Garlic sprays
protect plants from insect damage.
Garlic sprays have insect-repellent properties when applied to plants and are alternatives to chemical pesticides. Some commercial garlic extract products are available on the market, and home preparations can effectively repel insects. Does this Spark an idea?
Efficacy
Garlic sprays quickly kill various insects, including aphids, cabbage loopers, earwigs, June bugs, leafhoppers, squash bugs and whiteflies. They don't affect the beneficial adult lady beetles and don't injure Colorado potato beetles, grape leaf skeletonizers, grasshoppers, red ants and sowbugs.
Commercial Products
Commercial garlic sprays contain garlic extract that can keep a wide range of insects away for weeks. Some products contain 100 percent garlic juice that gardeners must dilute with fish oil and water before spraying the plants.
Home Preparation
Gardeners can prepare a concentrated garlic spray by soaking 3 oz. minced garlic in 2 tsp. mineral oil. Add 1 pint water that contains 1/4 oz. liquid soap and mix well. A diluted solution of 1 to 2 tbsp. of concentrate and 1 pint water reduces the risk of damaging the plants.
Tags: Garlic sprays, garlic extract, pint water