48 am

    Can this be used on houseplants?

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      April 30, 2014 at 7:13 pm

      Yes!

      Reply
  58. Lona says

    April 30, 2014 at 4:15 am

    Ive had the same prb and used this exact recipe and it worked like a charm <3

    Reply
  59. Rio says

    April 29, 2014 at 8:57 pm

    Perfect timing, I will try this on my arugula and bokchoy plants. I discovered yesterday that leaves were eaten but I don’t know if bugs or caterpillars. Will this deter caterpillars too?

    Reply
  60. lauren says

    April 29, 2014 at 10:08 am

    Can Iiquid Ivory Soap work instead of grating a soap bar?

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      April 30, 2014 at 7:16 pm

      I haven’t tried it, but I think it would work.

      Reply
  61. Diana Chastain says

    April 29, 2014 at 8:43 am

    I will definitely try this recipe. I hate losing my garden to the bugs.

    Reply
  62. Wynema Brogdon says

    April 28, 2014 at 5:49 pm

    Thank you. This is perfect for my garden.

    Reply
  63. Annie Gaddis says

    April 28, 2014 at 4:37 pm

    Don’t you have to strain the pieces out of it first? It would clog up the sprayer, if you don’t.

    Reply
  64. Elizabeth Devecka says

    April 27, 2014 at 3:28 pm

    Does this work for ticks also, we have a lot of deer, so we deal with ticks

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      April 30, 2014 at 7:18 pm

      I haven’t tried it on ticks yet, but that doesn’t mean it won’t work!

      Reply
  65. Katta says

    April 23, 2014 at 7:40 am

    Hello, i have tried to this today, but for me it turnes into a gelo that there’re noway i can spray, what am i doing wrong ?

    Reply
  66. Andrea Snyder says

    April 17, 2014 at 8:51 am

    Thanks for sharing this recipe. Will this work on my fruit trees?

    Reply
  67. Christin says

    April 17, 2014 at 5:40 am

    Sadly, it’s still frosting at night here… and yesterday it even snowed. I haven’t planted ANYTHING lol!!! This time last year I was already eating lettuce! Yikes. I’m excited to try this recipe. Really strong unsweetened tea will work too!!!

    Reply
  68. Deborah says

    April 16, 2014 at 8:23 pm

    Do you think this would work for earwigs?! I hate using chemicals but I haven’t found anything natural to get rid of our earwig infestation and I DETEST those buggers they eat all of my hostas, tomatoes, lettuce and they get into my house by the droves.

    Reply
    • Ann says

      April 19, 2015 at 8:40 pm

      Hello Deborah,
      Our local garden guru recommends a simple trap for earwigs. It consists of putting crumpled up newspaper in an old flower pot and hanging it upside down on a short stick pushed into the ground. Next morning you’ll find the pot contains many earwigs which crawl into the newspaper for a nap. Then you dispose of the earwigs any way you like. He recommends tapping them into a bucket of water containing some kerosene for instant death.

      Reply
      • DaNelle Wolford says

        April 19, 2015 at 9:06 pm

        Great tip!

  69. Joy Davidson says

    April 16, 2014 at 6:14 pm

    I’m loving your site! I just made your brew using feels naptha( natural?).I stored it in the fridge right away because it was too dark out. It got VERY thick so I had to scoop it out and warm it. Just wondering if I used too much soap and if that would hurt the plants if I did. Thanks! Keep the goodness coming 🙂

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      April 30, 2014 at 7:37 pm

      I think if you used a lot of soap, it wouldn’t be good, so just stick with a small amount.

      Reply
  70. Pamela says

    April 16, 2014 at 5:58 pm

    I’m cooking this up as I type…thanks for the article.

    Reply
    • Pamela says

      April 20, 2014 at 7:44 am

      Update…no new critter holes in the leaves of our sunflowers, potatoes, eggplant, chard, beans or any of our squash. I’ve also unedited my hostas, lambs ear and dahlias. Seems to be working but I am reapplying every 3-4 days on the plants that have overhead watering just in case. 🙂 Thanks for the recipe.

