Friday, June 1, 2012

Homemade Earth-Friendly Insecticidal Soap (Repels Deer and Bunnies too)

This is my favorite time of the year to cook:  our garden is growing and often I find myself walking outside to grab something for dinner from our garden.  Trouble is, some critters, bugs and worms are having their dinner from our garden too!

If you're growing your garden organically, one of the most effective way to control pests is to use insecticidal soap.  You can purchase insecticidal soap at the store, but it is super easy to make at home and will save you from having to run an extra errand.

For the most simple insecticidal soap, you can dilute 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap to 1 quart of water.  My version incorporates garlic and red pepper flakes to also deter bunnies and deer.

All you need:



Homemade Insecticidal Soap

Make the base:
1 head of garlic
1 tablespoon red pepper flakes
1 cup water

Make a batch of insecticidal soap:
2 tablespoons base mixture (above recipe)
1/2 teaspoon liquid dish soap
2 cups water

Make the base:

Remove the garlic cloves (you don't need to peel them though) from the head of garlic.

Add the garlic, red pepper flakes and 1 cup water to a blender and process until it forms a runny paste.



Pour the mixture through a fine sieve to remove any small chunks of garlic or pepper flakes.  The remaining water is your "base."

Yields about 1 cup of base.


Make a batch of insecticidal soap:

Mix 2 tablespoons of the base mixture, with 1/2 teaspoon liquid dish soap and 2 cups water.  Combine in a squirt bottle and spray away!



A couple important notes:

*Insecticidal soap works best when done on a day without rain.  Rain will wash it away, and you want to keep the mixture on the leaves as long as possible to deter pests.

*Be sure to spray the backs and fronts of the leaves of the plants.  Many pests hide on the underside of the leaves.

*You may respray daily, as needed.

*This insecticidal soap can be used even if you are about to harvest your vegetables.

Our poor collards were attacked over the weekend.  Insecticidal soap to the rescue!

Happy gardening!
SPC

81 comments:

  1. What is the purpose of adding the dish soap? Perhaps it helps the solution to cling to the leaves? Just wondering if I could leave the dish soap out of the recipe? I guess I am maybe being too worrisome, as it is such a tiny amount of soap and it does get diluted further!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The soap is used to break the oils in the plant. It allows the other ingredients to penetrate the plant and do its job.

      Delete
  2. If you are concerned, use Castille Soap, as it is all natural.

    The soap kills some bugs. Some bugs won't be deterred otherwise, and if you read about using soap in a small dilution on plants, it is generally very safe.

    Ultimately, the best way to remove bugs would be by hand, but I just don't have the time/energy/patience for that daily exercise! :)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm concerned my leafy veggies will taste like garlic and be spicy?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nettyt, the rain (or a good spray from a sprinkler of hose) the day before harvest will remove the smells/tastes. :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thank you very much for this idea! I used it today (and then a thunderstorm came out of nowhere. Sigh.) and I am blogging about it (with a link back to you!). Very glad I came across this post. Hopefully when I respray my garden the rain will stay away longer next time. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  6. The soap acts as an emulsifier and allows water to bond with oils and not seprate. Its perfectly harmless.

    ReplyDelete
  7. The soap blocks the breathing gills on small insects such as spider mites and suffocates them. It also helps it bond to the leaves. Without the soap, it's just spicy water. If you eat in restaurants they wash your dishes with it, and I assume you would wash your produce before consumption. It is extremely safe.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Great idea! Could this be used on herbs? With the soap and all?

    ReplyDelete
  9. Karoline, absolutely, I use it on my herbs all the time!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Sweet, I'll make a batch today! Thanks:)

    ReplyDelete
  11. Since I only need to use 2TBSP of the base mixture, is it possible for me to store the rest, or do I just need to throw it away?

    ReplyDelete
  12. You can keep extra in the fridge for about two weeks. I store mine in an old glass jar with a screw-on lid, so the strong smell doesn't stink up my fridge! :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. Does this repel snakes, too? :-)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous Anonymous said...
    Does this repel snakes, too? :-)

    Anonymous, it probably won't deter snakes. However, the snakes will help deter mice, some insects, and voles,and will not harm your plants. ;)

    ReplyDelete
  15. Wonder if it will deter all kinds of roos (kangaroos)and birds here in Australia.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Soap allows the spray to spray over leaves and stick better. Helps with bugs too.

