Controlling pests the natural way

Want to beat pests and keep weeds at bay? Sally Nex shows you how with organic and money-saving recipes

Chemical pesticides have steadily disappeared from garden centre shelves in recent years amid concerns over safety. But within your own garden, you’ll find a readymade armoury to help defend your plants.

Many wild plants rely on natural chemicals they produce themselves to repel attackers, and they’re as effective as anything you could buy. A few minutes at your kitchen chopping board and you can extract these plant-made defences to make an organic spray that won’t damage the environment and costs practically nothing. The only extra you’ll need is horticultural soft soap (ladybirdplantcare.co.uk) or Castile soap to help it stick. Don’t use hand soap as it’s full of unwanted additives.

Here, we’re sharing our favourite recipes as well as ways to tackle weeds without chemicals using day-to-day items you’ll have at home. Most of these will repel attackers without killing them. Use alongside organic gardening practices that encourage natural predators, like birds, frogs and beetles, and you’ll fend off the worst. Stronger, insecticidal concoctions are there in reserve as a last resort; use with care as – just like artificial pesticides – they may kill beneficial insects, too. vegetables – unless you like spicy lettuce! Store pepper spray, clearly labelled, in the fridge for several weeks.

Treats Aphids, deer, mice, rabbits, spider mites, squirrels, whitefly