Of course, it is impossible to do without pesticides in the garden. They are used to control insects, fungus, harmful microorganisms and weeds. However, since the use of these substances in any case is harmful to health, you should try to minimize it. Below in the article we will talk in detail about how to replace pesticides.
Pesticide classification
Currently, gardeners and residents of rural areas in the gardens use the following types of chemicals:
- Herbicides. This group is used to destroy weeds in the beds. Most often, two types of them are used: trebles (for drying stems and roots) and defoliants (for removing leaves from branches). The frequency and duration of work with pesticides of this type depends on the variety of weeds. Usually, one or two treatments are sufficient to remove unwanted grass.
- Fungicides. They are used to cure cultivated plants from fungal diseases.
- Insecticides. Used to rid the garden or garden of harmful insects.
- Zoocides. This variety is designed to fight mice, shrews, moles and rats.
- Acids A separate group of pesticides used to control specifically against aphids.
- Repellents. They are used to repel insects.
Next, we consider how you can replace the pesticides of each of these specific groups.
Minimize the use of herbicides
Finding a natural replacement for herbicides is, of course, difficult. No broths and tinctures can destroy the weeds in the garden. There is only one way out - manual weeding. However, it might be useful for someone to use one rather interesting method of weed control in carrots and parsley. These two plants are not at all afraid of kerosene. Unlike wild grasses clogging them. Therefore, the first "weeding" can be carried out using this substance. Dilute 100 g of kerosene in a ten-liter bucket of water and spray the newly emerged carrots. The result will be noticeable the next day. Carrots will remain unscathed, while the young shoots of quinoa and other weeds will die. Of course, kerosene is also of little health benefit. However, until spring, nothing will remain of it either in the soil or in the plants themselves.
How to replace fungicides
Next, we will see how to replace pesticides designed to combat fungal diseases of cultivated plants. One of the most effective ways to get rid of this kind of problem is garlic. For example, to combat powdery mildew and late blight, you can use this infusion: 25 g of garlic is carefully chopped and 1 liter of water is added to the pulp. Insist the resulting mixture during the day. Then it is filtered and used to spray plants.
Also against fungal diseases, you can use ordinary wood or straw ash. Another means of combating infections of this kind is the infusion of dried marigold flowers (half a bucket per half a bucket of water + 40 g of laundry soap, infuse for 2 days). In addition, field horsetail helps against fungus (21 g per liter of cold water, boil for 30 minutes, strain and add water to 4.5 liters).
How to replace insecticides
About the plants used instead of fungicides, we talked pretty much in detail. Now let's figure out how to replace pesticides designed to get rid of pests. Very effective remedies against them are the same garlic, as well as tobacco. The latter can be used, for example, to combat sawfly larvae (400 g of tobacco per 10 liters of hot water, insist 2 days + 40 g of laundry soap). Also, to get rid of this pest, you can use an ash infusion (3 kg per 10 liters of water, withstand 2 days).
A seasoned mixture of garlic and water helps very well against weevils on strawberries, raspberries, beetles. 200-500 g of this burning vegetable is carefully ground. Next, the gruel is poured with 3-5 liters of hot water. The resulting solution is insisted for five days.
Against berry bugs, caterpillars of cabbage whites, cruciferous fleas, codling moths, herbivorous moths, you can use a decoction of tomatoes. To do this, grind 4 kg of fresh green stepsons, pour ten liters of water and insist 3-4 hours. Then the mixture is boiled for half an hour. The broth is filtered and used for spraying.
Coniferous powder can be used against onion, carrot and cabbage flies . For its manufacture, small spruce branches along with needles are passed through a meat grinder, plants are dried and dusted, as well as the soil next to them.
You can use regular cement against slugs. They pollinate the soil under plants and row-spacings at the rate of 50 g per 1 m 2 . Such treatment should be carried out in the morning or in the evening.
Fighting aphids with folk methods
Such types of pesticides, such as acids, can also be replaced with infusions and decoctions of plants. To combat aphids, garlic, marigolds or a mustard-coniferous mixture are usually used. In the latter case, 2 tbsp. spoons of mustard insist in water for two days. Then the volume of the mixture is brought up to 10 liters and 1-2 tbsp. Are added to it. spoons of coniferous extract.
Nettle can also be used against aphids. To do this, its fresh tops are crushed and insisted in cold water for a day. The bitter wormwood helps from this harmful insect. To prepare aphids, 2-3 kg of dry grass is diluted with water and boiled for half an hour. Then the broth is filtered and supplemented up to 10 liters.
Zoocides
The use of pesticides in agriculture, designed to control rodents, can also be minimized, at least in your personal summer cottage. For this, a method such as growing plants intolerant to mice in the garden is often used. For example, in the spring in places of a special concentration of rodents it is worth planting cilantro. These pests also do not like red elderberry, mint and coriander. A strong odor detergent placed in caps over the entire area can also help from mice.
In addition, experienced summer residents to get rid of these rodents are advised to mulch near-stem circles of shrubs and trees with celandine cut. The bark of young trees can be saved from mice by simply wrapping the trunks below with cut plastic bottles with holes made in them.
Soil pollution with pesticides cannot lead to anything good, of course. Meanwhile, there are many folk remedies for controlling insects, fungus and rodents. Use them, and you will save your garden from many misfortunes, while protecting yourself and your loved ones from the harmful effects of toxic substances.