When warm weather arrives, garden insects can quickly become a nuisance. But you don't need harsh chemical insecticides to protect your plants.
Commercial sprays often kill beneficial insects and pose health risks to you and your garden. Instead, try this simple, natural, non-toxic spray that pests despise.
As a seasoned gardener with years of experience combating infestations, I've relied on this essential oil-based recipe for effective, safe results. Here's how to make it:
To prove its effectiveness, I tested it on a plant overrun with ants in my own garden. Here's the before photo, with arrows highlighting the infestation:
A heavy ant problem, right? Watch how this spray handles it.
- 500ml water
- 500ml witch hazel
- 10 to 20 drops of spearmint, peppermint, and wintergreen essential oils
- Glass spray bottle (recommended)
1. Fill the spray bottle with 500ml water.
2. Add 500ml witch hazel.
3. Add 5 drops of each essential oil.
4. Shake well to mix.
5. Spray directly on affected plants.
And just like that—the ants fled! See the photos for proof. This is far safer than chemical alternatives.
Customize it for any pest by selecting the right essential oils, as outlined below.
This spray is versatile—simply swap oils based on the insect. Here's our tested guide:
- Ants: Peppermint, spearmint
- Aphids: Cedar, fennel, spearmint, peppermint
- Beetles: Peppermint, thyme
- Caterpillars: Peppermint, spearmint
- Chiggers: Lavender, sage, lemongrass, thyme
- Fleas: Peppermint, lemongrass, spearmint, lavender
- Flies: Lavender, peppermint, rosemary, sage
- Midges: Patchouli, spearmint
- Lice: Cedar, peppermint, spearmint
- Mosquitoes: Lavender, lemongrass
- Moths: Cedar, fennel, lavender, peppermint, spearmint
- Psylliodes: Spearmint, peppermint
- Slugs: Cedar, fennel, pine
- Snails: Cedar, pine, patchouli
- Spiders: Peppermint, spearmint
- Ticks: Lavender, lemongrass, sage, thyme
- Weevils: Cedar, patchouli, sandalwood
Need essential oils? I recommend a starter pack with the 12 most versatile ones for gardening.
