Spray later in the afternoon/early evening once blossoms have closed. Spray your plants well, covering the tops and undersides of leaves, especially squash plants and bee balm, which are highly susceptible to powdery mildew. Using the funnel, transfer the insecticidal soap to the spray bottle. Screw on the lid and shake gently to mix. Mix one teaspoon of Castile soap and one teaspoon of baking soda with 2 quarts of water. Keep large susceptible plants like zucchini pruned well and mix up a batch of powdery mildew spray. So, we’re left to deal with it every year.īut you can get ahead of it and keep it to a minimum by practicing good garden hygiene. Because the spores are carried on the wind and can overwinter in the soil, eradicating them is pretty much impossible. Always spray in the evening once the flowers have closed to reduce your impact on bees. Remember, when you choose to use a spray, even a natural one, you’re affecting all the bugs in your garden, not just the pests. Mix one tablespoon of Castile soap with 2 quarts of water in a jar. Water (if you have hard water, consider using distilled).In her advice on dealing with aphids, Lindsay advises us to use a homemade insecticidal soap made with, you guessed it, Castile soap. You can even use it to drown Japanese beetles. It works great on soft-bodied pests like aphids but does a good job on other bugs, too, like flea beetles, squash bugs and Colorado potato beetles. The decline of our pollinators has us reaching for things like neem oil when pests become a problem.Ĭastile soap is also an excellent, natural option for pest control in the garden. This means more and more gardeners are careful about what they spray in their gardens. Insecticide Sprayīugs are everywhere, although, unfortunately, not as many as there used to be. Grab your bottle of Castile soap ( there are so many different scents to choose from), and let’s head outdoors.
(It’s the only soap I use on my wooden cutting boards and kitchen utensils.) This means it’s a-okay to use on your plants.
Instead of saponified fats that can strip away moisture, castile soap uses hydrating oils, meaning it cuts through the crud but isn’t drying like most soaps. However, now it can be made with many natural oils – coconut, almond, avocado and hemp among them. Traditionally, castile soap was made from olive oil produced in the Castile region of Spain, hence the name. ( You do have a garden box, don’t you?) But before we jump in, it helps to understand what makes this simple soap so useful. It might not be a bad idea to keep a bottle in your garden shed or garden box. I’m sure it’s no surprise that this soapy wonder has some great outdoor uses too. So, how about you grab your favorite bottle of liquid Castile soap and head out to the garden. We’ve already discussed the many ways that Castile soap can save you time and money inside your home.
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