      Reply
  71. Ginny says

    April 16, 2014 at 12:58 pm

    can you use Lye soap????

    Reply
    • sandra says

      April 16, 2014 at 2:34 pm

      I sure will try.

      Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      April 30, 2014 at 7:38 pm

      Yes, my homemade soap is made with lye. As long as the lye has properly saponified, you should be good.

      Reply
  72. Sandy G Malone says

    April 16, 2014 at 12:51 pm

    Will this work on fruit trees?

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      April 30, 2014 at 7:38 pm

      Sure will!

      Reply
  73. Lillian Chilelli says

    April 16, 2014 at 8:19 am

    Could you give me a recipe to get rid of ants that are coming in from outside and in my pantry closet where I store all of my food. I don’t want to use any chemicals because I just finished chemo & radiation for breast cancer. I am noe cancer-free and I am staying away from all chemicals. Please help! Thank you!

    Lillian Chilelli

    Reply
    • Luce says

      April 17, 2014 at 10:43 am

      Hi Lillian,
      Peppermint essential oil has worked great for me! Maybe put some on a few cotton balls and leave them where you see the ants coming from.. Please be aware of the surface though as I’m not sure what it would do to the wood. Maybe place the balls on top of something? Hope this helps. BTW- congrats on kicking cancer’s butt!!

      Reply
    • Diana Chastain says

      April 29, 2014 at 8:39 am

      This site has a recipe for ant killer: https://www.creeklinehouse.com/2013/05/the-very-best-homemade-ant-killer.html

      Reply
  74. Kimberly says

    April 16, 2014 at 7:15 am

    I made one similar to this last year only no soap. I made it like a tea, letting it sit in the sun for a couple of days before using. It worked great on my apple trees.

    Reply
  75. Seonie says

    April 15, 2014 at 3:50 pm

    I used garlic, chilli & any strong herb cuttings from the garden with dish washing liquid. Chop it all up & let it brew in the spray bottle of warm water. Together with beer traps, crop rotation & food forest-ish layering (as well as a few early morning trips to the garden with scissors before the original caterpillars took over) we’ve beaten millipedes, earwigs & cabbage moths. Hoot hoot!

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      April 15, 2014 at 11:46 pm

      Great recipe!

      Reply
  76. Danny Ledoux says

    April 15, 2014 at 2:11 pm

    Your recipe for all natural insecticide is illegal according to the US EPA unless it consists of a list of active ingredients exempt under Section 25(b). Anyone who manufactures or applied your recipe could be considered breaking the law because the ingredient you recommended is cayenne pepper which is not exempt. Our natural insecticide is made with white pepper making the product exempt. If you changed the ‘recipe’ into a formulation with white pepper, then no one is breaking the law. Kind regards, Danny Ledoux, President, OrganoPest.com, LLC

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      April 15, 2014 at 11:47 pm

      Well, I’m not selling it, so I think I’m fine:)

      Reply
    • Patti says

      July 1, 2014 at 1:19 pm

      Oh for pete’s sake…seriously!!??

      Reply
  77. Ami Hoegemeyer says

    April 15, 2014 at 1:20 pm

    What about squash bugs, they are bad here no matter how I rotate my crops or how much garlic barrier (homemade) I use. Will this work better nor do you have any other suggestions?
    Thank you

    Reply
  78. Kristina says

    April 15, 2014 at 8:42 am

    Does this work for aphids?

    Reply
    • Loriel @ Healthy Roots, Happy Soul says

      April 15, 2014 at 12:14 pm

      I’d love to know if this deters aphids as well.

      Reply
      • DaNelle Wolford says

        April 15, 2014 at 11:48 pm

        Yes, it does deter them:) I also hear that ladybugs are great for aphid control as well.

    • DaNelle Wolford says

      April 15, 2014 at 11:51 pm

      Yes, it does!

      Reply
  79. Rachel says

    April 11, 2014 at 2:38 pm

    Hmmm. I wonder if I can spray this on my houseplants to keep my big bugs (aka 3 pesky kitties) from eating them??

