Country Critters Pests and Pestilence

Growing Potential Produce Possibilities

By creating a habitat for these natural predators, you’ ll reduce the need for chemical interventions while promoting a healthy, balanced ecosystem.

Tailored Solutions for Common Pests

Different pests call for different approaches, and natural methods often work as well or better than chemicals.

• Dislodge aphids with a blast of water and introduce ladybugs to control them long term.

• Employ a spayed or neutered barn cat to keep rodent populations down.

• Place copper tape around plant beds or set up beer traps to stop slugs from damaging your garden.

• Apply diatomaceous earth to eliminate aphids, cockroaches, flea beetles, bed bugs and other pests in your home and garden.

• Make mosquitoes buzz off— drain sitting water, plant citronella grass around seating areas and try mosquito dunks. These tablets are made of bacterium that’ s toxic to mosquito larvae but don’ t harm humans, pets or wildlife. Float one or more in ponds, birdbaths and rain barrels.

• Mix castor oil and dish soap to deter moles and voles. Combine ½ cup castor oil, 2 tablespoons of dish soap and 1 gallon water. Spray over molehills and vole tunnels.

Natural pest control does more than keep properties pest-free. It lets you work with the environment to create a thriving, balanced habitat for plants, animals and people. By combining prevention, planting and wildlife strategies, you can enjoy a home and garden that are healthier, more sustainable and freer of harmful chemicals.

Whether you’ re managing a rural acreage or a backyard garden, these approaches will help you reclaim your space while respecting the natural world.

DIY Recipes for Natural Pest Sprays

• Garlic-Pepper Spray: Blend 2 bulbs of garlic, 4 hot peppers and 4 cups of water. Strain, then dilute with 1 gallon of water. Spray on plants to repel deer, rabbits, aphids and caterpillars. Reapply after rain.

• Chili Powder Spray: Mix 1 tablespoon of chili powder, 1 teaspoon of liquid soap and 1 quart of water. Shake and spray on plants to deter deer, rodents and insects. Reapply after rain.

• Neem Oil Solution: Mix 2 teaspoons of neem oil, 1 teaspoon of liquid dish soap and 1 quart of water. Shake well. This all-purpose spray disrupts the life cycle of pests like whiteflies and spider mites.

• Essential Oil Repellent: Combine 10 drops of peppermint oil, 10 drops of citronella oil and 1 cup of water. Spray entry points to repel rodents and insects.

• Onion-Garlic Spray: Blend 1 onion, 1 bulb of garlic and 1 cup of water into a paste. Dilute with 1 quart of water, strain and spray to repel beetles, caterpillars and aphids.

• Citrus Spray: Boil the peels of 2 lemons or oranges in 4 cups of water for 10 minutes. Cool, strain and spray on plants to repel ants, whiteflies, cats and rodents.

• Soap and Baking Soda Solution: Dissolve 1 teaspoon of baking soda and 1 teaspoon of liquid soap in 1 quart of water. Spray on plants to prevent powdery mildew and fungal pests.

• Eucalyptus Spray: Mix 10 drops of eucalyptus oil with 2 cups of water. Spray around garden edges or storage areas to repel flies, beetles and rodents.

Ways to Attract Beneficial Insects

• Ladybugs: Dill and fennel provide food and shelter for ladybugs.

• Lacewings: Cosmos, goldenrod, daisies, fennel and coriander attract these dainty insects that feast on aphids and thrips.

• Bees: Native wildflowers like coneflowers and black-eyed Susans attract bees. Avoid pesticides that could harm pollinators.

• Praying Mantises: Shrubs and tall grasses provide nesting areas for these powerful insect predators.

• Hoverflies: Alyssum, yarrow and parsley attract hoverflies, whose larvae devour aphids and other pests.

• Ground Beetles: Ground-cover perennials like clover and evening primrose draw these nocturnal predators that feed on slugs, caterpillars and cutworms.

• Spiders: Leave undisturbed corners in gardens with rocks, logs or mulch to encourage beneficial spiders to stay and prey on insect pests.

• Parasitic Wasps: Grow plants like dill, coriander and chamomile to attract these tiny wasps that lay eggs inside pest larvae to naturally control pest populations.

• Dragonflies: Install a small pond or water feature to draw dragonflies that eat mosquitoes, flies and other flying pests.

How to Harvest Your Acreage ' s Potential

By Brett Van Waus

Though it may seem premature to start dreaming of spring weather, now is the time to start planning your greenery.

What Will Your Garden Grow?

While you might go the traditional route of planting a little bit of everything in your vegetable garden and use the produce at your own table, you could also grow one( or a small number) of items and give them away, sell them around your community or even set up a stand at your local farmer’ s market.

Something to consider, for instance, is that if you want next winter’ s meals to include a fresh-grown homemade tomato sauce, you’ ll need tomatoes, onions, basil, rosemary and any other herbs and spices that you might want to use in your sauce.

Gather Your Supplies

Now is the time to start gathering growing supplies( or canning supplies if that’ s the direction you want to go) for spring, summer and fall. Seed catalogs and websites are currently gearing up for a rush of orders for those who want to start their plants inside.

Some examples of items you’ ll need include growing lights, shelves or pots for starting your plants indoors.

In addition, you’ ll want to evaluate how much produce you want in the spring or summer, especially if you are only planning to grow one thing. If you’ re going to sell any excess produce at a farmer’ s market or a roadside stand, you’ ll want to grow more.

Perhaps you could choose an item that ' s hard to find at local stores and become the supplier for your area. You could also coordinate with your neighbors, grow different types of produce and take turns selling them at a local market. If you want to make more connections in and around your community, this would be a great way to start.

16 AcreageLife February 2025 AcreageLife. com

AcreageLife. com February 2025 AcreageLife 17