Are chemical pesticides wreaking havoc on your garden? Discover the power of natural DIY pest control solutions using everyday ingredients. Not only will you save money, but you’ll also protect your plants, pets, and the environment.
Crafting your bug-repelling concoctions is not just about frugality, it’s about taking charge of your garden’s well-being. In an article published on Health For Mzansi, Pamella Goldstone, founder of A-Myl-Fresh farming in Chatsworth, KwaZulu-Natal recommends using boiled chillies and onion water to spray marigolds.
According to Goldstone, these homemade solutions don’t harm crops or alter their natural growth, unlike commercial pesticides.
Natural DIY pest control solutions
Tebogo Ntseoane from Mpumalanga suggests a mixture of Sunlight Liquid with Epsom salt or bicarbonate of soda to combat bugs effectively.
“I believe homemade remedies made from food are less poisonous or not poisonous at all, making it easy for those with less farming knowledge to use them,” he says.
Pulane Mlangeni from the Free State shares her journey dealing with persistent pests that conventional pesticides couldn’t deter. Initially turning to commercial pesticides, she later realised the costliness of battling bugs with these chemicals.
She says, “Bugs make farming expensive because when you’re fighting them, you end up buying commercial pesticides.”
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Benefits of homemade pesticides
Homemade pesticides, as advocated by Limpopo farmer Mokgomotsi Morodi, are not only environmentally friendly but also cost-effective and time-saving compared to commercial options.
Morodi advises testing homemade mixtures on a small scale before widespread application, emphasising the importance of companion planting.
This article was first published on Health For Mzansi and written by Vateka Halile
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