If you’re gardening for fun or to provide your home with sustenance there are times when insect pests can really threaten garden plants and crops. A simple homemade preparation for the garden will save you cash, help the environment and cause you less worry if children and pets share your garden space.
One of the most effective fungicides and insecticides you can use in your garden is a simple soap spray.
Homemade Insecticide – Soap Spray Recipe
- Simply mix one part homemade soft soap or bought liquid soap with 100 parts water.
- Add to a cheap plastic plant spray bottle.
You can’t really get more simple than that. Used regularly the soap spray knocks off insects and makes the plant difficult for them to settle on again. The soapy residue also discourages new pests from settling on the plant. Even slugs and snails will be deterred as no-one wants to eat soapy leaves.
Regular use is key, and remembering to respray after rain. Used weekly this will keep aphids (green and black fly) at bay on even their favorite crop; broad beans.
You can even use old washing up water to the same effect. Though the detergents in commercial washing up liquids are much stronger and more harmful if consumed by pets or children. Obviously be careful spraying crops you wish to consume – don’t spray edible parts within one month of harvesting or you’ll end up with a soapy dinner.
Reducing our reliance on commercial, chemical based products is a great step towards sustainability. This multipurpose, homemade, natural soap spray insect pesticide, is much safer to keep around the house and not harmful to pets.
Check out the links for Garlic and Chilli Insecticide Soap, Homemade Oil Fruit Tree Spray and Nicotine Insecticide Soap recipes.
Or, for the lazybones; click to view the organic pesticide range at Amazon.
For a more self sufficient future
I heard by word of mouth that using a soap spray regularly would repel pests, unfortunately I realized too late that the wrong kind of soap can be toxic to the plants. Now my beautiful garden which I have worked so diligently to nourish is poisoned. The leaves look burnt and yellow, withered, and eaten away. How can I save my plants after such a devestating mistake?
Hi Shannon. That sounds awful. What kind of soap did you use? I know detergent would be harmful but not normally in such an extreme way.
I have been spraying my plants with soapy water for years to control bugs in my garden ever since reading about it from Jerry Baker. You are right on by recommending it. The bugs don’t like it. It’s hard for them to stay attached to the plants because the surface tension is lower. Even dirt has trouble staying on so your plants stay cleaner. It really is a simple way to keep your plants healthy if you spray them once or twice a week.
I know bugs hate the soapy spray but I was always really nervous to try it out. I think I will this spring though.
Using a soap and water solution to spray on your plants is a terrific way to keep the pests and bugs away from them. It’s also an environmentally friendly method of pest control. You can do the same thing for your lawn also. Just hook up a hose end sprayer, add the soapy solution and spray away. Do this regularly and your lawn and landscape plants will be much healthier, too.
Dave