Organic, non-toxic gardening tips that we all can do.
Will also include general outdoor, pest control, pets, etc.
Codes:
ACV- apple cider vinegar
EO- essential oil (be sure has the Latin name, otherwise it can be synthetic)
HP- hydrogen peroxide
LJ- lemon juice
WV- white vinegar
Neem is a natural pesticide. Safe for humans, kids, pets. Has a strong smell but it works!
ants/ termites
Nest- 1c castile liquid soap to bucket of boiling water, pour directly on to kill
Prevent, repel- 8 oz water, 2t peppermint EO in spray bottle. Apply several days worth.
ACV full strength or 1:1 ratio w/ water.
Make a line w/ flour; they won’t cross.
2t neem oil, 2c water, 8 drops peppermint EO. This is my recipe. Kills them on contact. It worked great when they got in our bathroom.
Plant mint, pennyroyal, tansy around house
bacterial & fungal Prevent
www.ghorganics.com/page15.html
HP undiluted, cover tops & bottoms of leaves. 1x/ week in dry weather. 2x/ week in wet weather.
Beneficial bugs & animals
Bee garden by planting lavender, sage, wild thyme, violets
Toads- will consume ‘bout 3,000 pests a month. Invite by placing clay pots w/ piece missing around rim upside down on soil p123G
bird feeders
Clean w/o bleach as bleach is a toxin. 1 oz HP to 2c water, let sit ½ hour in HP solution. Rinse thoroughly.
Another one is to use ¼ c liquid soap, 4 oz Oxi clean, fill a bucket to cover, let soak 2 hours.
birds & butterflies
Plant petunias & marigolds to naturally repel pests that attract butterflies.
One hint I read is to get overripe produce (fruits, veggies, as well as stale bread) to use for birds & butterflies. Butterflies love extremely overripe fruit. They say to ask your local grocer for their outcasts.
(Note: By Michigan law, they cannot give it out. What a shame! They just pitch it to the already filled up landfill.)
bug/ insect, pests
-32 oz container w/ water, 3t euc liquid castile, & 30 drops EO's
(atlas cedarwood, lemon, lemon eucalyptus, star anise, spearmint, eucalyptus, lavender)
This one I use in a kid’s water sprayer that can shoot water far. I use it for wasp nests that are forming up near the roof. I won’t use Raid & other toxic brands.
-Insecticidal soap 1t soap, 1 qt water
-Disease and Insect Spray Recipes bellaonline.com
Insecticidal/Garlic/Capsaicin Spray
To control aphid, mealy bug, cabbage worm, white fly, and even spider mites, this all-purpose insecticidal soap spray is very effective. This is good for most all types of plants but be sure to do a test spray on some hidden leaves first, to make sure your plant is not too sensitive.
3 cloves garlic, finely crushed (or equivalent in garlic oil or juice)
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil, any kind will do
3 Tablespoons Tabasco or other hot pepper sauce (the hotter the better)
4 cups water
1 teaspoon plain liquid dishwashing soap, such as Ivory
1.Combine the crushed garlic, cooking oil and hot sauce and let stand overnight.
2.Strain and add the water.
3.Add the dishwashing soap and stir gently.
Pour into a hand sprayer and spray the tops and especially the undersides of the leaves weekly or as needed.
Store in a closed container in the refrigerator.
-disease & insect control
Neem Oil Spray to Control Insects and Disease bellaonline.com
Neem oil is highly effective against many types of insects and plant diseases. It is non-toxic to birds, mammals, honeybees and ladybugs. It is toxic, however, to fish, so do not use around ponds, streams or other waterways, and keep from going down storm drains. Neem oil can be purchased at most garden supply stores and on line. Several lines of commercial sprays are now available, also, so read the labels of sprays available in stores.
1 teaspoon neem oil
4 cups water
1 teaspoon dishwashing soap
Combine oil, soap and water in a hand sprayer and mix gently.
Spray tops and bottoms of leaves thoroughly every 5-10 days until pests are gone.
Note: this spray will not cure a fungus on already effected leaves but will keep it from spreading. Remove badly diseased leaves and dispose of in your garbage. Wash hands thoroughly and be sure to clean your pruners or scissors in alcohol or bleach to help kill any virus or spores.
20 g or .7 oz neem keep in a small thin cloth & keep inside wardrobe, cupboards, etc to keep free from insects like termites, cockroaches, silverfish, etc
Compost
Compost bin- put dirt, grass, & leaves on top so no odor
Yard trimmings & food scraps make up ‘bout 23% of the municipal solid waste in the US. -National Geographic Green Guide book
critters
Deter critters eating plants- ½ c Epsom salt around plants. Sprinkle neem powder. Plant basil to repel.
deck
Clean mold, residue- 3 oz oxiclean, 1 gal warm water, 15-20min sit, hose down.
