Garlic has a rich and delightful flavor. One clove can turn the blandest meal into a gourmet dinner. It also has several health benefits, and research suggests that it helps prevent conditions such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders.
Another awesome use for garlic is to protect your plants. Yes, you can use it as a natural repellent against pests such as slugs, aphids, and mosquitos.
Garlic is also great for getting rid of the white fungus that sits on foliage eating away at your greenery. Here are some tips on how to use garlic on your plants.
The Benefits of Spraying Your Plants With Garlic
You won’t regret spraying garlic on your plants; here are some of the main benefits:
- Natural Deterrent: If you’re tired of small animals like deer, rats, and cats invading your garden, give them a dose of garlic! Garlic is an allium, it’s extremely potent for some livestock. Apparently, it’s five times more toxic than leeks or onions, and these animals can’t stomach them.
- Natural Fungicide: Garlic contains a sulphuric compound called di-ally thiosulfinate, which prevents the growth of bacteria and fungi.
- Natural Pesticide: The insects that do the most damage to your garden can be quickly eliminated with garlic. These include whiteflies, termites, slugs, armyworms, caterpillars, borers, beetles, ants, and aphids. Once the smell hits them, they simply won’t come near your garden. They all hate the smell of garlic and will go scurrying in the opposite direction when they smell it.
How to Make Your Own Garlic Spray
Making your own garlic spray is a very simple process. It takes a couple of minutes to prepare but you will need to steep the mixture overnight to maximize its effectiveness. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to make your own garlic spray:
Ingredients
- 1 head of garlic
- 2 tablespoons of liquid soap (30 ml) Any liquid soap will do
- 4 cups of water (940 ml)
Kitchen Utensils
- 1 large mason jar with a lid
- A food processor
- A fine mesh strainer
- Cheesecloth
- 1 large plastic bowl
- 1 spray bottle
- 1 funnel
Directions
- Separate and peel the garlic cloves.
- Add the garlic to a blender and 235ml of water.
- Blend the mixture until a smooth paste is formed.
- Add the remaining water and soap and blend until smooth (the soap helps the spray stick to the plants and adds to the potency of the garlic).
- Pour the mixture into the mason jar, screw the lid on tight, and leave it to steep for 24 hours.
- Place a fine-mesh strainer over a large plastic bowl, and the cheesecloth over the fine-mesh strainer.
- Pour out the liquid and squeeze the cloth to drain out as much liquid as possible.
- Insert the funnel into the spray bottle, pour the liquid into it, and shake before using it.
- Store the mixture in the fridge in between uses, it will last for approximately six months.
Related: What Happens If You Sprinkle Cinnamon In Your Garden
How to Spray Your Plants With Garlic Spray
Stand 15-30 cm away from the plant you want to spray and spray both sides of the leaves because bugs are smart and they will hide underneath so you can’t see them. Additionally, that’s typically where fungus grows.
Repeat the process once every three days. You will also need to spray your plants after it has rained. If any insects get to your garden before you’ve sprayed in between the three days, spray again. If you currently have an infestation, spray the mixture every day until it is gone.
Also, the spray is most effective when used in the evening because the insects are less active and the leaves are protected against being burned by the sun.
Everyone loves garlic but hates the smell. The good news is that once the application has been applied, you won’t be able to smell it.
While it is normal to wash fruit and vegetables after they’ve been harvested, be extra thorough because of the spice (keep reading to find out why), and the dish soap.
Mosquitos Are Unique
While garlic spray works well for the majority of insects, it needs a few extra ingredients for mosquitos, because as you know, they are very stubborn creatures! However, you can scare them off with an even more potent mixture by adding cayenne pepper and onions. You see, mosquitoes can not tolerate either of these ingredients. Cayenne pepper contains capsaicin, the compound that provides the heat. It is extremely irritating to the eyes and skin in humans, but it disrupts the nervous system and damages the cell membranes in insects.
Mosquitos don’t like onions because they release a compound called allicin, and it is rumored that it reduces the potency of the malaria infection which weakens the mosquitos. However, there are no studies to prove this. But many gardeners seem to agree that it works. Here is a step-by-step recipe for garlic spray to kill mosquitos.
Related: DIY Cheap Mosquito Trap
Ingredients
- 1 head of garlic
- 1 small onion
- 1 teaspoon of powdered cayenne pepper (2 grams)
- 1 tablespoon of dish liquid (15 ml)
- 4 cups of water (940 ml)
- 2 tablespoons of liquid soap (30 ml)
Kitchen Utensils
- 1 large mason jar with a lid
- A food processor
- A fine mesh strainer
- Cheesecloth
- 1 large plastic bowl
- 1 spray bottle
- 1 funnel
- 1 large saucepan
Directions
- Separate, peel, and mince the garlic cloves and transfer them into the saucepan.
- Peel and finely dice the onion and transfer them into the saucepan.
- Add the cayenne pepper and the water, and stir to combine.
- Put a lid on the saucepan and over medium heat, boil the ingredients.
- When it comes to a boil, reduce the temperature to low and leave it to simmer for 15 minutes.
- Remove the saucepan from the fire and leave the mixture to steep for 24 hours.
- Place a fine-mesh strainer over a large plastic bowl, and the cheesecloth over the fine-mesh strainer.
- Pour out the mixture and squeeze the cloth to drain as much liquid as possible.
- Insert the funnel into the spray bottle, pour out the liquid, and shake before using it.
- Store the mixture in the fridge in between uses, due to the additional ingredients, the spray will only last for one week.
- Use the spray according to the instructions in the section, ‘How to Spray Your Plants With Garlic Spray.’
Consistency is key when it comes to using natural products like garlic spray. However, once you notice how effective and unproblematic it is, garlic spray will be your new go-to spray for pest control.
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