The first year I had my very own garden I also had my very own garden pests and I had no clue what to do.
Conventional pesticides were off the table (I don’t see the point in growing my own food if I’m just going to saturate it with chemical pesticides). So, I needed to find natural pesticides that would be safe and effective for dealing with my garden pests.
What is a Natural Pesticide?
Terms like “natural” and “organic” get thrown around a lot and sometimes don’t mean anything as they aren’t always regulated. When I’m looking for natural pesticides they need to have the following characteristics:
- Come from natural sources (herbs, other plants, minerals, etc)
- Not cause more harm than good
- Be 100% safe for everyone in my family
While natural doesn’t always mean safe (there are a few poisonous plants and creatures, for example) it is usually a better way to go than chemical pesticides.
However, pesticides, even natural pesticides, should be used judiciously. Prevention is much easier (and better for everyone) than treatment.
When treatment is necessary, it’s still important to be cautious and only use it when and if it’s necessary.
Natural Ways to Deter Garden Pests
The best way to fight garden pests is to prevent them from becoming a problem. You can do this in a number of ways:
- Crop rotation – Rotating certain kinds of plants through different parts of the garden helps to reduce pests. It keeps soil healthy and makes it harder for pests to find their favorite plants.
- Improve soil – If you can’t rotate crops (like if you have a really small garden), improving the quality of the soil can help strengthen plants and make them less susceptible to pests. Adding lots of organic compost is a good way to do this.
- Encourage beneficial insects and other creatures – Beneficial insects and creatures (like frogs) can help keep pests from taking over the garden.
- Plant sacrificial plants – Sacrificial plants are ones that attract pests. They draw pests away from the rest of your garden.
- Companion planting – Creating a diverse environment is one of the best ways to deter pests.
- Picking bugs by hand – To prevent getting overrun with some pests, like squash bugs, sometimes the best thing to do is pick them off by hand.
- Grow lots of herbs – As you will see, many herbs essential oils can be used to deter pests, so why not just start by planting those?
Doing some or all of these things will improve your garden’s health and help avoid being overrun by insects. But pests will still happen sometimes, so natural pesticides are the next line of defense.
Natural Pesticides to Prevent Garden Pest Damage
As I mentioned, I’m not interested in dousing my food with chemicals, so I need a reliable natural pesticide for times when I don’t catch insect pests early enough.
Some of these will also deter larger pests like rodents and deer. Keep in mind that these should be used on leaves and/or roots only, not fruit or flowers.
Homemade Garlic Pepper Spray
This homemade insecticide for plants is my go-to when I’m over-run by pests.
One thing to keep in mind is that even though this recipe is natural and made from food it will kill or repel most insects, even the beneficial ones. So, don’t go crazy with it!
Garlic and pepper sprays have also been said to deter deer, moles, mice and other creatures from eating your garden.
Ingredients:
- 1+ hot peppers (I used a jalapeno)
- 1/2+ of a bulb of garlic
- 1/2 of an onion
- hot pepper sauce, dried cayenne, hot pepper flakes, etc (optional)
- 1-2 teaspoons biodegradable dish soap
- 1-2 Tablespoons olive oil
- A mason jar
- A spray bottle
- plastic/vinyl gloves
Directions:
- Put on your gloves! You don’t want hot pepper juice on your hands.
- Add all of your ingredients to a blender or food processor (no need to peel) and blend it up.
- After you’re done blending, transfer the hot pepper goop to a mason jar and add enough hot water to fill the jar (depending on how much goop you make you may need to use two jars).
- Let them sit overnight or for a few days for best results but you can use it the same day if you need to.
- When the goop has sat for at least an hour, strain it through some cheesecloth or a fine mesh sieve.
- Using a funnel, pour the liquid into a spray bottle to the halfway mark. Fill the rest of the way with water.
- Then add the dish soap and olive oil (helps the spray stick to the plants’ leaves), shake and you’re ready to go!
Note: My ingredients aren’t exact because they really don’t need to be.
You simply want to get a ton of HOT peppers and garlic and mix them all together in the blender with just enough water so that it blends nicely. I used 1 jalapeno, 1/2 an onion and about 1/4 – 1/2 cup of homemade hot sauce.
It was pretty old so I figured I’d just throw it in. I’ve made a decent spray out of just dried cayenne and fresh garlic too.
Homemade Garlic Pepper Spray
Garlic pepper spray for the garden.
Ingredients
- 1+ hot peppers (I used a jalapeno)
- 1/2+ of a bulb of garlic
- 1/2 of an onion
- hot pepper sauce, dried cayenne, hot pepper flakes, etc (optional)
- 1-2 teaspoons biodegradable dish soap (I like this one)
- 1-2 Tablespoons olive oil
- A mason jar
- A spray bottle
- plastic/vinyl gloves
Instructions
- Put on your gloves! You don’t want hot pepper juice on your hands.
- Add all of your ingredients to a blender or food processor (no need to peel) and blend it up.