    Reply
    • Glo says

      July 24, 2014 at 1:09 pm

      Onions and garlic are poisonous to cats. I wouldn’t recommend it.

      Reply
  80. Melisa says

    January 31, 2014 at 5:21 pm

    How does this work on Squash bugs?

    Reply
  81. Annie Stakland says

    December 11, 2013 at 2:27 am

    Just dug under five inches of snow to harvest kale. It was delicious in my soup.

    Reply
  82. Katie Escobar says

    December 2, 2013 at 4:58 am

    Can I spray this on my compost? I have a problem with fruit flies. I’m new at all of this but aspiring to be an urban farm girl.

    Reply
  83. サマンサタバサ バッグ セール says

    November 29, 2013 at 9:02 am

    プラダ アウトレット イタリア サマンサタバサ バッグ セール https://sishenbac.cartiershueiowsdgkirtjp.org/

    Reply
  84. Stella says

    November 18, 2013 at 10:16 pm

    Any suggestions for squirrels? We’ve tried netting but they still get into my tomatoes.

    Reply
  85. Krissy says

    October 29, 2013 at 2:54 am

    Exactly what I was looking for!!
    Thanks, DaNelle, I love reading all of your great ideas, recipes and stories! 🙂

    Reply
  86. Liz says

    October 28, 2013 at 8:25 pm

    Could I use liquid castile soap? It’s what I have on-hand.

    Reply
  87. Meg says

    October 1, 2013 at 2:33 am

    We live in Northern AZ so the cold nights are “burning” the leaves on all of the plants in my garden! Not only that, but this is my first year having a large garden, and the bugs have ravaged most of it. So sad. I wonder what would survive all frosty winter long up here?

    Reply
  88. Pamela Capman says

    September 29, 2013 at 12:56 am

    Woot woot!

    Reply
  89. Yaw Boateng says

    September 25, 2013 at 9:36 pm

    If i don’t have electricity in my area,how would i store it

    Reply
  90. dolly stevens says

    September 24, 2013 at 2:33 pm

    Hi , love your blog !!!! I garden in the summer but would love to do a fall garden. I have a few questions…. First does this organic bug spray kill squash bugs??? Nothing I’ve tried works, even pesticides and I hate using them. Second how do you plant arugula_?? I love it and have never grown it. Can u plant it in a container like an earth box_?? Thanks a bunch, look forward to hearing back from you and reading your blog .

    Reply
  91. Malerie says

    September 23, 2013 at 8:51 pm

    I’m so excited about this recipe! Thank you!

    I have tomatoes waning, winter squash growing, arugula still going strong, and for the fall I’ve planted mustard greens, collard greens, spinach, romaine lettuce, bush beans and rutabagas. It’s my second year doing a garden, and my first time doing a fall garden, so I am pretty, pretty excited. LOVING your blog, by the way.

    Reply
  92. Keith says

    September 23, 2013 at 5:14 pm

    Two questions.

    #1 What are you growing in your fall garden? I’ve got lots of greens, peas, carrots, onions, that kind of thing.

    #2 Does the spray work to deter crickets? Can I spray around the outside of the house?

    Reply
  93. [email protected] Talk says

    September 23, 2013 at 3:54 pm

    I use a straight garlic spray which is basically garlic, dishwashing soap and water. The only problem is you have to be vigilant with these type of sprays. Garlic can also deter good bugs too.

    Luckily with Fall and frost, the bugs subside,

    @Tiffany d, the only thing I found with white flies is to spray them with a bug blaster. They are impossible. Yellow sticky traps work too. I find them impossible to eradicate in the garden. They love greens especially collard greens.

    Addition, simply looking under your leaves for eggs and worms helps as well.

    Reply
  94. Jane says

    September 23, 2013 at 3:34 pm

    Woo Hoo! Thanks.

    Reply
  95. Tiffany D says

    September 23, 2013 at 1:09 pm

    Have you found this effective on white fly? They just love me and don’t want to leave my garden! 🙁

    Reply
    • shirley says

      September 25, 2013 at 2:18 pm

      Tiffany D – I was told that using a spray made of Dawn dish soap and water would get rid of white flies – havent tried it for myself though- and Im not sure what is in the Dawn soap so you may want to check it out first.

