Video:How to Make Garlic Oil Spray

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Transcript:How to Make Garlic Oil Spray

Organic gardeners have long relied on garlic as part of their pest-fighting arsenal. Garlic contains sulfur, which, besides being toxic to pests, is also an antibacterial and antifungal agent. The dish soap in this mixture also breaks down the bodies of soft-bodied pests, such as aphids.

Things You'll Need to Prepare Garlic Oil Spray Are:

• Three to four cloves of garlic
• Mineral oil
• Strainer or cheesecloth
• Liquid dish soap
• Water
• Spray bottle

How to Make Garlic Oil Spray

To make garlic oil spray, mince or finely chop three to four cloves of garlic, and add them to two teaspoons of mineral oil. Let this mixture sit for 24 hours. Strain out the garlic pieces, and add the remaining liquid to one pint of water. Add one teaspoon of liquid dish soap.

This mixture can be stored and diluted as needed. When you need to spray, use two tablespoons of the mixture added to one pint of water in a spray bottle.

Using Your Garlic Oil Spray

To use your garlic oil spray, first test by spraying an inconspicuous part of the plant. If there are no signs of yellowing or other leaf damage after a day or two, it is safe to use. If there "is" leaf damage, dilute the mixture with more water and try the test again.

Once it is determined to be safe to use, spray the entire plant, paying special attention to the undersides of leaves.

About Garlic Oil

Garlic oil is a non-selective insecticide, which means that it will kill beneficial insects, such as lady bugs, just as easily as it kills the bad guys. So this spray should only be used if you haven't seen any beneficial bugs in your garden. In general, use this spray as little as possible, and use it responsibly. You'll win the battle against aphids, and still have a healthy garden after they're gone.

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