Before we became tangled in synthetic pesticides, it was plants that had all the answers to our gardening dilemmas. And what do you know? They still do. These two DIY pest control sprays are made from ingredients found right in your garden!
Chrysanthemum Pest Control Spray
Best for aphids, mites, and some caterpillars.
You must know a plant to fully appreciate it, and the chrysanthemum has proven itself to those in the know to be more than just a pretty flower. Chrysanthemum produces a natural chemical called pyrethrin, which is the key ingredient in common organic pest control. Pyrethrum spray, made by steeping the dried petals in boiling water, can be used to control a number of sucking pests, from aphids to mites, and has also proven effective on a variety of caterpillars.
Chive Spray
Best for powdery mildew, apple scab, and black/brown spot.
Chrysanthemum Pest Control Spray
Powdery mildew is a common fungal disease that likes to target large-leafed, warm-season crops, such as zucchini, pumpkin, and cucumber. Unlike other fungal conditions, it doesn’t need wet weather to thrive but, being a parasitic fungus, requires living plant tissue on which to grow. Frosts will usually kill the spores, so areas that don’t get any typically struggle with it. Powdery mildew is lazy and does best when conditions are dry and when competition from other fungal spores is diminished. Chive spray throws a hefty challenge at it, and thanks to its antibacterial qualities, will quickly control the issue with regular use.
Excerpted with permission from Root to Bloom by Mat Pember and Jocelyn Cross, published by Hardie Grant March 2019.
