For gardeners, there’s nothing more annoying than going outside to check on your plants only to find they’ve been chewed up by pests. Aphids, which are tiny insects, are often one of the biggest culprits.
These pests can suck the sap from your leaves, making them curl up and turn yellow. And unfortunately, they aren’t the easiest to get rid of either – which is why many people may resort to spraying soapy water on their plants. However, according to Chris Ware, local gardening expert at Climbing Wild Gardeners, there’s a much better solution.
He said: “Using household soaps can actually damage your plants. It can strip away the waxy cuticles on the leaves, making it easier for them to lose water and, in some cases, even causing the plants to die.”
Instead, Chris suggested making a homemade spray with one very common kitchen ingredient – garlic.
It’s not only non-toxic to plants but also effective at repelling pests. He said: “Garlic is toxic to insects, and it also helps prevent harmful bacteria and fungi.
“It’s a fantastic organic solution that works wonders for pests like aphids, slugs, and snails, and it doesn’t leave any unwanted garlic taste on edible crops.”
How to make a garlic spray
Creating your own natural pest repellent is so easy and cheap. All you need to do is boil two garlic bulbs in water until soft, then crush them to release the juice.
After sieving out the skins, dilute the liquid with around five litres of water before pouring it into a spray bottle and applying it to your plants once a week to keep pests at bay.
A bulb of garlic costs as little as 24p in Sainsbury’s, so if you buy two it’ll still cost less than 50p to do this hack.
Chris added: “It’s a great solution for anyone looking for a cheap and effective way to protect their garden.”
According to the experts at Patch Plants, there are many other herbs which can act as natural pest repellers, so they’re great for having around your garden.
They say that scented varieties like rosemary and lavender work well, as well as some common cooking plants like basil, lemongrass and mint, because the fragrance and oil in the herbs irritates the pests.
Garlic has been described as a ‘real all-rounder’ for keeping pests at bay, so it’s worth giving it a try if you’re sick of your plants being destroyed.