Materials
Bacillus Thuringiensis (BT)
A beneficial bacteria applied as a spray or powder to kill caterpillars. Very effective, but also kills butterfly caterpillars. Use very sparingly.
Bacillus Thuringiensis Isrealensis (BTI)
Used in standing water for controlling mosquitoes (by killing the larvae). Known commercially as "mosquito dunks" Ask for BT products at businesses that carry organic gardening supplies.
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Baking Soda Fungicide
Dissolve 1 teaspoon baking soda in 1 quart water. Add a few drops of liquid soap or insecticidal soap to the solution to help it spread more evenly on the leaves. Spray infected plants thoroughly, including the undersides of leaves. Common baking soda is sodium bicarbonate. Potassium bicarbonate is as effective as baking soda for treating fungus and does not add salts (sodium) to the soil. Potassium bicarbonate is available from some mail order organic suppliers. See RESOURCES.
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Beneficial Nematodes
Nematodes are tiny roundworms that belong to the phylum Nematoda. They occupy all the basic habitats of the earth. They are well known as pests of plants and people, but there are a huge number of predatory nematode species that are natural enemies of insects. They proliferate in healthy soils full of organic matter. Certain types are mass-produced and sold as treatments for common pests, such as fleas, fire ants, and even termites. Nematodes are available in some local nurseries, organic gardening stores or by mail order.
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Boiling Water
When confronted by ants in cracks on the sidewalk or driveway, boil a
pot of water and pour over the ants and into the cracks. Do not use on lawns – the hot water will kill grass and other living plants.
Boric Acid
Derived from borax, boric acid is a slow acting, highly effective insecticide. It acts as a stomach poison when ingested. It comes in many formulations, including powders, tablets, and liquid solutions. Boric acid powder is available at drugstores. The tablets for roaches are available in grocery stores. Caution: Can be harmful to mammals if ingested in high doses. Keep containers and distributed tablets out of the reach of children and pets.
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Boric Acid - Indoor Ant Bait
If you are contending with a large indoor infestation, try a boric acid bait: mix boric acid with a food attractant at a ratio of 95% food to 5% boric acid. Choose a food the ants seem to prefer; some are drawn to protein like pet foods, others to sweets like jelly. Put the bait in a safe container. A screw top jar with a few tiny holes punched in the top works well. Clearly mark the jar POISON. It is toxic to mammals in large doses. Place it where ants will find it but keep out of reach of children and pets. Be patient. It works!
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Cedar
Aromatic cedar wood is repellant to a number of insects and other pests. Be sure to buy cedar products that still contain the cedar oil. Avoid "de-oiled" products because it is the aromatic quality of the oil that acts as the repellent. Indoors, cedar can be used to repel moths in stored woolen clothing. Outdoors, cedar mulch can be used to repel slugs, snails, and roaches. It will act as a fumigant on fire ant mounds in dry weather. Cedar mulch is available at nurseries and home supply stores.
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Citrus Oil/d-Limonene
The oil extract from citrus peels contains two effective insecticidal compounds, d-limonene and linalool. It is available via products containing citrus oil, orange oil, d-limonene, or citronella. Look for these products in health food stores on household cleaning and pet care shelves as well as garden supply stores.
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Compost - Recipe
- Make a round or square enclosure (4'x4'x4' is ideal) of cinder blocks, wire mesh, old fencing, or whatever.
Add to the enclosure anything that will decompose easily. Mix green and brown materials: untreated grass clippings, garden debris, and kitchen scraps (avoid using those containing fats and meat). Food wastes should be placed well down into the pile to avoid attracting rodents and flies. Manure (not from pets) provides a large input of nitrogen. Avoid thick layers of any one material. It all needs to interact.
Keep it moist; the consistency of a squeezed-out sponge.
- Give it air. Turn or fluff the compost once a month to aerate and to remix the organic matter. This can be done in the same container, or you can fork the material into a second bin.
As an easy alternative, eliminate the last step and simply let nature take care of it for you. It will decompose on its own, but it will take longer. Adding earthworms to your compost pile will speed things up. You can buy them by mail order.
Back to Top Compost Tea - Recipe
Manure compost tea contains certain naturally-occurring microorganisms which are beneficial in a number of uses. It is highly effective as a fertilizer and strengthening tonic to spray on foliage, in a mixture to get rid of fire ants, and as a fungicide spray.
- Fill any container (plastic bucket works well) half full with manure-based, finished compost. Add water to fill the bucket. Let this mix brew for 10-14 days. Cover with a close-fitting screen to keep mosquitoes out.
- Strain and dilute to the color of iced tea to use as a foliar spray.
Tea Bag Method: If you secure the compost in a porous bag (tow sack, pantyhose or pillowcase) before placing in the bucket, it will be strained when you lift the bag out of the bucket.
