For These Insects Go To This Treatment Aphids, root flies & cabbage butterflies: Clover Underplanting Aphids, carrot root fly, cucumber beetles, midges, peach tree borers & root maggots: Elder Leaf Insecticide; Elder Leaf Insecticide: Target insects:Aphids, carrot root fly, cucumber beetles, peach tree borers, and root maggots. It is particularly effective against midges. Elder leaves also have fungicidal properties and may be useful against mildew and blackspot diseases. To make: simmer 8 ounces of leaves in 16 ounces of water for 30 minutes. Stir this thoroughly, then strain. Take 16 ounces of warm water and mix with 1 tablespoon of castille soap. Add soap mixture to the elder water, spray as needed. Note: Set your sprayer to a coarse or large droplet setting as this mixture will tend to plug a fine setting. Aphids, cabbage loopers, grasshoppers, June bugs, leafhoppers, mites, squash bugs, slugs & whiteflies: Garlic Spray; Garlic Spray Target insects: Aphids, cabbage loopers, grasshoppers, June bugs, leafhoppers, mites, squash bugs, slugs and whiteflies. May also help to repel rabbits! Never use oils sprays on Blue Spruce as it will remove the blue waxy coating on the needles! Because garlic contains naturally occurring sulfur it also acts as an antibacterial agent and fungus preventative. Aphids, cabbage loopers, grasshoppers, June bugs, leafhoppers, mites, squash bugs, slugs and whiteflies. May also help to repel rabbits! Never use oils sprays on Blue Spruce as it will remove the blue waxy coating on the needles! Because garlic contains naturally occurring sulfur it also acts as an antibacterial agent and fungus preventative. All purpose: Great Fleabane Treatment; Great Fleabane: (Inula conyza) the leaves and roots of this plant make a strong general insecticide. It is also a nice addition to the perennial flower bed. To make: Take one cup of leaves and or roots. Bring 4 cups of water to a boil and pour over the fleabane, put a lid on this and let it steep for 10 minutes. Strain the mixture, let cool. Mix in a 1/4 teaspoon of pure soap such as castille, spray. Aphids, blister beetles, caterpillars, Colorado beetles, whiteflies, soft-bodied insects & maybe even slugs: Horseradish Pesticide; Horseradish Pesticide Target insects: Aphids, blister beetles, caterpillars, Colorado beetles, whiteflies and soft-bodied insects. Maybe even slugs. To make: Bring 3 quarts of water to a boil, add 2 cups of cayenne peppers, a 1 inch piece of chopped horseradish root, and 2 cups of packed scented geranium leaves, any kind. Let mixture steep for 1 hour, cool, strain and spray. Note: this can be made without the scented geranium leaves if you don't have them to spare. NOTE:Penn State University announced in 1995 that minced horseradish holds promise in decontaminating wastewater and now says it may clean contaminated soils as well! Penn State's center for Bioremediation and Detoxification reports that minced horseradish combined with hydrogen peroxide can completely remove chlorinated phenols and other contaminants found in industrial wastes. Experiments involve applying the mixture directly to tainted soils or growing horseradish in contaminated soil and rototilling the roots just before applying hydrogen peroxide! The cleansing properties of horseradish have been known for more than a decade, however creating a purified form has been far too expensive. This method has proved to be just as effective, but at a fraction of the cost! Cucumber beetles, mites & all purpose: Lime Spray Lime Spray Target insects: Cucumber beetles, mites and general purpose. To make: Mix 1 ounce of hydrated lime, 32 ounces of water and 1 teaspoon of castille soap. Use up to twice a week. **** Repels asparagus beetles, tomato hornworms, leaf cutting & chewing insects: Marigold Spray; Marigold Spray (use pot marigold: Calendula officinalis) Target insects: Repels asparagus beetles, tomato hornworms, leaf cutting and chewing insects, like leaf cutting bees on your roses and lilacs. To make: Mash 1 cup of marigold leaves and flowers. Mix with 1 pint of water. Let soak for 24 hours. Strain through cheesecloth. Dilute further with 1 1/2 quarts of water then add 1/4 teaspoon of castille soap. Spray target areas. **** Aphids, fungus gnats, mealy bugs & as an ant repellant: Orange Peel Spray; Orange Peel Spray Oranges and other citrus fruit contain natural ocurring pesticide compounds called limonene and linalool. These compounds can be used as a treatment for soft bodied pests such as aphids, fungus gnats, mealy bugs and as an ant repellant. To Make: Pour 2 cups of boiling water over peelings of one orange. Let this steep for about 24 hours. Strain the mixture into a glass jar and toss the peels into the compost. Use this liquid as a spray mixing in a few drops of castille soap on target insects or on ants and their nests. Smells nice too! **** All purpose: Pepper and Herb Dusts Pepper and Herb Dusts Target Insects: General Peppers and certain herbs contain the compound "capasaicin" which will irritate and repel many insects. Cayenne, chili, dill, paprika, red and black peppers can be used as dusts. Purchase the cheapest you can find, or grow hot peppers and dill in your garden. Dry them and pulverize them in a food processor. Sprinkle on moist plant foliage and the surrounding soil. Pepper Spray Target insects: All-purpose Just like the pepper dusts a spray made from hot peppers will release the capasaicin compound to repel insects. To make:Mix 1/2 cup of finely chopped or ground hot peppers with 1 pint of water. Let this sit for 24 hours. Use as is for a soil drench application or strain the mixture through cheesecloth until you have a clear liquid. Add a few drops of castille soap and use as a foliar application. Keep