How To Make An Organic Spray For Japanese Beetles

By  Melissa Smith

Things Needed

  • 1/2-cup dishwashing liquid soap

  • Bottle baby oil

  • 2 teaspoons garlic powder

  • Large spray bottle

  • Funnel

Tip

Shake the bottle before every use. Reapply every few days or after rainfall. Use baby powder at the base of plants to keep adults from laying eggs on stalks.

Warning

All ingredients are nontoxic but you should still wash your plants before eating them.

...

Japanese beetles hitched a ride on iris bulbs in the early 1900s from Japan. In their native country they have natural predators that keep the population under control, but in the United States and Canada their population is controlled only by gardeners. This can make for a lot of gardens with eaten leaves and damaged flowers.

Step 1

Open the lid of a clean spray bottle by twisting it off.

Step 2

Use a funnel to pour 1/2-cup dishwashing liquid soap into the spray bottle.

Step 3

Pour the entire bottle of baby oil into the spray bottle using the funnel.

Step 4

Pour two teaspoons of garlic powder into the spray bottle using the funnel.

Step 5

Put the lid back on the spray bottle and shake it to mix the ingredients well.

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