Back to Top Diatomaceous Earth (D.E.)
D.E. is mined from the fossilized silica shell remains of certain algae. It is formulated as a very fine dust and readily absorbs water. Insects are dehydrated when exposed to it. It is nontoxic to mammals, but in its dry state dangerously irritating to eyes and lungs. If you must use it, wear a dust mask and goggles and be certain no children or pets are anywhere around. Don't apply near areas that will be mowed or vacuumed. Never use swimming pool grade D.E. as a pest control; this dust form is a severe respiratory hazard. Even when using DE as a soil amendment, precautions should be taken.
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Garlic Sprays - Recipe
To make Garlic/Pepper Spray:
- Liquefy 2 garlic bulbs and 2 hot peppers in a blender 1/2 to 2/3 full of water. Strain the solids and add enough water to the garlic/pepper juice to make one gallon of concentrate. Use 1/4 cup of concentrate per gallon of spray. Don't forget this step or you can burn/kill your plants!
- For added strength, add 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil or horticultural oil to each gallon of water in the sprayer.
To make Garlic Spray: simply omit the pepper and add another bulb of garlic.
Garlic/Pepper Spray can be used to control insects. Garlic Spray by itself is a good fungicide.
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Garrett Juice™ - Recipe
Mix the following ingredients in a gallon of water to make a ready-to-use spray for insect and disease control:
- 1-2 cups manure-based Compost Tea
- 1 tablespoon each of household molasses, natural apple cider vinegar, and liquid seaweed
For extra strength add: 1/4 cup Garlic Tea or Garlic Pepper Tea per gallon. For tougher-to-kill insects, such as fire ants and squash bugs, add: 1-2 ounces of citrus oil/d-limonene per gallon of spray. However, this also kills beneficials so use sparingly and for specific problems that can't be controlled with other methods.
Note: This product is available commercially.
Back to Top Hardwood Tea Recipe - Brown Patch
Brown patch in lawns is usually caused by over watering, poor drainage, and/or excessive nitrogen usage. Correct these conditions first, before trying the following techniques. Although this product is called "hardwood" tea, many people have found that it is even more effective to use mulch made from native woods (rather than oak from California). Check with nurseries and landscaping companies to find a "native" product – the microbes are better suited to your area.
- Purchase shredded oak mulch or "native" mulch from a local mulch yard (take your own bucket). Take the mulch from the backside of the pile where it is older. Soak a grapefruit-size tea bag of this mulch in a 5-gallon bucket of water overnight (or longer).
- Spray the tea on the patch and surrounding area weekly until acceptable results are achieved.
Commercial alternative: The product Actinovate™ can be used for the same purpose as hardwood tea. Ask for this product at organic gardening suppliers.
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Mosquito Dunks (BTI)
Mosquito dunks are hard, doughnut shaped cakes that float on water, slowly releasing the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis israeliensis (BTI). BTI infects and kills mosquito larvae. It is relatively safe and environmentally sound because it is highly selective. Toss mosquito dunks into any standing water that you can't change regularly, like bird baths. They do not harm birds, fish, or aquatic plants. They last 30 days or more. Mosquito dunks are available in businesses that carry organic gardening supplies.
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Pyrethrum/Pyrethrin
Pyrethrins are the insecticidal chemicals extracted from the pyrethrum daisy. They are a contact insecticide that has a quick knock down effect on insects but they do kill some beneficial ones. Pyrethrins break down quickly in the environment, but they are toxic to fish, aquatic insects and other small creatures that fish eat. Caution: Do not confuse them with pyrethroids, the term for a new class of synthetic pesticides. Do not use pyrethrin products that contain piperonyl butoxide (PBO). They interfere with the ability of mammals to break down pyrethrins.
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Seaweed Sprays
Seaweed (and/or kelp) is an extremely beneficial food for all plants. It nourishes them through times of stress like drought, sudden or extreme temperature changes, and transplanting. Spraying or sprinkling plants once a month with seaweed and fish emulsion keeps them healthy and strong. Adding household molasses to the brew will control sucking insects such as aphids. Products containing these ingredients are available through organic gardening suppliers.
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Vinegar And Apple Cider Vinegar - Herbicide, Fungicide And More!
Used full strength, vinegar acts as an herbicide. It is especially effective on weed seedlings in the cracks of sidewalks. Grocery store vinegar is a 3% acetic acid solution. It works, but may require repeated applications. 10-20% vinegar is available from landscaping companies and a few nurseries. Its extra strength makes it more effective. Apple cider vinegar, diluted 2 ounces per gallon of water, controls powdery mildew. Diluted 1 ounce per gallon of water, it lowers the pH of alkaline tap water to a better pH for plants. Common vinegar mixed with water is a great all purpose cleaner for kitchen and bathroom counters, cabinets, floors, mirrors and windows. Best of all, insects don't like it!
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