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From your Kitchen to your Garden: Natural Alternatives to Toxic Chemicals for Controlling Pests in the Garden


The Quick Facts: Toxic chemicals that comprise many pesticides and fertilizers are often found in the foods that we eat. These toxic chemicals can cause cancer and disorders of the nervous and reproductive systems. You can avoid toxic chemicals in your garden and still control pests by using any number of natural solutions.

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I received lots of advice warning me not to continue gardening because of the potential risk of exposure to toxic chemicals that are found in pesticides and fertilizers. In support of those who issued the warnings to me, the Northeast Organic Farming Association (the “NOFA”), estimates that millions of tons of artificial pesticides and fertilizers are sprayed in American gardens each year. The toxic chemicals seep into our groundwater and run into our waterways. Residue from toxic chemicals is often found in our foods. These chemicals can cause cancer and harm our nervous and reproductive systems. Still, in spite of all the advice I received, my love of gardening was not going to keep me out of the garden. Instead, I chose a route that I found to be win-win: I avoided the use of toxic chemicals in my garden, and found alternative ways to keep my backyard beautiful. As my daughter and my garden began to bloom, I started to change the way I looked at the products I was using in my home and my yard, as well as the way my family’s activities impact the environment. Below is a list of some of the natural solutions that help me to control insects and pests in my garden.

Natural Alternatives to Controlling Insects:

Pest-Repelling Plants: The following plants will repel insects in your garden:
borage, dill, garlic, onion, fennel, sage, thyme, parsley, nasturtium and French marigolds.

Basic Insect Spray: This spray will repel insects and can also kill fungi and mites.
Mix 2 tablespoons of dishwashing liquid* (not detergent) and 1 gallon of water. Add 1-2 tablespoons of baking soda to kill fungi. Add sulfur to eradicate mites. Put solution in a properly labeled spray bottle.

Basic Oil Spray: This is a general insect repellent.
Mix 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil, 2 cups of water and 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid.* Put solution in a properly labeled spray bottle.

Peppermint Tea: This is an all purpose insect spray, and is also useful for repelling ants. Brew peppermint leaf tea. Cool and place in a properly labeled spray bottle.

Garlic Spray: This spray will repel insects.
Mix 1 quart of water, 2 teaspoons of garlic juice, 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper and 1 teaspoon of liquid soap. Put solution in a properly labeled spray bottle.

Minced Garlic: Minced garlic placed around tulip bulbs will discourage squirrels from eating the bulbs.

Lemon Spray: This spray will repel white flies and soft bodied insects. It also gets rid of pet fleas. Boil peels of 3 lemons in 1 quart of water, cool and remove peels. Put solution in a properly labeled spray bottle.

Basil Spray: This spray will repel white flies.
Boil water and add a few basil leaves. Let it steep and add dishwashing liquid.* Put solution in a properly labeled spray bottle.

Banana Peel Repellent: Banana peels will repel aphids. The potassium from the peels also stimulates large blooms. Place banana peels around roses and other plants.

Hot Pepper Spray: This spray will repel insects and eliminate black spots on roses. Mix 2 teaspoons of cayenne pepper, 1 quart of water and _ teaspoon of dishwashing liquid.* Put solution in a properly labeled spray bottle.

Tomato Leaf Spray: This repels insects in the vegetable garden. Mix 2 cups of tomato leaves with 1 quart of water. Bring to a boil, cool, strain and add 1 teaspoon of dishwashing liquid.* Put solution in a properly labeled spray bottle.

Lemongrass Wasp Repellent: Place lemongrass in a vase on your picnic table to keep the wasps away.

Natural Alternatives to Controlling Fungus:

Anti-Fungus Spray: This solution will repel and combat fungal disease. Mix 2 tablespoons of baking soda, 1 teaspoon of vegetable oil and 1 gallon of water.

Vinegar Spray: Use this solution to combat fungal disease and black spots on roses. Mix 3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar and 1 gallon of water.

*You can find a natural dishwashing liquid at stores that specialize in organic products.

Information used in this article was found at the following sources, which you can visit if you want to find out more about this topic:

Gardening Without Toxic Chemicals (leaflet), Huber Woods Activity Center, Monmouth County Parks System, Monmouth County, New Jersey

Northeast Organic Farming Association of New Jersey, brochure entitled, “Healthy Farms, Healthy Food, and Healthy Land.”

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