    ReplyDelete
  17. spread not spray

    Soap allows the spray to spread over leaves and stick better. Helps with bugs too.

    ReplyDelete
  18. The soap breaks down the exoskeleton of insects and kills them by making them susceptible to parasites and disease. This is the typical commercial use of soaps in insecticides. You can spray any plant, tree or shrub for effective pest control, simply with liquid soap. Ivory is what professionals typically use.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Will this keep snails away? I get heaps of snails eating my garden away

    ReplyDelete
  20. I add a teaspoon of vegetable oil to the mix. It lasts a bit longer unless there is a very long, hard, rain.

    oldladybee

    ReplyDelete
  21. Is this safe for honey bees?

    ReplyDelete
  22. Not sure about snails…and as this mixture merely deters creatures, can't imagine it would hurt bees??

    ReplyDelete
  23. To deter snails and slugs you can run a length of copper wire or tape around your bed. This mix shouldn't do anything to bees but if you are worried avoid spraying blooms where they collect pollen.

    ReplyDelete
  24. how long is the shelf life for this?

    ReplyDelete
  25. Will making the dry mixture mixed in the soil and watering with the wet; kill grub worms and get rid of the armadillo that visits to eat the grubs?

    ReplyDelete
  26. Will a dry mixture mixed in the soil kill grub worms?

    ReplyDelete
  27. Will this deter ground squirrels??? They're eating all of my tomatoes before I can pick em

    ReplyDelete
  28. Will this deter ants both on the plants and in the soil? Also using a touch of oil will that conflict with using fertilizer?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I recently gound on you tube that using vinager and water in a spray bottle will keep ant away. If you hate the smell they suggest adding a couple drops of your fav. Scented oils they sell. It worked for me. Im not sure of the mixture amounts but check you tube the answer is there.

      Delete
    2. The vinegar smell will dissipate once dried to your nose.

      Delete
    3. Cinnamon gets rid of ants!

      Delete
  29. Does it work on Roses as well?

    ReplyDelete
  30. To answer some recent questions:

    --you can keep this up to two weeks in the fridge.

    --not sure about grub worms, but if you try it, let me know how it works!

    --I am thinking it would deter squirrels, we don't have any eating our veggies (and we have tons in our yard)…so maybe that's what's keeping them away!

    --I don't think it deters ants.

    --not sure how it interacts with fertilizer. Is it organic fertilizer or conventional?

    --yes, you can use it on roses!

    ReplyDelete
  31. FOR THOSE AFRAID OF SPIDERS! like me :) the day before harvest i add mint to the base, spiders hate it. and best part is it washes away so easy the spiders come back quickly so they can continue to eat the bad bugs :) enjoy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Remember that mint, if grown in the ground and not in a container, may get away from you and grow places you dont want it. You can plant it in a container and place next to your plant.

      Delete
  32. Does this work with all kinds of bugs and chickens? in my garden I have flies ,ants and a bunch of catipillars plus worms I got a infestation does this work for all that?

    ReplyDelete
  33. In regards to the question about repelling ants, I do know that powdered garlic works well in the kitchen for repelling ants, so I would think the garlic in this insecticide would work at repelling them in the garden.

    ReplyDelete
  34. If you use vinegar in your solution don't get it on the plants. Vinegar is used as a natural herbicide and will kill plants.

    ReplyDelete
  35. Hi guys; i use cigrette tabaco, vianger, small amount of dish soap and water.
    it is very effective.

    ReplyDelete
  36. You can buy Soapnut online to make your organic natural liquid soap (Google it to order in Bulk.. www.soapnutlady.com has listed several other use or soapnut

    Boil (low heat) 5 soapnut with 1 cup of water for 15 mins and allow it to cool. Since ti is natural you cannot store it to cool.

    Disclaimer: I do not have any biz ties to soapnutlady.com

    ReplyDelete
  37. Are u talking dish detergent or soap?

    ReplyDelete
  38. Will give this a try...hopefully should work as I deciphered after reading all the comments. Thanks so much. Is there something I can do to deter cats from pooping in my lawn?

