backyard

Essential Oils for Gardening: Pest Control

Confession Time: I had neglected my garden for a week, y’all. I didn’t water it, didn’t go out and give it any love for a week. When I came back to check on the progress, I found a few disappointing (but inevitable) issues. My cucumbers were not doing well. It looked totally dead, and it was covered in ants. My zucchinis were turning yellow and there were a LOT of squash bugs covering the plants. Surprisingly my tomatoes and bell peppers still looked vibrant. So, if you want to plant something hardy that doesn’t need a lot of attention, plant tomatoes and bell peppers. I knew I had to do something to address all these problems. The first thing I did was water the garden to bring some life back to it. Then I started doing some research on a natural alternative to pest control.

So, I did a quick Google search. “Essential oils for gardening pests.” Lots of results popped up. I scanned different searches and came up with a concoction based on what I had in my case. I grabbed an empty 8 ounce spray bottle and started filling it up with various doTERRA essential oils.

I went out and sprayed my garden, I used the whole bottle on my entire garden. I came back the next day pleasantly surprised. The squash bugs were completely gone and the ants in my cucumber bed had decreased. Ants are a pretty constant problem here in South Texas, so this wasn’t too surprising that they weren’t totally gone.

I’ve gone out this week and continued to lightly spray our plants every few days, and I am so pleased to have found a natural solution to my garden pest problem. Bonus: I’ve still seen ladybugs and bees happily flying about, so it still allows for the good bugs in your garden to do their thing. Are you ready for my recipe?

doTERRA Gardening Pest Control Spray

7 drops doTERRA Basil

7 drops doTERRA Eucalyptus

7 drops doTERRA Peppermint

Fill the remainder of your bottle with water.

Feel free to adjust this recipe based on your needs. If you’re seeing a lot of pests, you may want to add a few more drops of essential oil, or spray more often. You can also take additional measures of pest control, like planting marigolds or various herbs around your garden to deter pests.

I’d love to hear from you! How do you naturally provide your garden with pest control?

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Friday Fun Facts #12

1. So, we are potty training Timmy right now. A note of advice: be prepared for accidents. It’s not a matter of if they will happen, but when they will happen.

2. The other day when Nathan went out to feed the chickens, he came back with these eggs. Check out the extra LONG egg!

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3. On super busy days, I’ve learned to multitask. Doing my workout and listening to a personal development documentary at the same time. I really like this workout DVD: Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30. The personal development DVD is called The Rise of the Entrepreneur by Eric Worre. Good stuff!

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4. Today at Lowe’s, we passed by the riding lawnmowers. Noah spotted the John Deere and said, “Nothing runs like a Deere!” (Too bad his Pops drives a Kubota!).

5. I went to the post office this week to mail out essential oil samples with all my boys. We had rules: Listen to mommy and hold hands. Well, I had to let go of the big boys hands while I was paying for the shipping and holding Isaac on my hip. The boys decided it would be appropriate to spin around all in circles and sing “Ring Around the Rosie.” At least the old couple behind us thought it was cute.

Friday Fun Facts #5

1. We have backyard chickens again! After a chicken massacre a couple of months ago, we went without chickens for a while. Thanks to our friends Ginger and Steve for giving us a few of their laying hens!

2. The boys are so cute to watch with their newborn cousin, Hannah (who Noah lovingly calls “Hannah Banana”). They will tiptoe quietly in her room, whisper back and forth to each other and then as soon as they get out of her room, they go back to jumping and squealing.

3. Timothy decided to redecorate their room during naptime. Note to self: Just because he is quiet, it doesn’t necessarily mean he is sleeping!

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4. Lavender and Vetiver essential oils smell amazing together and do wonders for peaceful sleeping! My husband, who can be a little picky about essential oil scents, really liked this combination diffusing the other day when he got home.

5. Speaking of my husband, he preached this past Sunday morning and did and AMAZING job. Something magical happens when you are able to witness watching your spouse live out their calling. I highly encourage you to try and observe your spouse in “their element,” whether that’s in the ministry, wood working, managing a business, ect. It deepens your appreciation for them and reminds you of all the reasons you fell in love with them in the first place.