 Nature's
Way
with Alan Hayes
Organic pest control
The busy schedules that most people keep today means that their lives revolve around what is usually readily available from their local supermarket. Many people look for an instant panacea for everything, including ways to combat those unwanted garden pests. The array of garden products to choose from can make it so easy to make an unwise choice - a decision that can affect both your health and the health of the environment.
Making your own non-chemical sprays and using methods which are both safe and environmentally friendly is so easy. The following hints show you how easy it is to deal with garden pests organically.
To make a natural weed spray, place a bunch of rhubarb leaves in a saucepan, cover with water, add two nobs of garlic, boil to a pulp and then strain. Allow to stand for 48 hours to ferment, then dilute with an equal quantity of water to the liquid. If the spray drifts over vegetables or fruit, allow 14 days after spraying before harvesting.
Provided weeds and grasses are shallow-rooted, they can also be eliminated from garden beds, between pavers, and so on, with a safe herbicide made from human urine. After collecting the urine allow it to stand in a covered bucket for 24 hours or more before using. Apply using a pump-spray bottle to the leaves and base of weeds.
For a general purpose garden spray, add to a blender three chopped onions, four chopped garlic cloves, two tablespoons of cayenne pepper and half a litre of water. Whirl at high speed until thoroughly blended and liquid. Next, dissolve one tablespoon of grated, pure soap (or soap flakes) in half a litre of water and then mix the two liquids together. Store in a tightly sealed glass bottle, label and keep out of the reach of children.
The general purpose spray is particularly effective against scale, thrip, mites and aphids.
Another useful plant to use in the garden as a natural spray is chamomile. It makes a very gentle fungicide that will destroy and control damping-off fungus, powdery and downy mildew, rust, stem rot, brown spot, leaf spot and other fungal diseases.
To make your fungicide, add one cup of dried chamomile flowers (you can use chamomile tea bags if you wish) to a ceramic bowl, pour in three cups of boiling water, cover and steep overnight. Strain through muslin or cheesecloth, squeezing all liquid from the herbs, and spray onto affected plants.
An effective fungicide dusting powder can be made by simply grinding mustard seeds into a fine powder with a pestle and mortar, or by processing them in a blender. Store in a plastic bottle with holes in its lid, and dust on affected plants as required until the problem is under control.
Slugs and snails can be controlled with a non-residual spray made from eucalyptus oil. Mix five millilitres of eucalyptus oil with half a litre of soapy water and spray around the base of plants and seedlings. Repeat when necessary. This spray must not be stored, so only make up sufficient spray for immediate use. Wash the sprayer out thoroughly after use.
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