- After you're done blending, transfer the hot pepper goop to a mason jar and add enough hot water to fill the jar (depending on how much goop you make you may need to use two jars).
- Let them sit overnight or for a few days for best results but you can use it the same day if you need to.
- When the goop has sat for at least an hour, strain it through some cheesecloth or a fine mesh sieve.
- Using a funnel, pour the liquid into a spray bottle to the halfway mark. Fill the rest of the way with water.
- Then add the dish soap and olive oil (helps the spray stick to the plants' leaves), shake and you're ready to go!
- Spray on leaves (especially undersides).
Notes
Note: My ingredients aren't exact because they really don't need to be. You simply want to get a ton of HOT peppers and garlic and mix them all together in the blender with just enough water so that it blends nicely. I used 1 jalapeno, 1/2 an onion and about 1/4 - 1/2 cup of homemade hot sauce. It was pretty old so I figured I'd just throw it in. I've made a decent spray out of just dried cayenne and fresh garlic too.
How to Use Your Homemade Natural Pesticide: Garlic Pepper Spray
Spray your plants in the evening after they’ve been able to dry in the sun all day and before insects come out at night to eat.
Pay special attention to the underside of the leaves since bugs like to hang out and lay eggs there. You will need to reapply every few days or after it rains.
Neem Oil Spray
Neem oil is a natural pesticide that many organic gardeners swear by. Here is a basic recipe for making neem spray.
Ingredients:
- 2 tsp neem oil (high-quality, cold pressed)
- ⅓ cup biodegradable dish soap
- 1 quart hot water
Directions:
- Mix hot water and soap in a spray bottle.
- Add neem oil and shake to mix.
- Keep agitating or shaking the spray bottle while applying the neem spray.
- Use quickly (within 8 hours).
Neem Spray for Garden Pests
Neem oil is a natural pesticide that many organic gardeners swear by. Here is a basic recipe for making neem spray.
Ingredients
- 2 tsp neem oil (high-quality, cold pressed)
- ⅓ cup biodegradable dish soap
- 1 quart hot water
Instructions
- Mix hot water and soap in a spray bottle.
- Add neem oil and shake to mix.
- Keep agitating or shaking the spray bottle while applying the neem spray.
- Use quickly (within 8 hours).
- Spray on leaves and roots of plants.
How to Use Natural Pesticides: Neem Oil Spray
Like the garlic pepper spray, neem oil should be applied at night before insects come out to feed. Spray on leaves and roots only (not flowers or fruit).
Be sure to get the underside of leaves too. You can even spay the ground under each plant. Use the spray right away because neem oil begins to break down once mixed with water.
Essential Oil Garden Pest Spray
This spray uses essential oils to repel insects and rodents.
Ingredients:
- 8 oz water
- 2 tsp biodegradable dish soap
- 80 drops essential oils (see note for which ones)
Directions:
- Add ingredients to spray bottle.
- Shake and use.
Essential Oil Garden Pest Spray
An essential oil based natural pesticide for the garden.
Ingredients
- 8 oz water
- 2 tsp biodegradable dish soap
- 80 drops essential oil (see note for which ones)
Instructions
- Add ingredients to spray bottle.
- Shake and apply liberally to plant leaves (especially the underside).
Notes
There are many essential oils that you can use to deter pests but the main ones are peppermint, cedarwood, rosemary, thyme, lemongrass, sage, and lavender. If you have a specific pest you’re trying to repel, choose essential oils for that pest. Use at least 10 drops of each oil you choose.
Note: There are many essential oils that you can use to deter pests but the main ones are peppermint, cedarwood, rosemary, thyme, lemongrass, sage, and lavender.
How to Use Essential Oil Natural Pesticides
Spray liberally on plant leaves (make sure to get the underside too!).
Want More? Natural Pest Control in the Garden
A couple of blogger friends and I sat down together and answered some of your biggest pain point questions about natural pest control. Take a look:
And be sure to check out these additional resources:
From Shelle:
10 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Garden Pests
FREEBIE: Natural Pest Control Recipes
From Kristi:
How to Use Diatomaceous Earth in the Garden
From Me:
Freebie: How to Create a Walk Away Garden
Now it’s Your Turn!
What are your favorite natural pesticides? How else do you avoid chemicals in your garden? Tell us in the comments!
I can’t wait to try this recipe! I am always looking for new pest control solutions that are all-natural. Thanks for sharing and I will be featuring your recipe on this week’s Friday’s Fabulous Five #44. Go check it out on Friday, and while you are there share it on this week’s Blog Hop …I am sure our readers would love it.
http://oursimplehomestead.com
Thanks so much Tracy! I will definitely stop over :)
I’ve been using this recipe in my flower beds this summer to keep insects and small critters away and it seems to be working well. I enjoy your blog very much… thank you for your time.
I’m so glad to hear that it’s working for you!
What is the biodegradable dish soap that you use?
