Homemade Pest Control for Sunflowers
Making a homemade insecticide with a few natural items from your kitchen is a safe and economical alternative to commercial products. Sunflowers are hardier than most plants and are able to withstand attacks from the majority of garden pests. The most common sunflower invaders are aphids and ants, who create a type of mutual farming community on sunflower branches. Sometimes gardeners will plant sunflowers throughout gardens to purposely lure aphids and ants away from other plants and then douse the pests with an insecticide.
Soap Spray
Fill a jug or pitcher with one gallon of water. Measure out 2 tbsp. of dishwashing liquid, preferably organic, and 2 tbsp. of baking soda. Mix well with the wooden spoon.
- Making a homemade insecticide with a few natural items from your kitchen is a safe and economical alternative to commercial products.
- The most common sunflower invaders are aphids and ants, who create a type of mutual farming community on sunflower branches.
Choose an industrial-type plastic spray bottle. Label the plastic spray bottle with a permanent marker to remind you of its contents. Using the funnel, fill the spray bottle with the soap spray.
Spray the soapy mixture directly on pests hiding within sunflower branches. Check the undersides of leaves and spray them top and bottom. Apply to sunflower plant daily until pests disappear.
Oil Spray
Fill a liquid measuring cup with 1 cup of vegetable oil. Gradually add 1 cup of dishwashing soap. Mix well with a spoon and set aside.
- Choose an industrial-type plastic spray bottle.
- Using the funnel, fill the spray bottle with the soap spray.
Fill a spray bottle with 1 tbsp. of the vegetable oil and soap mixture. Using the funnel, fill the spray bottle with water. Save the remaining vegetable oil and soap mixture in a jar or plastic container to make more oil spray as needed.
Remember to label the spray bottle with a permanent marker to prevent mix-ups. Apply directly on pests and sunflower leaves, shaking the bottle to mix as you go. Apply to sunflowers weekly.
- Fill a spray bottle with 1 tbsp.
- Using the funnel, fill the spray bottle with water.
Garlic Spray
Fill a pitcher with 1 quart of water. Measure in 1 cup of vegetable oil. Mix well using the spoon.
Finely chop 1 large clove of garlic. Add the chopped garlic to the water and oil mixture. Mix well.
Add 3 tbsp. of dishwashing liquid to the garlic mixture. Cover the container, and refrigerate the contents overnight.
- Fill a pitcher with 1 quart of water.
- Measure in 1 cup of vegetable oil.
Strain the garlic pieces out of the liquid mixture the next morning. Using the funnel, fill a labeled plastic spray bottle with the garlic oil spray mixture. Apply directly to pests and sunflower foliage. Use weekly to keep pests away.
Tip
Use environmentally friendly dishwashing liquid in insecticide recipes to make them safer.
Warning
Do not spray the sunflower blooms, which will produce edible seeds. Label bottles to prevent mix-ups about contents. Store homemade insescticides away from children, just as you would the commercial types.
Related Articles
References
Resources
Tips
- Use environmentally friendly dishwashing liquid in insecticide recipes to make them safer.
Warnings
- Do not spray the sunflower blooms, which will produce edible seeds.
- Label bottles to prevent mix-ups about contents.
- Store homemade insescticides away from children, just as you would the commercial types.
Writer Bio
Bobbie Brewer has been writing since 1990, with work appearing in print and online. She covers topics related to international travel, outdoor recreation, parenting and gardening. Brewer holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from California State University, Sacramento.