      Reply
      • Steven says

        May 28, 2014 at 11:02 am

        The Dawn soap killed my tomatoes last year. I don’t recommend that.

  96. Lady Ravenwood says

    September 21, 2013 at 3:02 pm

    For what it’s worth, I did the exact same ingredients RAW in a blender.. let it sit overnight then strained it before putting in a spray bottle.. It kills some bugs right out, and deters others.

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      September 22, 2013 at 8:40 pm

      Sweet!

      Reply
      • Linda Lou says

        June 3, 2014 at 12:21 pm

        I have a really large garden. I squirt bottle would not do. Have we found how to use this recipe in a hose end sprayer?

      • DaNelle Wolford says

        June 8, 2014 at 10:32 am

        What about a pump spray bottle like this one? -> https://amzn.to/1jd22nv

      • Emma says

        October 11, 2016 at 7:14 pm

        Can you use dish soap? If so how much?
        Thxs, Emma

  97. Dana Haylee says

    September 20, 2013 at 2:11 pm

    Hey there! I am a newbie to your website and am enjoying it. One question though, does it matter if it is clear or solid soap?

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      September 22, 2013 at 8:46 pm

      I don’t think it should matter, as long as it’s a natural one:)

      Reply
  98. Dr. Sarah Cimperman says

    September 17, 2013 at 10:38 pm

    Love it!

    Reply
  99. Kit says

    September 17, 2013 at 1:47 pm

    Woot Woot! I have been looking for something like this for the past few months, so glad I found your site!
    p.s. I bought your book last week, read it in 3 days, and am totally in love with you. I have been living this way for the past 1.5 years and have lost about 45 lbs. I just didn’t realize that I was doing it. You put exactly what I was doing into coherent beautifully written words. Thank you!
    you can see my journey at:
    https://migrainemechanics.blogspot.com/

    Reply
  100. Jennifer says

    September 16, 2013 at 3:14 pm

    Woot woot!

    Reply
  101. Amber Wright says

    September 16, 2013 at 2:39 pm

    Thanks for the recipe!! I’m new to gardening, but want to start out the right way and use organic practices.

    Reply
  102. LynnLivingLife! says

    September 16, 2013 at 12:23 pm

    I love it! Can you tell me where you purchased your heritage seeds? Thank you!

    Reply
    • DaNelle Wolford says

      September 17, 2013 at 4:48 am

      I bought my seeds this year from http://www.johnnyseeds.com

      Reply
  103. Maddi says

    September 16, 2013 at 10:33 am

    Good to know and sounds safer than rhubarb leaves which are a good natural insecticide but toxic to dogs and potentially children too. https://www.ehow.com/how_5015925_make-rhubarb-leaf-natural-pesticide.html

    Reply
  104. Marianne says

    September 16, 2013 at 8:00 am

    Thank you for your pest control recipe; just what I was looking for.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Grow Your Way Into Produce Garden Success – May Good Things Grow says:
    April 5, 2016 at 4:37 am

    […] However, pests are inevitable but there are numerous safe ways to aid in pest control naturally. Weed ’em & Reap  shares a natural recipe for pest control using homemade […]

    Reply
  2. 35 Awesome DIY Project Ideas to Make Your Garden Look Fabulous – List Inspired says:
    December 15, 2015 at 8:45 pm

    […] Natural Garden Pest Control: Pest control doesn’t have to use chemicals! Here’s what I use for natural garden pest […]

    Reply
  3. The Ultimate Gardening Guide - The Homestead Garden | The Homestead Garden says:
    August 17, 2015 at 6:02 pm

    […] control sprays from the store! Instead, make safe and natural pest control items. Here is a great natural garden pest control spray to try out from Weed ’em and Reap. You can also use essential oils or companion planting […]

    Reply
  4. 20 Awesome DIY Ways To Make Your Garden Look Fabulous This Summer | Sharexplor says:
    May 25, 2015 at 8:20 am

    […] Weed Em And Reap […]

