Hello Fellow Gardeners,

In this week’s article we’re going to continue our look at natural remedies for your garden. If you are just joining us, natural remedies are an alternative to those expensive chemicals offered at many garden centers. They are simple, homemade, inexpensive, and often made with ingredients already in your own kitchen! Following are a few recipes that have worked well in my own garden, however take a look at Natural Remedies for Your Garden Part 1 for more ideas on ridding your garden of diseases and pests—naturally!

Milk: Bye Bye Mildew!

You know milk does the body good, but did you know that it also works well on your roses!? Mix skim milk in a spray bottle with an equal amount of water, and simply spray on the leaves of your roses, phlox, or any plant that is vulnerable to mildew and blackspot.

Red Pepper and Garlic: All Around Insecticide!

Mix together three heaping tablespoons of crushed garlic, two heaping tablespoons of dried red pepper flakes, and two tablespoons of any type of cooking oil (Canola, olive, etc). Combine the mixture in a glass bowl, add enough water to cover, and cook on high for one minute in your microwave. Finally, add everything to a gallon of water and let sit in the sun for a few days. Spray or sprinkle around your garden to help deter deer, caterpillars, and other garden pests—naturally!

компютриAshes: Discourage Slugs and Snails!

Enjoyed a few romantic fires with your significant other during those cold winter nights? Besides bringing you closer together, that fire produced a great natural remedy for your garden– wood ash! Wood ash is a great deterrent to slugs and snails! Simply sprinkle a continuous line around your garden, leaving no spaces for those nasty pests to sneak through!

For a great nutrient boost add ashes to your soil!

Check out this article: “Using Fireplace Ashes in Your Garden” by Dawne Howard!

As will all things, use common sense and caution (especially if you have children and pets) with all natural remedies because just because they are “natural” doesn’t mean they are harmless! Avoid contact with eyes, protect yourself any fumes/vapors, and wear appropriate clothing!If you are interested in more natural remedies I have found a great site: Homemade Insecticides by Bill Richardson! Many of the recipes use flowers found in your own garden, such as Marigolds, Comfrey leaves, Feverfew, and more, to naturally repel insects!

Stay tuned for more great tips, tricks, ideas, and inspiration on cold climate gardening from the Daily Weeder!

Happy Gardening,

Marie Suzanne

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