Deer info
From Backyardlivingmagazine
Human hair- Any hair salon should oblige you with bags of its sweepings. Stuff the hair into mesh bags or discarded panty hose, and hang throughout the yard, on or near the deer's favorite plants.
Soap- Some say Irish Spring, others Lava. Just pick a soap with a very strong scent. Loop twine or string around the middle, and hang bars at intervals in the yard like eccentric Christmas ornaments.
Pepper spray- Deer are said to dislike hot and spicy flavors. Coat entire plants or leaves in reach. Spray on a dry, windless day and take care not to get any in your eyes.
Lights- Choose either motion-activated or constantly blinking, and place as close to the garden area as possible. When deer come under cover of darkness, this will spook them.
Water- Seek out a battery-operated gadget called Water De-Fence; it attaches to a standard garden hose, senses motion up to 35 feet away and fires off a blast of water.
Fence Them Out- If you've exhausted the aforementioned options and the deer damage hasn't been reduced dto a tolerable level, a barrier is your last resort. In fact, a "deer fence" is widely acknowledged to be the only thing that truly keeps them out of your yard and garden. If you're looking into this option, be sure to do your homework so you install something effective.
A deer fence is not just a mere wooden or metal fence. While it may be made of such material, it must be substantial, sturdy and reinforced. It must also have two other characteristics.
One is height. Deer are great leapers, and when motivated, can clear barriers of 6 or more feet high. Something as high as 10 to 12 feet tall is often warranted. For smaller flower beds, shorter fencing can be effective. In this case, a 5-foot fence will keep the deer out.
Strong wire is also a must. Deer hooves can kick in, bend or make holes in lesser wire. You'll want to get advice from other landowners in your area, as well as your contractor, before making important decisions about material.
-Plants deer dislike
Agave, Ajuga, Aloe, Bee balm, Black locust, Boxwood, Butterfly bush, Clematis, Columbine, Daffodil, Ferns, Foxglove, Hellebore, Holly, Iris, Lavender, Lilac, Marigold, Mint, Pine, Rock rose, Rosemary, Russian sage, Smokebush, Spruce, Vinca, Wax myrtle, Yarrow, Yucca, Zinnia
disease
Baking Soda Spray for Blight, Leaf Spot and Mildew ghorganics.com
A spray made from baking soda is a great all-around disease spray. It is good for treating anthracnose, tomato blight, leaf blight, leaf spots, and powdery mildew.
1 Tablespoon baking soda
2 1/2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
1 gallon water
1 teaspoon plain dishwashing soap (such as Ivory)
Mix thoroughly.
Pour into your sprayer and spray top and bottom of leaves thoroughly, as well as the surrounding soil. Mix or shake often while spraying to keep all ingredients thoroughly mixed. Repeat every 5-7 days as needed.
earwigs
To get rid of- place a paint stick in ground & put a paper lunch bag over it w/ the opening almost touching dirt. Tie twine around bottom of bag, ‘bout 2” from opening. Few days, contain earwigs. Pull up stake, untie string, shake bag over cement. Stomp.
fly traps
Recipe from care2.com - Combine equal parts honey, sugar and water in a saucepan. Boil the mixture, stirring occasionally, until thick. Remove from heat and let cool.
Cut strips of brown packing tape, punch a hole on one end and loop a piece of string through the hole. Dip the strips in the thick honey mixture and hang outside to dry, about 30 minutes.
Hang the strip in the area of worst infestation, and replace often.
Herbs such as basil, mint, parsley, sage are all good for drying.
To dry:
Snip midmorning after dew is gone & before afternoon sun has a chance to wilt them. Plus herbs are at their peak pungency in early morning & will keep their strength when dried.
Prep the leaves. Wash away dirt by rinsing in cold water. Dry on a paper towel. Pick off any dead or discolored leaves. Clip away any leaves on the lower part of the branches. Secure stems in a bunch w/ a rubber band.
Hang to dry. Place herbs in a paper bag, upside down, seal top around the branches using a rubber band. Punch a few holes in sides & bottom of bag & hang in a warm, airy room away from sun. The bag will protect herbs while they dry & keep dust away.
Will be ready to bottle or use in about 2 weeks when they are dry & brittle. Remove the bag & gently pull off each leaf of the branch. Crush & use immediately or store up to 8 mos. in an airtight container or plastic bag.
To crush dried herbs, place in a plastic bag & go over them w/ a rolling pin.
Use a third of the quantity of dried mint that you would of fresh.
moles
½ c castor oil to 2c water place around your garden in bowls.
If you have cats, take some used cat litter & put in their holes. Cats are their natural predator so the scent repels them.
Mulch- redwood chips are bad as they cause root rot.
Spread mulch 3” from the base so doesn’t suffocate plant.
Use crushed pinecones, pine needles, or leaves for mulch.
A tip I read was to call local tree trimming services for mulch. Most will give it away free or low cost & even deliver it.