away from your eyes and skin when using. **** Bad nematodes: Sugar Drench Sugar Drench Target insects: Bad nematodes. Sugar also adds trace minerals to the soil. Mix 1/2 a cup of sugar with 1 gallon of water. Stir to dissolve sugar. Pour on the soil around plant roots where you have had nematode problems or use as a treatment prior to planting. **** Repels asparagus beetles & flea beetles, will kill earworms & maggots, acts as an antifeedent for other insects: Tomato or Potato Leaf Spray Tomato or Potato Leaf Spray Target insects: Repels asparagus beetles and flea beetles.This will kill earworms and maggots and acts as an antifeedent for other insects. Plants belonging to the nightshade family (tomatoes, potatoes etc.) have large amounts of compounds called "alkaloids" in their leaves. These compounds are water soluble and can be extracted by soaking chopped leaves then using as a spray. The toxicity of the alkaloids may account for only part of their effectiveness. The sprays may also attract beneficial insects that follow the chemicals in these plants as a cue in searching for their prey. To make: Soak 2 cups of chopped tomato leaves in 1 pint of water overnight. Strain this mixture then add another pint of water and 1/4 teaspoon of castille soap a sticker. Spray foliage and soil as needed. **** Aphids, caterpillars, crawling insects & slugs, may repel snakes: Wormwood Spray Wormwood Spray Target insects: Aphids, caterpillars, crawling insects and slugs. May repel snakes. Caution is advised when using wormwood sprays around plants as it can inhibit growth. Best results are obtained when spraying directly onto the target insect when possible Companion Planting: Wormwood or Artemisia History & Use: Artemisia has a colorful and rather dubious history: Artemisia was the wife and sister (yes, that is correct) of the Greek/Persian King Mausolous from which we get the word mausoleum. The genus artemisia was named after her and includes over 400 plants. Artemisia was a botanist and medical researcher. Many of the artemisia varieties have insecticidal properties with wormwood being the most potent. Roman wormwood is less toxic and is used to flavor the drinks Vermouth and Campari. A sachet made of wormwood leaves will keep moths at bay. Did you know that the delectable herb tarragon is of the artemisia genus? Wormwood, Artemisia Absinthium has been used for centuries as a moth repellant, general pesticide and as a tea/spray to repel slugs and snails. Before its' toxicity was known it was used as the name implies: a worming medicine for people and animals. Historic references to wormwood go back as far as 1600 B.C. in Egypt. Wormwood leaves contain absinthin a substance which can be toxic to other plants. You may have heard of the alcoholic drink "absinthe" a green colored beverage that is now illegal in most countries. And rightfully so as it has been said that the painter Vincent van Gogh was imbibing of absinthe when he lopped off his ear to send to a woman. The absinthin being water soluble will wash off the leaves and leach into the soil interfering and stunting the growth of plants in close proximity to the wormwood. Because of this do not use wormwood tea as a spray on small plants or seedlings, only on more established plants. in using wormwood tea as an insect spray, use it with caution until you see how it works for you. For best results spray directly on the target insects or use dried wormwood cuttings spread on the soil in the garden. Wormwoods are toxic so must not be ingested. To Make Wormwood Tea: 8 ounces wormwood leaves 4 pints of water 1 teaspoon castille soap Effective against: Aphids, caterpillars, flea beetles and moths. Putting dried sprigs of wormwood in the garden along side carrots and onions will mask their scent, confusing insects in particular the carrot rust fly. The dried wormwood will not have the growth inhibiting effects of the fresh herb. Simmer wormwood leaves in the water for 30 minutes. Stir, strain, and leave to cool. Add the castille soap to wormwood mixture and use to spray. Plant Culture: Hardy to zone 4 and some to zone 3. Capable of growing in poor soil with full sun to part shade. Pruning is done in fall with the exception of southernwood which is cut back in spring or summer. They require full sun and dry well drained soil. Some species will go dormant in the summer heat and sprout again when cooler temperatures return. This is most prevalent with the silver mound varieties. Don't plant wormwoods near anise, beans, caraway, fennel, peas and sage. Harvesting: To harvest for future use in insect teas, dried arrangements or sachets you will pick the upper portions of the stalks when they are in full flower and there is no moisture on the plant. Generally flowering occurs after July. Be sure to pick any damaged leaves off your stalks. Tie the stem ends together in bundles. Hang them upside down in a shady spot. Let them air dry like this for a few days. We then put them into glass containers with tightly screwed down lids. Store in a dark place. **** Aphids, mealybugs & other soft-bodied insects: Yarrow Tea Yarrow Tea Target insects: Aphids and soft-bodied insects. Also an excellent plant tonic! Yarrow has insecticidal properties and is also an excellent natural fertilizer. Try mixing this with strong coffee to make a more powerful brew. Caffeine makes the insects hyper and confused. To make: Soak 1 cup of yarrow plant pieces in 16 ounces of water for 24 hours or more. Brew it in the sun like tea. Strain and mix with 1 gallon of water. Mix in strongly brewed coffee and 1/4 teaspoon castille soap. Spray on aphids and other soft bodied pests every 1-2 weeks. Or use as a preventative. http://www.ghorganics.com/page14.html#Yarrow%20Tea.