There are many ways to deal with pests and diseases in a natural way and avoid pesticides and insecticides.
Beating aphids with garlic
A garlic infusion is an effective treatment against many common garden pests. Roughly chop 0.9 ounces (25 g) of garlic cloves and place them in a heat-proof bowl. Bring 4.2 cups (1 l) of water to boil and then pour it over the garlic. Cover the bowl and leave the mixture to infuse for 15 minutes. Strain the liquid through a large sieve. Spray the garlic infusion, undiluted, on plants susceptible to aphids every two to three weeks.
Nettle mash for common pests
Stinging nettles also make an excellent spray for killing insect pests. Chop 7 ounces (200 g) of fresh stinging nettle leaves and place them in a large bowl with 8.5 cups (2 l) of cold water. Keep the leaves submerged by placing a weighted plate on top and leave them to infuse for 24 hours. Strain the liquid through a large sieve, dilute the extract (1:5) and spray it on your plants as soon as you notice a pest.
Treating fungus
Fungal infections will spread quickly in warm wet weather, so treat the problem as soon as you notice it with this simple horsetail decoction. Chop 17.5 ounces (500 g) of fresh horsetail "needles" and stems and place in a large bucket. Pour in 1.3 gallons (5 l) of cold water and leave the mixture to infuse for 24 hours. Then transfer it to an old cooking pan and simmer over a low heat for 15 to 30 minutes. Leave the brew to cool then strain through a fine sieve, pressing the herbs through with the back of a wooden spoon. Dilute this decoction with water (1:5) and use it to spray plants infected with fungus on three consecutive days.
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Spray your garden with homemade pesticide made with garlic.
