Organic Pest Control Guide: Homemade remedies for your house and garden

by Maria Konou
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Did you know that you can replace the expensive chemicals you use for pest protection with homemade alternatives? Everyone knows that everything in nature corresponds, and this is what we plan to take advantage of in order to protect our garden from pests. This is also another opportunity to show our own respect for nature. With a little bit of trickery and knowledge, we can keep our plants healthy using only natural ingredients. After all, the chemical compounds in most plant protection products contain active ingredients that are also found in plants. So what better way to maintain sustainable agriculture and protect the environment and pollinators at the same time! These are the best organic pest control recipes:

These organic pest control remedies are free of harmful chemicals and toxins

organic pest control methods

Organic remedies for pests in the vegetable garden

There are two ways to protect your garden from pests. One is to sow nearby plants that we know have pest-fighting properties. The other way is to make some organic pest control home remedies.

Every gardener dreams of a lush, green, and healthy vegetable garden 

natural garden pest remedies

Protect your vegetable garden from pests with plants

There are actually many plants whose extracts, decoction, tincture, oils, and root secretions possess insecticidal, acaricidal, nematicidal, fungicidal, and bactericidal properties. Here we have collected the most famous of them:

  • Marigold – Plant near tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, strawberries, peppers, cucumbers, cabbage broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower. This fragrant flower will protect your garden from aphids, bedbugs, beetles, and Colorado potato beetle.
  • Basil – Sown near tomatoes will protect them from insects such as thrips, mosquitoes, and various flies, but may attract grasshoppers and beetles.
  • Summer Savory – Sown near legumes will protect them from aphids.
  • Fern – Sown next to beds will protect your garden from slugs and ants. Here is our ultimate guide for taking care of ferns!
  • Garlic – Sown near roses and strawberries will protect them from fungus.
  • Lavender – This fragrant plant sown next to beds will protect them from ants, aphids, moths, and mosquitoes. It is a great plant to attract butterflies to your garden, as well as bees!
  • Tansy – Sown near the beds, it protects against all kinds of insects.
  • Catnip – Contains high levels of Nepetalactone. Its strong aroma chases away mosquitoes, cockroaches, gnats, ticks, cockroaches, fleas, mice, and rats. Attention: This plant is one of the plants that attract honey bees! So, if you want a nice, pollinated garden, make sure to plant some catnip.

Lavender protects your garden from pests and attracts pretty butterflies at the same time!

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Growing these aromatic flowers will keep your garden colorful and safe from pests

homemade pest control for plants

Protect your vegetable garden from pests with home remedies

As we said earlier, we can also protect our garden from pests by making our own plant protection preparations at home:

When growing vegetables, it is crucial to opt for organic, chemical-free pest control solutions

best organic pest control for vegetable garden

Recipe against aphids on tomatoes

Ingredients:

  • 1 kg. chopped leaves, or garlic bulbs
  • 3 liters of water

Method of use:  Take 500 f of this decoction before treatment and dilute it in 10 liters of water.

This simple recipe will keep aphids away from your growing tomatoes

homemade pest control for tomato plants

Chili solution against aphids, fleas, caterpillars, and naked snails

Ingredients:

  • 1 kg fresh or 0.5 kg dry chili peppers
  • 50 ml liquid soap
  • 10 liters of water

Method of use: Boil the chili peppers for 1 hour in 10 liters of water. Pour 150 ml of the resulting solution into 10 liters of water and add the liquid soap.

Chili peppers are extremely effective against aphids, fleas, caterpillars, and snails 

how do you make homemade pest control

Solution against aphids and onion mites

Ingredients:

  • 200 g onion skins
  • 10 liters of water

Directions for use: Soak the scales in the water for one day. Spray every 5 days.

Save your onion skins while cooking and use it against aphids and mites

best organic pest control for home

Wormwood infusion against leaf-chewing caterpillars and apple fruit worm

Ingredients:

  • 1 kg dry common wormwood
  • 1.2 kg chicken manure

Method of use: Boil the dry wormwood for 15 minutes in a little water. After the mixture cools, make up to 10 liters of solution. The chicken manure is soaked for two days in a little water. Then strain and add it to the wormwood decoction. Sumac can also be used against caterpillars.

This wormwood infusion works well against caterpillars and fruit worms 

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Pest protection at home

Natural insect protection is also preferred as it protects us from pesky pests in a gentle and health-friendly manner. Standard insect control products contain strong chemicals and biocides that are likely to cause allergies if used regularly. They carry with them a serious risk to human health, which automatically makes them unsuitable in many respects. The good news is that they can now be replaced entirely with homemade solutions containing natural ingredients that will not harm us in any way.

