How to Make Homemade Bug Killer for the Garden (3 Versions!)

Simple recipes for making your own “insecticide” at home from natural, non-toxic ingredients.

When you garden, it is only a matter of time before those nasty pests find their way to trying to making your feast…their feast.

Here’s a couple simple recipes for making your own “insecticide” at home from natural, non-toxic ingredients. Remember: Never spray your plants during the heat of the day. It is best to do it in the early morning or the evening.

Soap Spray

Soap spray can be effect for controlling mites, white flies, beetles, aphids and other pests. The soap coats the body of the insects, blocking the pores that they breathe through and suffocates them.

You Will Need:

• 1 1/2 tsp liquid soap (I prefer Castile soap)
• 1 quart of water

To Make it:

Combine all the ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake well and spray as needed.

Neem Oil Spray

“Neem” is an oil that is extracted from the neem tree. It is very natural, but also very potent. It can disrupt the life cycle of insects at all stages – eggs, larva and adult. It is both biodegradable and harmless to birds, pets and other wildlife. Additionally it is a fungicide that can help fight powder mildew and other fungal infections that can be a problem in the garden.

You Will Need:

• 2 tsp neem oil
• 1 tsp mild liquid soap (I use blue Dawn or Castile soap)
• 1 quart of water

To Make it:

Combine all of the ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake well and spray as needed.

Pepper Spray

As you can imagine, the very phrase “pepper spray” evokes thoughts of running eyes and coughing. Ever been in a “gas chamber”? I have. While CS gas isn’t quite the same as pepper spray, it gives a similar result. It’s a major deterrent, and works that way for the pests in your garden. Pepper spray doesn’t kill pests, it simply makes the environment very unpleasant so that they will go away.

You Will Need:

• 1/2 cup diced jalapeno or cayenne peppers
• 1 head of garlic (optional)
• 1/2 c plus 1 quart water
• 1/4 tsp liquid soap

To Make it:

In a blender, combine the peppers, garlic and 1/2 cup of water. Blend it until it is a puree. Pour the mixture into a sauce pan and add the remaining water. Bring the mixture to a boil, lower the temperature and let it simmer 5 minutes. Cool. Strain the mixture to remove all of the solids, and pour it into your spray bottle. Add the soap and shake to combine. Spray as needed.

You can make a similar spray using a tablespoon of dry cayenne pepper instead of the fresh peppers. Make it the same as above, skipping the puree step and going straight to the saucepan step.

NOTE: Remember, this is pepper spray! Use gloves when handling the peppers or using this spray, and whatever you do… don’t spray this into the wind! You don’t want to spray yourself with this.

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