If you want to live a more sustainable life, growing your own vegetable garden is essential. But like any garden maintenance company in Buckinghamshire can testify, maintaining your garden isn’t a walk in the park. For instance, you have to rely on pesticides to protect your veggies from pests.

However, keep in mind that using chemical-laden pesticides can do more harm than good. Looking for natural pesticides you can use for your garden? Here six organic pesticides you can try.

Garlic spray. People who work for any landscaping company Buckinghamshire would know how powerful garlic is when it comes to protecting your plants, vegetables, and crops against pests. And it’s all thanks to their strong scent. To create your own homemade garlic spray, use 12 garlic cloves and blend them with a quart of water. Let it set for a full day before straining and adding about 1 cup of cooking oil.

Red pepper spray. To make this pesticide, you’d need a gallon of water — with six drops of dish soap and a tablespoon of red pepper powder. Spraying it onto your vegetables can help keep pests like beetles and leafhoppers away from your garden. This spray is often reapplied once a week.

Tomato leaf spray. Tomatoes contain alkaloids that are effective in controlling insects and pests like aphids. If you want to try this one for your own garden, simply chop two cups of tomato leaves and put it into a quarter of water. Let it sit overnight. The next step is to strain out the plant. Spray it onto your plants’ foliage and observe before reapplying.

Soap spray. Many a landscaping company Buckinghamshire also use so-called insecticidal soaps to control aphids. This can be made by mixing 3 tablespoons of dish soap in a gallon of water. Want a gentler solution? A great alternative is mixing 2 tablespoons of baby shampoo with a gallon of water.

Essential oil pesticide. Essential oils have many uses. Apart from helping reduce your stress, they are also actually beneficial to your plants and veggies. To make your own essential oil pesticide, mix three different oils with mild dish soap and water. After blending them well, it’s now ready to be sprayed on your plant’s foliage.

Diatomaceous earth. Made from sedimentary rock, diatomaceous earth serves several benefits — including protecting your garden from pest infestation. It is available in garden shops and works by "dehydrating" insects as it absorbs their lipids. Simply sprinkle it throughout your garden and reapply every after a rain.

More Helpful Tips

Apart from the use of pesticides, a garden maintenance company in Buckinghamshire would also recommend garden owners to plant different types of veggies to avoid pest infestation. Crop rotation also helps keep the soil nourished.

Another simple way of keeping pests away is by always cleaning your garden. Take note that a majority of pests thrive on debris — if your garden has debris and other dirt, it can make it more attractive for pests.