Nourish your garden w/ leaves. The leaves from just one large shade tree can provide $50 worth of mineral-rich fertilizer for your plants & lawn. So instead of raking & tossing them, put leaves & a little soil in a 30-40 gallon thick garbage bag, shake it every few weeks, come spring, you'll have lots of free "black gold" for your garden.
neem
Helps acne, bites, stings, athlete’s foot, is in mouthwash & toothpaste, heals cuts. It’s also safe for pets, for protection against fleas, ticks.
I’ll post some links here for you to search yourself on info:
www.biconet.com/botanicals/dynagroneemoil.html
www.ghorganics.com/ArkNeemSprayforpets.html
www.naturmix.com/pages/products/neem.html for pets
www.neem-products.com/neem.html
pests
Only about 5-15% of bugs in your yard are pests. -National Geographic Green Guide book
planters
use old gutters. Drill drainage holes, fill w/ soil, then plant plants.
use old tree trunks as pots cut into 12” deep
plants, garden, flowers
-Bug spray- 16 oz sprayer w/ water & 1-2 t Peppermint castile, spray directly on bugs. Castile kills while peppermint helps repel others from coming.
-or- ½ t eucalyptus EO mixed with 16 oz. of water makes for a good bug repellant for plants- Green living tips
-Diseases- ½ c cornmeal around each plant then cover w/ mulch, also helps w/ good fungus.
Or use light coating of cinnamon on diseased parts.
-Nutrition- Bury banana peels, coffee grounds, eggshells.
-Plant lemon balm, pennyroyal. Pull off & rub on skin/ clothes for easy mosquito repellant.
-Planters- Use nylon to ball up hole at planter bottom so water doesn’t drain thru before adding soil.
Reuse those packing peanuts you get when you order items & place in bottom of planter under the soil. Place them in mesh bags (like the kind oranges come in) so they don’t blow away & are easier to reuse. The packing peanuts is a good one when you want to save on soil but also to help w/ big planters. Helps to make them lightweight.
For a more eco-friendly idea, use pinecones for bottom of planters.
-Seedlings- Next time you use eggs, carefully crack them in half, rinse out the egg residue, then poke a drainage hole in the bottom of each half shell with a sharp scissors or ice pick. Fill the shells with a lightweight sterile potting mix formulated for seed starting, and then sow the seeds.
When the seedlings are ready for transplanting, gently crush the eggshell with your fingers and plant them, eggshell and all. The shell will improve your soil as it decomposes.
-Seeds, good/bad- put in bowl of water, if sink they are good, if float they are bad
-Weeding- Cut cardboard tubes from paper towels or toilet paper rolls into 1/3 sections to encircle seed so don’t pull flowers when pulling weeds. Can keep them in ground as they do biodegrade.
-New plants- continue watering regularly for at least the first year as takes time developing roots. Allow fallen leaves to remain to nourish soil.
Poison Ivy Killer
Dissolve 1 cup of salt in 1 gallon of hot water. Pour onto the poison ivy. Note that fresh bright green shiny, poison ivy leaves are the most vulnerable to this solution. – Care2.com
postholes
To dig postholes, use water to soften the hard soil.
Rain barrels
A great way to use rainwater.
Be sure to place a “mosquito dunk” in the barrel. They can be found at hardware stores or on Ebay. It’s approx. $1 for a month, which is extremely cheap considering they are all natural &
controls mosquitoes.
They contain Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis or Bti, is a naturally occurring soil bacterium that is perfectly safe to birds and mammals. You can also use these disks in other water places such as birdbaths, ponds, etc.
Tools
Shoe caddy for garden tools, gloves, etc
Vehicles & gas
495 million- Number of dollars U.S. consumers spend on gasoline every day -“Go organic” newsletter
13.1 billion- Number of gallons of gasoline saved if every American converted to one of the four most efficient cars in each class -“Go organic” newsletter
19- Estimated percent of the nation's total fossil fuel energy used by the U.S. food system, not including energy embodied in buildings and infrastructure, energy in food wasted, nor energy in treating food wastes and processing and packaging waste. -“Go organic” newsletter
water alternatives
Save the water from your A/C. The water from this tube is distilled so is great to use on plants & your garden. You can get approx. 5 gal of water every 2 days.
weeds & weed killer
34 oz vinegar, ¼ c salt, 2t soap weed killer, spray on leaves & base
Use needlenose pliers to pull hard to get at weeds
Quack grass & others-
Put down newspaper or cardboard then mulch. Spray w/ LJ or WV.
Sprinkle salt along the cracks of patios where weeds are, sprinkle with water, then pull out the dead weeds and dead grass.
Links:
www.avianweb.com/safepesticides.html Safe Alternatives for Weed Control, Pesticides / Insecticides
www.epsomsaltcouncil.org info on the wide uses of epsom salts
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/organic forum for organic gardening
www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/index.shtml flower & garden info
www.ghorganics.com wide range of recipes for gardening
www.helpfulgardener.com/phpBB2 gardening forum
bravenet.com