Tip: Making your own homemade fertilizer for indoor plants is a great way to stay away from harmful toxins and chemicals.

Using organic remedies in your home is so important for your family’s health 

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Protecting your home and yard from mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are one of the biggest carriers of infestations. That’s why we don’t go anywhere without our mosquito spray. But there are plenty of eco-friendly options to protect ourselves from them. These include:

  • Lemongrass – Lemongrass contains mosquito repellent substances as it contains large amounts of both citral and geraniol, both of which repel mosquitoes.
  • Lavender – The scent of lavender chases away mosquitoes. It is the most effective remedy to combat them. Check our guide on how to plant and care for a lavender plant! Moreover, plant this beautiful flower outside, because it is one of the plants that will attract both butterflies and bees!
  • Calendula – Calendula contains tagetone and to lesser extent limonene. Tagetone repels mosquitoes very well just by being present in the garden.
  • Rosemary – This is a well-known culinary herb. It contains Rosmarinic acid along with pinene and borneol, another compound that makes them ideal for mosquito protection. See our guide for taking care of indoor herbs, so you learn how to take care of Rosemary!

Mosquitos absolutely hate lemongrass essential oil

homemade pest control remedies

Use these oils with a bit of water to make your own DIY mosquito repellent spray

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Home protection from ants

Try out the following tricks to get rid of ants in your home! If you have a persistent ant problem, make sure to see our complete guide for getting rid of ants.

  • Lemon juice – Spray it around doors and windows.
  • Cinnamon powder – Sprinkle over places they enter your home.
  • Coffee grounds – Sprinkle at ant colony entrance. Tip: Did you know that you can also use coffee grounds for your plants and garden? Learn about the benefits of coffee grounds for plants!

Ants love sticky sweet foods, but they are not a fan of cinnamon, coffee, and lemon

organic pest control for garden

Bio-remedies for home protection from cockroaches

Bay leaf – Place a crushed or a whole leaf in the places where you see the pests most often.

Bay leaf is not only good for cooking delicious meals but also for organic pest control

bay leaf organic pest control

Solution with baking soda and sugar

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup bicarbonate of soda
  • 1 cup sugar

How to use: Mix the ingredients and sprinkle on all risk spots. Soda bicarbonate is a miracle ingredient that has a million uses. Make sure to check out our ultimate guide for baking soda hacks to see more.

Baking soda is one of the most versatile cooking ingredients with many unique uses

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Frequently Asked Questions

What organic means can I use to protect my garden from aphids?

Aphids can be eliminated from the garden by sowing savory plants nearby, or with a solution of garlic or onions. See our complete article for home remedies for getting rid of aphids!

Aphids hate onions and garlic

garlic and onion pest control

How can I get rid of fruit flies?

Apple cider vinegar is a great ingredient for getting rid of fruit flies indoors! If you want to see more ideas, take a look at our guide for getting rid of fruit flies easily!

Protect your fruits and veggies with a bit of apple cider vinegar

best diy home pest control spray

How can I get rid of stink bugs in my garden?

Stink bugs can be a problem in the garden as well as indoors sometimes! The best way to get rid of them without using chemicals is to make a special dish soap trap. See our 11+ tips and tricks to get rid of stink bugs for the full recipe and instructions.

Stink bugs can be removed with the help of some dish soap 

dish soap for pest remedy

How can I remove caterpillars and slugs from the garden without chemicals?

You can get rid of caterpillars and slugs in the garden by making a solution of chili peppers, liquid soap, and water!

How can I get rid of gnats indoors?

These tiny insects can be a huge problem for many households! Try using Neem oil or apple cider vinegar to combat them! If you need more recipes and ideas, see our complete guide for getting rid of gnats indoors.

Get rid of gnats with a spray with apple cider vinegar, Neem oil, and water

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How to protect your home from pests with organic remedies?

You can protect your home from pests by sowing lavender in a pot, for example, or by using lemon, baking soda solution, or bay leaf.

Now you can enjoy a pest-free garden space and home 

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Maria Konou

Maria Konou is a specialist in the field of digital marketing and fashion. However, she has always had a way with words. That’s what led her to her dream job here at Archzine. She has worked in many different fields over the years, but according to her, being an author has been the most rewarding. Maria is a huge plant enthusiast, loves everything fashion-related, is very sustainably aware, and is always open to learning about new things.