I'm looking for effective and natural ways to treat my plants while keeping those pesky weeds away. Has anyone had any luck with the new corn gluten liquid when using a sprayer? I'm also curious about alternatives for preventing weeds in beds that are already mulched. I've used vinegar and boiling water to deal with existing weeds, but I'm hoping for more ideas beyond just hand weeding. I'm particularly interested in natural solutions for common issues like weeds, aphids, white flies, and other garden pests. What are some of your favorite natural products that really work? Thanks in advance!
1 Answer
I’d avoid the corn gluten liquid; it can get pretty pricey and doesn’t perform well in the heat. Instead, why not just add a couple of inches of fresh arborist chips on top? The worms will help pull it in, and it can really smother weed seeds during the season. For those existing weeds, I’ve got a couple of fun tricks: try using a butane wand to torch them—it goes all the way to the crown! Or mix a gallon of water with a cup of salt and a few drops of dish soap in a pump sprayer for the sidewalk cracks; it won’t mess with your beds. If bugs are bothering you, neem oil mixed with a bit of Castile soap around dusk works wonders on whiteflies and aphids. Also, consider using diatomaceous earth on the underside of leaves for slugs. And don’t forget to plant marigold or nasturtium borders—aphids love those first, and then ladybugs come to take care of them! This way, you can limit your reliance on harsher chemicals.
Do you have any suggestions for dealing with squash bugs or squash vine borer? I’ve tried a bunch of organic methods, but they keep hitting my vines in random spots. Even injecting with BTk hasn’t seemed to help much.