by: Ingrid Justick

Vol. 25, No. 2

Please, do make a conscious effort to eliminate or minimize use of toxic pesticides, herbicides and chemical fertilizers in your garden. Choose organic alternatives. If you take good care of your plants, your garden will be healthier and have fewer problems with insects and disease. Invite beneficial insects to your garden by planting a variety of flowers, especially wildflowers. If problems arise, please try the following earth friendly sprays:

All Purpose Insect Spray:
Mix 3 tbsp. baking soda, 2 tbsp. Murphy’s Oil soap, 2 tbsp. canola oil, 2 tbsp. vinegar and 2 gal. warm water. Apply with hand sprayer.

Fungus Spray:
Mix 1/2 cup molasses, 1/2 cup powdered milk, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 gal. water.

Powdery Mildew Spray:
Mix 4 tbsp. baking soda, 2 tbsp. Murphy’s Oil soap, 1 gal. water.

Slug Spray: 
Mix 1 1/2 cups ammonia, 1 tbsp. Murphy’s Oil soap, 1 1/2  cups water. Spray over area where you see signs of slug activity.

White Fly Spray: 
Mix 1 cup sour milk (leave milk at room temperature for 48 hours), 2 tbsp. flour, 1 quart warm water.

Disease Preventing Spray:  
Mix 1 cup chamomile tea, 1 tsp. liquid dish soap, 1/2 tsp. vegetable oil, 1/2 tsp. peppermint oil (or 1 tbsp. Dr. Bronner’s peppermint soap), 1 gal water.

Mole Tonic:
Mix 11/2 tbsp. Tabasco sauce, 1 tbsp. liquid dishwashing soap, 1 tsp. chili powder, 1 quart water. Pour small amount of mixture into mole runways. Or, insert sticks of unwrapped Juicy Fruit gum slit lengthwise into the runs.

ROSE CARE:
Rose Spray: 
Mix 1 gal. water, 1 tbsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. oil. For aphids, add 1 tsp. liquid soap.
Mildew Spray for Roses:
Mix 1 tbsp. baby shampoo, 1 tbsp. hydrogen peroxide, 1 tbsp. instant tea granules, 2 cups of water.

Soil Enhancement:
Work banana peels into soil near roses; the potassium will help the plants fend-off pests and diseases, and deliver beautiful blossoms.

Other Tips:
Every time you use eggs, crush the shell, soak in water overnight and pour the water on your plants to provide then with calcium. Sprinkle cayenne pepper around plants to keep cats, dogs, rabbits, squirrels away. Aspirin keeps plants healthy. With regular doses every two months, indoor and outdoor plants will grow more, bloom better and have fewer fungus and pest problems. Dissolve 1 regular strength uncoated aspirin tablets in 1 gallon water.

A message from Helen Caldicott:

Hope for the Earth lies not with leaders but in your own heart and soul.

If you decide to save the Earth, it will be saved. Each person can be as powerful as the most powerful person who ever lived — and that is you, if you love this planet.

For environmentally friendly information: call 732-922-2935