    Reply
  5. 20 Awesome DIY Ways To Make Your Garden Look Fabulous This Summer - FeedNova says:
    May 21, 2015 at 7:37 pm

    […] Weed Em And Reap […]

    Reply
  6. Eco-Friendly Backyard Projects – Sustainability – ALL YOU | Deals, coupons, savings, sweepstakes and more… says:
    April 23, 2015 at 11:54 am

    […] Control pests naturally from Weed ‘Em & Weep Limit the use of pesticides in your garden, while still deterring pesky bugs, with a natural pest […]

    Reply
  7. Gardening Pt V: DIY Insecticides + Herbicides ⋆ Steal Mag says:
    March 13, 2015 at 1:24 am

    […] Here’s a one-size-fits-all spray. It’s well known that many common garden pests like caterpillars, slugs, aphids, flies and others dislike onion, garlic, pepper or all of the above. This spray has you mix all three together, plus an essential oil blend, to create a garden spray that will keep the pests away but is safe to eat. Goodbye hungry caterpillar. (via Weed ‘em and Reap) […]

    Reply
  8. Gardening Pt V: DIY Insecticides + Herbicides | Club Oferteproprietari.ro says:
    March 13, 2015 at 1:22 am

    […] Here’s a one-size-fits-all spray. It’s well known that many common garden pests like caterpillars, slugs, aphids, flies and others dislike onion, garlic, pepper or all of the above. This spray has you mix all three together, plus an essential oil blend, to create a garden spray that will keep the pests away but is safe to eat. Goodbye hungry caterpillar. (via Weed ‘em and Reap) […]

    Reply
  9. Gardening Pt V: DIY Insecticides + Herbicides says:
    March 13, 2015 at 12:26 am

    […] Here’s a one-size-fits-all spray. It’s well known that many common garden pests like caterpillars, slugs, aphids, flies and others dislike onion, garlic, pepper or all of the above. This spray has you mix all three together, plus an essential oil blend, to create a garden spray that will keep the pests away but is safe to eat. Goodbye hungry caterpillar. (via Weed ‘em and Reap) […]

    Reply
  10. Natural Aphid Control says:
    March 9, 2015 at 12:33 pm

    […] Natural Garden Pest Control [Weed ‘em and Reap] […]

    Reply
  11. How to get Superpowered Garden Soil says:
    February 10, 2015 at 1:40 am

    […] CON with lasagna gardening is because they break down slowly, you may have an increase in pests, particularly slugs. Also, if you have particularly sandy soil, you may find that because your […]

    Reply
  12. How to Make Your Own Natural Garden Pesticides - Complete Health and Happiness says:
    July 13, 2014 at 3:59 am

    […] (photo credit: Weed em and Reap.com) […]

    Reply
  13. Go Green in the Garden! | tntshelp says:
    May 27, 2014 at 11:25 am

    […] Check out the recipe at My Natural Garden […]

    Reply
  14. The Best Natural Garden Pest Control | Health & Natural Living says:
    May 3, 2014 at 12:33 am

    […] The Best Natural Garden Pest Control […]

    Reply
  15. The Best Natural Garden Pest Control says:
    April 29, 2014 at 4:11 am

    […] The Best Natural Garden Pest Control […]

    Reply
  16. Tons of Tips for Green Living | creative gift ideas & news at catching fireflies says:
    April 17, 2014 at 5:35 am

    […] like to nibble on your precious plants.  Scare them away the natural way with this solution from Weed ‘em and Reap that won’t harm your plants or the people eating […]

    Reply
  17. All Natural Pesticide | HavF8th says:
    April 16, 2014 at 7:47 am

    […] you who are in the pursuit of having there own or have been gardening, here is a lovely recipe of a natural pesticide to keep the beautiful nature of your produce without worrying about the chemicals.  This recipe is […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

HEY THERE!

I'm DaNelle. I'm a city girl who convinced her husband to buy goats. Because, goats. Growing my own food has been an amazing experience, and this is the place I share it all with you! READ MORE…

Categories

Amazon Disclosure: Weed 'em & Reap is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Full disclosure here.


Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2023 · Pretty Creative On Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in