Essential Oils for the Garden—A Gardener’s Best Friend Friend
If you have been following us for a while, you probably already know we’re huge fans of essential oils. We use them for cleaning, personal care, and boosting our immune systems. We also use essential oils for the garden! Yup, Essential oils-A gardener’s best friend.
As a matter a fact, when we had someone inspect for termites a couple of months ago, the inspector asked us what kind of oils we use in the garden. He suspected it helped with our termite problem. He was right! We use orange essential oil, and orange is a natural way to kill termites.
Here are some other ways we use essential oils in the garden:
Weed Control
1 oz of liquid castile soap
10 drops clove oil or cinnamon bark oil
10 drops orange oil
½ cup white vinegar
1 oz water
Combine in a 6 oz glass spray bottle. Shake well and spray directly onto weeds.
Insect Deterrent Spray
Mix 1-2 drops of peppermint, rosemary, and thyme essential oil in a large spray bottle and fill it halfway with water. Shake before use and apply it in the early morning or evening.
Cinnamon bark oil– Helps deter pests like ants, snails, and gnats. Make a solution with 10-15 drops of cinnamon bark oil and water. Use this spray on weeds or other infected areas.
Attracting Pollinators
Pollinators are a must in any successful garden, and essential oils are a fabulous way to invite them to the party! Orange, lavender, helichrysum, basil, sage, and rosemary oils are best for attracting friendly critters. Simply put a few drops of your favorite pollinator-friendly oil on a cotton ball or fabric swatch and leave it in the garden.
Deterring Mosquitos
Whenever I spend a lot of time in the garden in the evening, I get attacked by mosquitoes. Essential oil mosquito repellant to the rescue!
Kids’ Bug Spray
2 oz witch hazel
2 oz distilled water
1 oz soybean oil (or jojoba, almond, or coconut oil)
20-25 drops lavender oil
Mix everything for the bug spray in a spray bottle and shake well to combine. Always shake before using.
Adult Bugs Spray (for kids age 10+)
2 oz witch hazel
2 oz distilled water
1 oz soybean oil (or jojoba, almond, or coconut oil)
40-50 drops citronella or lemon oil
5 drops tea tree oil
Mix everything for the bug spray in a spray bottle and shake well to combine. Always shake before using.
More posts about essential oils uses and recipes:
