Tips and Tonics
Disclaimer: To the best of our knowledge these tips and recipes are safe and non-toxic. They have proved to do what they are intended to, but may differ in results depending on your climate and spray program. Keep in mind that all organic sprays need to be reapplied on a regular basis because they do break down quickly in the garden. Alternating the different spray "concoctions" and organic spray products are recommended for best results. With that said the best line of defence is healthy soil!
 Soil Conditioner - 1 cup of baby shampoo, 1 can of beer, 1 can of cola - Place all in a *20gal. hose end sprayer* and fill to the top with water. Attach to hose and spray plants and ground around plants. Lightly mist off plants when done to make sure none are sensitive especially when the weather is warm and the sun may burn leaves. Especially benificial if used after aplying a good organic fertilizer or gypsum. (Besure to thoroughly water your garden before fertilizing or spraying so soil is moist. This mixture will help to break up soil and allow nutrients to work down into the soil. Using twice a year also helps with leaching of salts and build up in clay soil.)- Ms.Mary's all purpose spray - 1 cup of Cloud Cover or Wilt Proof, 2 tablespoons of liquid kelp and 10-15 drops of pure Tea Tree Oil added to 1 gallon of water. (Deters mildew, black spot, rust and other common diseases. Bugs don't like it either!
- Milk Spray - 1-2 cups of low fat milk (milk containing acidophilus is best) and 2 tablespoons of liquid kelp added to 1 gallon of water. (This spray helps to deter mildew and black spot)
- Ms.Mary's all purpose spray - 1 cup of Cloud Cover or Wilt Proof, 2 tablespoons of liquid kelp and 10-15 drops of pure Tea Tree Oil added to 1 gallon of water. (Deters mildew, black spot, rust and other common diseases. Bugs don't like it either!
- Cornell Spray - 1 tablespoon of baking soda, 1 tablespoon of horticultureal oil and a couple drops of dish soap added to 1 gallon of water. (deters mildew, mild cases of black spot and bugs) Note: Do use caution on hot days! The oil can burn plants and you could subsitute the oil with Cloud Cover or Wilt Proof in that case. This subsitution would make the solution usable year round, but would not deter bugs.)
- Compost Tea - This is one of the very best sprays you could use to deter and curtail many common rose problems. Instead of giving you a recipe I'm including a couple of links that explain the "How to's" of brewing this bennifical "Liquid Gold". Compose Tea / Compose Tea (simple method)
- Manure Tea - 1 gallon of well composed manure added to 5 gallons of water and allowed to sit for several days in a warm location. Strain misture thru cheesecloth and spray on plants. (fights fungal diseases) A bonus is the leftover mixture can be poured around plants as a fertilizer.
- Worm Castings - Pure worm castings such as WormGold can be bought commercially and when applied around the base of a plant will deter white fly and add nutrients to the soil. Ofcourse you can also produce your own castings with a Worm Bed if you have the time to maintain one.
- All Purpose Bug Spray - 1 tablesppon of Tick and Flea Dog Shampoo (any that contain pyrethrin) added to 1 gallon of water.
- Worm Control - BT (Bacillus thuringiensis ) can be used to combate chewing type worms on your plants with either a spray or powder. Here is a link that gives facts about this commercial product. BT facts
- Misc. Information - Here are a few links for more suggestions and ideas:
Home Made Bug Remedies | Home Remedies for the Garden
Growing Roses the Natural Way | MakeStuff.Com/Insects control
Home Remedies | Tips and Tonics | Bug and Fungus Remedies
*NOTE* - *20gal. hose end sprayer* can be purchased at most home and garden centers. There is no dial and spray is pre-set at 1 tbs per gallon.
If you have any recipes you have found useful and would like to share, please email me and I would be more then happy to add them!
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