Introduce to Home Gardening Secrets
Keep your garden lively and healthy with valuable gardening secrets. It can be a journey to maintain richly verdant plants because of the variety of pests and weeds which can be a hurdle for new gardeners. Some of the common outdoor ones you may see are aphids, white flies, spider mites, caterpillars, beetles, and snails. You may find indoor pests to be more elusive, and can include the two culprits mold and mildew. Weeds may also be a problem. When you review some of these handy tips solutions it will help keep your garden flourishing.
10 Best Home Gardening Secrets
When you are learning all about pest control it is essential to know what will work best for your plant species. These great tips are well-rounded and can be adapted to your needs.
Insecticide Spray
You may not know about this very functional trick, but a combination of dish soap and mineral oil can easily destroy any insect. This is because dish soap breaks down the protective coating on the skin of insects once the soapy water touches it. Similarly, vegetable oil is also a decimator of insects as it suffocates them as soon as they come into contact with the liquid. Both are harmless to plants when sprayed in moderation. If you want to be really sure of your DIY pest control success, you can purchase the same products that professional exterminators use.
DIY Soap and Mineral Oil Spray
- 1 cup of mineral oil
- 1 tablespoon of mild liquid dish soap (Requirements: Must have no bleach in ingredients.)
Essential Oils for Pests
Your favorite therapeutic scents are also useful for your garden’s health and can be used as DIY pest control. Rosemary oil can repel insects and larvae. It also functions as a butterfly attractor. Peppermint oil fights beetles, aphids, spiders, ants, and flies. Rub it around the base of your plant and on the underside of leaves.
Mulch for Weed Control
You can keep your hands free of plucking and pulling weeds. Using mulch as ground cover on your outdoor garden will smother weeds and also retain dirt moisture. You need at least a two to three inch layer to prevent weed seeds from germinating. There are a few ways you can create your own mulch and spread it with gardening gloves.
DIY Anti-weed Mulch
- Grass clippings from your mowed lawn
- Raked up dead leaves from your garden
- Compost from your household vegetables
Fungi, Mold, and Mildew
Another oil you might enjoy is neem oil. It is well known for its ability to get rid of fungi on plants and would work great against mildew and mold. Its added bonus is that it is nontoxic to pets and wildlife, and it can get rid of insect pests as well. Clove oil is a powerful fungicide and is amazing against mold.
DIY Fungi and Mold Spray
- 2 teaspoons neem oil
- 1 tablespoon of mild liquid dish soap
- 1 quart of water
Metallic Tricks
Another little-known fact is the use of malleable metals as excellent pest control. Copper tape can be used to prevent slugs, snails, and caterpillars from crawling onto your plants. It creates an electric charge which zaps them when they touch its surface. Tape the bottom of your plant near the dirt or around the edges of its container to deter them. Get rid of aphids by placing tin foil around the base of your plant to reflect sunlight onto the underside of plant leaves, but be sure to not scorch your plants.
Weed Killers
You can couple hoeing up weeds with a weed killing spray so that any leftover seeds or roots that might regrow won’t be able to thrive. A mixture of boiled hot water and salt can kill weeds on the spot. You must mix the two together until the salt is dissolved. However, you can only pour it on the weed and not on your plant.
DIY Weed Spot Killer
- 1 cup of salt
- 2 cups of hot water
Pest Traps
You can trap fruit flies with an apple cider vinegar concoction. Get a container with a narrow top and fill the bottom with apple cider vinegar. You can throw fruit chunks in as well. The flies will be attracted to the scent, then once inside the trap they’re unable to escape through the narrow opening.
Large Animal Repellent Spray
You can make a spray for larger pests, such as deer and rabbits. These animals will not touch eggs or milk because they are herbivores.
DIY Large Vermin Spray
- 1 beaten egg
- 1 cup milk
- ½ gallon of water
Spicy Sprays
This is a great approach to both large and small pests. Sharp smelling, spicy materials drive away both insects and animals. These sprays are usually made of onion, cayenne pepper, and garlic because of their strong scent. The ingredients must be put into a blender and strained with a mesh so it can be applied with a spray bottle.
DIY Spicy Pest Spray
- 1 blended onion
- 4 garlic cloves
- 2 tablespoons cayenne pepper
- 2 cups water
Weed Removal
The weeding tool you are most familiar with is probably a simple shovel for digging up weeds, but this isn’t necessarily the best weeding tool. When you dig up weeds, you have to make sure you pull up all of the roots. You may need a garden knife to cut out the roots that you are unable to dig up. Try to get as much of the root as possible.
You are now prepared with great gardening tips that will keep your plants vibrant and healthy. Don’t keep it a secret. You can share this information with your friends and family!