    ReplyDelete
  39. don't use any tobacco products on tomato--potato families. It can cause blight, and if you're a smoker, wash hands well before handling them.

    ReplyDelete
  40. I am going to try this on my cherry trees and raspberry bushes.

    ReplyDelete
  41. does it repel iguanas and little lizards?

    ReplyDelete
  42. Cayenne pepper is great for keeping cats out of your gardens and it doesn't harm any plants!

    ReplyDelete
  43. Hello from Colombia.
    Thanks and congratulations. It is very usefull.

    ReplyDelete
  44. Please note that 2 cups equal a pint, not a quart (that would be 4 cups).

    ReplyDelete
  45. I have never thought of coming up with a homemade insecticidal soap for repelling deer and bunnies. Thanks for the great suggestions. Also, see some amazing homemade pepper spray tips here: http://survival-mastery.com/diy/useful-tools/homemade-pepper-spray.html

    ReplyDelete
  46. Will it help with Grubs in my veggie beds?

    ReplyDelete

  47. نحن نمتلك مجموعة من الخبراء والمتخصصين فى شركة تنظيف بابها ونحن نستطيع التعامل مع كافة المساحات المختلفة فلا يهم ان كنت تمتلك منزل او فيلا فأن لدينا خبرات كبيرة تمكنا من تقديم خدماتنا على اكمل وجه ولدينا عمال وفنيين محترفين ولهم خبرات مختلفة نقدم ايضآ تنظيف لواجهات الشركات والفنادق. فكل ما تحتاجه من معدات واجهزة ومنظفات ذات جودة عالمية موجودة بشركتنا فنحن نسعى فقط لارضاء العميل أولآ واخيرآ

    شركة عزل خزانات بخميس مشيط
    شركة مكافحة حشرات بخميس مشيط
    شركة غسيل مجالس بخميس مشيط
    شركة غسيل خزانات المياه بخميس مشيط
    شركة غسيل خزانات بخميس مشيط
    شركة تنظيف شقق بابها


    ReplyDelete
  48. Steam clean your bed throughly.Steam your matress both top and bottom sides and all.Spray lysol on it afterward let air outside. WASH everything that has touched the bed/beds in question.Better do the couches too.Better do the couches too.

    ReplyDelete
  49. There is a spray you can buy at most any drug store that you can spray your mattress with. This is also availible in a fogger, I would recomend trying both. visit For More: omnipestcontrol

    ReplyDelete
  50. Actually I also got disturbed by some of the pest like termites, rats, mosquito. So I took a service from Pest Control Langley and Exterminator surrey (Pest Control Surrey), they gave me a quality service and now I am free from pest. For more details visit. Look on: http://exopest.ca

    ReplyDelete
  51. It is perfect time to make some plans for the future and it is time to be happy. I’ve read this post and if I could I desire to suggest you few interesting things or tips. Perhaps you could write next articles referring to this article. I want to read more things about it! bathroom accessories

    ReplyDelete

  52. شركة التميز الجنوبي للخدمات المنزلية الشركة لديها افضل الخدمات المنزلية القادرة على التخلص من كافة المشاكل الكبيرة التي يحتجها العميل لذلك يمكنك ان تتواصل مع شركة التميز الجنوبي عبر بعض من خدماتها التالية : -

    شركة عزل خزانات بابها

    شركة عزل اسطح بابها

    شركة تنظيف منازل بابها

    شركة كشف تسربات المياه بابها


    شركة تنظيف مدارس بابها

    ReplyDelete
  53. شركة جوهرة الجنوب للخدمات المنزلية وخدمات العزل تقدم لكم بعض الخدمات التي تقدمها في مدينة ابها وخميس مشيط وجازان

    شركة عزل فوم بجازان
    شركة عزل خزانات بخميس مشيط
    شركة كشف تسربات المياه بخميس مشيط

    ReplyDelete
  54. Bài viết rất hay, cảm ơn tác giả đã chia sẻ những bổ ích, tôi cảm thấy rát phù hợp
    5 lý do nên dùng táp đầu giường tân cổ điển

    ReplyDelete

Your comments make this blog. I love to hear what is on your mind...