| When it comes to pest control, you can spend all | | | | of garlic, 2 tablespoons of cayenne pepper, and one |
| sorts of money hiring exterminators or buying smelly | | | | quart of water. Put the mixture aside and then dilute |
| (and often toxic) sprays and chemicals for your | | | | 2 tablespoons of soap flakes in 2 gallons of water. |
| home, but in some cases, you may not need to go | | | | Pour all the contents in your blender, stir it up, and |
| to such extremes. There are a lot of completely | | | | this gives you an eco-friendly bug spray to use on |
| natural insect and pest control remedies out there, | | | | your plants. |
| many of which our ancestors have been using with | | | | Black pepper is another home remedy that works |
| great success for countless generations. You'll be | | | | great for pest control in the garden. If insects are |
| pleased to know that many of these useful items | | | | harassing your flowers, plants, and vegetables, simply |
| can be found in the average household. | | | | mix pepper with flour and sprinkle it around your |
| Though pest control can refer to dealing with pest | | | | plants. Bugs won't be so eager to munch. |
| birds, bugs, and rodents, this article will focus on | | | | Lastly, you can make your own rock dust to get rid |
| getting rid of insects. | | | | of insects in the garden. |
| Insect Control in the Garden | | | | Insect Control in the House |
| Believe it or not, aluminum foil can successfully keep | | | | Dog and cat food, which is often left out around the |
| hungry insects and slugs away from your vegetable | | | | clock, can be quite a temptation to ants and other |
| garden. Simply mix strips of aluminum foil in with your | | | | insects. A simple way to make these six-legged |
| garden mulch to deter bugs and slugs. In addition, | | | | intruders lose interest is to place a border of baking |
| since foil is reflective, it will shine light back up onto | | | | soda around the pet food bowls. Baking soda won't |
| your plants, giving them a solar boost. | | | | bother your pets (though they probably won't be |
| Mothballs are another handy insect control device for | | | | keen on the taste), so it's no worry for them if they |
| the garden. You've probably heard of using mothballs | | | | lap a bit up with their meal. |
| in the closet to protect your sweaters, but you can | | | | Another household item good at getting rid of insects |
| also use them to kill bugs on potted plants. Simply | | | | is vinegar. For example, if your latest trip to the |
| place the plant in a clear plastic bag (i.e. a cleaning | | | | farmers' market brought back fruit flies as well as |
| bag), add a few mothballs, and seal the bag for a | | | | healthy victuals, then you can make traps for the |
| week. When you take the plant out, it will be | | | | flies by filling an old jar about halfway full with apple |
| bug-free (and moths will stay away for a while too). | | | | cider vinegar. Punch a few holes in the top, screw it |
| Animals also hate the smell of mothballs, so you can | | | | back on, and the fruit flies will be attracted and |
| toss a few into your garden and flowerbed as well, | | | | trapped. |
| to keep away cats, dogs, and rodents. | | | | These are just a few of the easy ways to use |
| Did you know onions are a natural pesticide as well? | | | | simple household items to get rid of insects. So when |
| Here's an easy-to-make concoction that will repel | | | | you're having a problem, don't be so eager to pick up |
| insects (and animals too) in your flowers and | | | | a can of chemical-filled bug spray. Look for natural |
| vegetables: Use a blender to puree 4 onions, 2 cloves | | | | solutions, and you will very likely find them! |