Insects can quickly take over a lawn or garden, leaving the area to feel unwelcoming. From insects that feed off the blood of humans and pets, to insects that attack lawn and garden vegetation, we all at some point have an insect problem that needs to be handled effectively. There are a several inexpensive ways to create your own insect repellent. Does this Spark an idea?
Homemade Options
Garlic works as a repellent for most insects, including small rodents such as mice, garden moles and groundhogs. You can use garlic in several ways to make an insect repellent. One easy way is to fill a spray bottle with 2 cups of water, then add 2 spoonfuls of garlic powder. Alternately, blend a handful of fresh garlic cloves and add them to the spray bottle. Also, stir in a spoonful of liquid dish detergent, which will work as an adhesive agent, allowing the spray to stick to lawn, soil and plant leaves for an extended period of time. One final option is to simply mince a handful of garlic cloves and sprinkle them throughout the lawn and garden.
Pepper also repels insects and small rodents, even rabbits who commonly attack vegetable plants. Again you can make a simple insect spray by mixing 2 cups of water with 1 squirt of dish detergent, and 2 spoonfuls of powdered pepper. Use anything you have on hand, the hotter the better. Chili pepper, cayenne pepper and jalapeno pepper are three hot peppers that will work perfectly. Alternately, grind fresh peppers into liquid form and add them to the spray bottle, or chop peppers into small chunks and sprinkle them throughout the lawn and garden.
Peppermint is one additional option for a homemade insect repellent. It repels most insects and small rodents, and also leaves the garden and lawn smelling fresh. An easy way to make a spray-on solution is to mix 2 cups of water and 2 spoonfuls of peppermint essential oil in a spray bottle. Stir in 1 spoonful of liquid dish detergent as well. Alternately, blend a handful of peppermints into powder form and add them to the spray bottle, or crush into small chunks and sprinkle them around the lawn and garden.
Use the Repellents
If you opt to sprinkle small pieces of the ingredient around the lawn, focus specifically on garden areas that insects can quickly damage, as well as sitting areas where people commonly gather. For spray-on insecticides, spray them onto plant leaves (tops and undersides of the leaves), as well as soil, grass and other vegetation throughout your landscape. The dish detergent will allow the solution to stick to vegetation for one to two weeks if there is no rain or moisture, at which time you need to re-apply the spray. It is also recommended that you re-apply after heavy rains, which will rinse the solution off plants.
Tags: lawn garden, spray bottle, dish detergent, cups water, insect repellent