10 DIY Garden Spray Recipes

In the next couple of weeks, the kids and I will be starting our garden. Things will be okay for a few months and just when our sproutlings are starting to mature the bugs will arrive. The only thing I hate more than pests is mildew. So here are 10 easy all-natural recipes that'll help keep pests and disease away. More than a few of them are also cheap ways to feed your plants!

3 Things You Need To Know About Garden Sprays

1. These sprays are efficient and can keep away beneficial bugs; don't use them unless you have a problem.

2. With most of these recipes you'll want to spray 1-2 times a week, or after a heavy rain, and ALWAYS in the evening.

3. You’ll want to be sure to spray the underside of leaves just as well if not better than the top.

Make-Your-Own Garden Spray Recipes

Bad Breathe Garden Spray: Large onion, 4-5 cloves of garlic, 2 Tbsp peppermint Castile soap, 2 Tbsp cayenne pepper. Mix everything but the soap in a food processor and then let the mixture steep for a few hours (outside-unless you like the smell). Run it through a fine-mesh strainer into an empty gallon jug. *YOU must strain it very well, so you don’t clog the sprayer. Finally, add the soap and enough water to fill the container.

Herbal Spray: Steep half a cup of any strong herb (Sage, Rosemary, Mint, Lavender) in 8 cups of water for 30 minutes. Let cool, strain, and add 1 Tbsp Castille soap.

Aphid Spray: 1 tsp olive oil, 1tsp dish soap, 1 gal of water.

Pepper Spray: 1 tsp Tabasco sauce, 1/2 apple cider vinegar, and 1/4 tsp of dish soap.

Vinegar Spray: 8 parts water to 1 part vinegar (white or apple cider). *Helps fight fungus and get rid of pests.

Baking Soda Spray: In an empty gallon jug mix 1 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1 Tbsp vegetable oil, 1/2 tsp dish soap, 1/2 cup of white vinegar, and enough water to fill the container.

Peppermint Spray: 2 Tbsp peppermint Castile soap, 1 liter of warm water.

Epsom Salt Spray: 1 Tbsp of Epsom for every 4 liters of water. *Great for tomatoes, peppers, and roses. Spray every week and a half.

Cannibal Spray: As long as you don’t add any butter or oils you can use the water you cook your vegetables in as a fertilizing spray. Just be sure to let it cool before pouring it into the spray bottle or getting it on the plants.

Fungal Spray: 2 uncoated aspirin tablets in 1 quart of water. *Great for black spot, powdery mildew, and rust in the garden.

Powdery Mildew Spray: 2 Tbsp canola oil, 1 Tbsp dish soap, 1 Tbsp baking soda, 1 gal of water.

*All these recipes are made in a separate storage container and poured into a spray bottle.