Natural Garden Solutions.
For Mosquito control – Just one spraying of all natural, liquid garlic-based Mosquito Barrier will keep mosquitoes out of your yard and away from your home, 24 hours a day for a couple of weeks or until it rains. Mosquitoes can’t tolerate garlic – that’s why there are no mosquitoes in a garlic field! Mosquito Barrier is a very strong liquid garlic made from very potent garlic cloves. The garlic used in Mosquito Barrier is a very powerful variety which is much more potent than the garlic found in grocery stores (in fact, our lab people here refer to it as “super garlic”).We mix it with water in a back pack sprayer and spray the shrubs around the house and porch. They sell it at Wabash Feed on Washington. http://www.mosquitobarrier.com/
For Weeds – check out this link to the Dirt Doctor on using vinegar to control weeds. http://www.dirtdoctor.com/Weed-Control-Natural-Way_vq62.htm
For Fire Ants – “Oil from the peels of oranges is completely safe for humans but deadly to fire ants – it dissolves their exoskeletons. Recent studies have discovered that orange oil solutions are effective in decimating fire ant colonies and, if the solution reaches the queen, destroyingthe mound for good. The key here is pouring enough solution to thoroughly soak the mound, and pouring at a time of day when ants are in the mound.
An added tip: orange oil solution can also be used indoors to control those fire ants that creep in through the cracks. Some studies also show that molasses or compost tea used in conjunction with orange oil may enhance the effects. A drop of soap in the orange oil solution helps it to mix with the water.” – Urban Harvest website
Here’s one recipe for orange oil solution, from Year Round Vegetables, Fruits and Flowers for Metro Houston by Dr. Bob Randall:
Orange Oil Recipe for Fire Ants
- 6 oz. orange oil
- 1 tbsp. blackstrap molasses
- A squeeze of liquid dish soap
- Add to a gallon jug and fill with water.
Drench the mounds when the ants are not out foraging. Fire ants prefer mild temperatures, so in the summers they may be out early in the morning and hiding in their mounds by mid-day, and vice-versa for cold days. A gallon will thoroughly soak one mound.
Snails – If you have a problem with snails and slugs eating your vegetable or tender perennials like hostas try crushed egg shells. They find it difficult to move across the broken bits of shell, probably due to the sharp edges! I have read coffee grounds work too. Rinse your egg shells and let them dry then throw them in a large zip lock bag. When it is full you can pound it with your hand to break them up in to small pieces. Then take them out and spread them around the plants you are trying to protect. When they break down they will also add calcium to your soil.
For more ideas check out our Pinterest Board : https://www.pinterest.com/laurinraven/natural-solutions-for-home-and-garden/