Sun & Earth is my favorite. I’ll add that into the post :)
This is a great recipe for a natural pesticide. I have used plain cayenne pepper to keep the rabbits away with water and dish washing soap and it works great. I will not use chemical sprays. Visiting from Homestead Blog hop! Pinned & twitted.
Thanks Marla!
Hmm, I’ll have to see if this will work on the deer in my garden. Only downside is it’s been raining every day. :(
Yes, that does make everything more difficult. Have you tried spraying the underside of the leaves of your plants? It’s less likely to wash off in the rain.
Going to try this on our cauliflower, Been picking cabbage worms everyday and neem oil spray didn’t help.
Let me know how it works :)
Hi there,
I was wondering if you can use this in a hose sprayer and just spray the whole yard? Or is this more for gardening only pests? In the past, we’ve always used a product called Hi-Yeild (you get it from garden/landscaping places). You use one of those hose sprayers like the miracle grow kind to spray it anywhere and everywhere. You can spray your fence, the side of your house, the yard, the garden. Everywhere. And it kills EVERYTHING from house files and mosquitoes to the other bigger badder guys that I don’t even like to say b/c it will make my skin crawl. But, as you would imagine, this stuff is toxic. We would spray in the morning EARLY and not even let our dog get in the grass for at least a full day or two. Not so good. But I would really LOVE to find a way to do this same thing but naturally so I don’t have to feel like we can’t enjoy our yard afterwards. I’d say our biggest problems are mosquitoes (there’s a low area of our yard that holds water), flies and 8 leg creatures (see I can’t even type it). But I always liked the fact that Hi-Yield pretty much managed all the unwanted guys.
Anyway, just curious if this would be an alternative to that.
Thanks so much!
You could definitely try it. I’d just caution you that it will kill/repel beneficial insects as well.
Can this also be used for ants?
Thanks
I’m not sure. I usually use a mixture of rubbing alcohol, water and peppermint EO for ants.
can this pesticide be used to control white flies?
Comments published are very encouraging.
I am going to try this spray on field crops like cotton. I will let you know the results. I am Ph. D. Chemical Engineer. Retired after 45 years of professional career.
Thanks!
Very helpful!
I’ve tried about half of these over the years and can indeed swear by the neem oil! Japanese Beetles and Aphids are the biggest pests out in my area and this helps a lot.
Can I use the leftover goop after you get the liquid out as a compost?
yep!
Thank you!!
I have a DIY page on FB “DIY Renovations and Home Projects ( D.I.Y. Renos )” where I shared your recipe and page. Oe of my members commented about aphids on her Strawberry plants: “noticed last night my strawberries have been farming aphids (stems are black covered with them) does this work on that?” would this recipe work on that?
Yes, it should :)
I’m looking for natural ways to ward off slugs and aphids, I’ve bought food grade DE, and red pepper flakes to sprinkle in the garden. I have a lot of toads that come out in the evening as well though. Does anyone know if the recipe posted above, or even just the red pepper flake is harmful to toads or lizards? Thanks!
I’m interested to know this too and have not found any answers yet. I just sprinkled ground Cayenne pepper all around a bunch of plants that the squirrels were digging up. It works great to keep the squirrels from digging up my plants, but I love my toads and don’t want to harm them!
Helix Tosta, a homeopathic remedy, in either 6X or 6C potency is used in Agrohomeopathy to deter slugs and snails. I have to get most of my homeopathic remedies for the garden from Homeopathy Plus, an Australian company, but they work so well and are completely safe.
Another must have for me is Bombyx, which deters hornworm and other caterpillars. There are many more. This article may be helpful. https://www.biologicalmedicineinstitute.com/post/agrohomeopathy
Another thing that works well for almost any garden pest is collecting the pests, adding them to water, whirling them up in a blender (that’s only used for gardening!). Once that’s done sieve the water and spray the plants. This may have to be repeated after a steady or heavy rain. Very homeopathic in its approach, you don’t have to wait for the mail to arrive.
Will this work to repel grasshoppers from Hell? Las Vegas is seeing quite the infestation, and these demon creatures are using my baby honeysuckle plants as their all you can eat buffet every night. I’m ready to torch the whole front yard to kill them all!
I read you need to kerp.unions and garlic away from pepper plants. Im trying to get rid of the ugly horrible fat green worms, the rust and tiny black spots, as well as yellowing on the plants. But I’m also concerned about the oil damaging my pepper plants. Would that affect them?
Thanks for sharing your idea! I will try this one now. Let’s all do organic!
Thank you for these great ideas! I have used neem oil and dishsoap on my pear trees to get rid of rust but never thought to use it in the garden. One recipe I absolutely stand by is not a pesticide but a cure for peach leaf curl; it is 6 or 7 ml oregano oil in a gallon of water. I hose my peach and nectarine trees down each spring a couple of times and it stops the curl in it’s tracks!
Thanks for sharing!