Conservation blog

Pollution Prevention – Pesticide Alternatives

Apr 24, 2023 | Education, Pollution

Weeds
Mix undiluted vinegar with a squirt of dishwashing liquid and spray on weeds.  Multiple applications can keep them from coming back the next year.

Garden Herbs and Flowers
Herbs such as mint, basil, lavender and rosemary planted in your garden are natural pest repellents.  It has the added benefit of attracting beneficial insects.

Consider planting petunias, chrysanthemums, lemon grass, clover, eucalyptus, lavender or marigolds to keep pests away from your vegetables.

Seasonings
Insects and bugs find certain seasonings offensive.  These include cinnamon, paprika, cayenne, salt, turmeric, and black pepper.  To repel ants and other creepy crawlies, sprinkle a thin stream of seasoning along a window sill or doorway.  If you find bugs in your cupboards, closets or bookshelves, place cinnamon, bay leaves, or cloves in a small bag inside these areas.

Clean with Natural Products
A simple cleaner that doubles as a pest deterrent can be made by mixing ½ cup vinegar with 2 cups of water and adding 10 to 15 drop of essential oils – peppermint or eucalyptus work best.  If you don’t have essential oils, add citrus peels to a glass jar, cover with vinegar, and store in a cool place for a few weeks.  Then strain the peels, add some water, clean the area and repel bugs at the same time.

 Spiders
Try a garlic spray.  Blend 15-20 cloves of garlic with 1½ to 2 cups of water.  Strain the mixture to remove the pulp, then add to a gallon of water.  Spray wherever you’ve seen spiders.  If you don’t need to make that much, crush a few cloves and add them directly to a spray bottle filled with water. 

Useful Food Waste
Coffee grounds have a strong scent, especially after brewing.  Toss the used grounds outside to help repel ants, mosquitoes, wasps, bees, and other insects.  Ants don’t like cucumber peels.  To repel mosquitoes, chop leftover onion, add water, and put it outside.

Do Your Part

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