Garlic can have a surprising benefit for your garden and it’s worth giving this tip a go. The common kitchen staple is an affordable yet useful item to leave out in your garden and doing so could mean your plants stay in good health.
It acts as a natural repellent meaning pests will stay away from greenery in your garden. Raw cloves of garlic can be very pungent which can be off-putting animals, as well as many types of insects. Garden Health says: “Certain plants contain natural compounds that repel common garden pests. For instance, garlic and onions emit strong odors that deter aphids. Chili peppers can also fend off caterpillars and beetles.
“Additionally, introducing plants like citronella, lavender, and citronella grass can keep mosquitoes at bay, creating a more enjoyable outdoor experience.”
According to Gardener’s Path, the results of a study published in 2014 in the IOSR Journal of Agriculture and Veterinary Science and conducted by researchers at the Department of Agricultural Management and Zimbabwe Open University found that garlic and onion plants placed near cole crops helped to reduce pest infestations.
On garlic, Masterclass says: “This pungent allium plant is a bug repellent for carrot flies, cabbage worms, slugs, and aphids.”
If you’re wondering how to use the garlic in your garden, you can create a DIY garlic spray.
To do this, you will need to grab a head of garlic, separate the cloves, and remove the papery skins. Next, put all the cloves into a blender with two cups of water and blend away until everything is pulverized.
Take a cloth and put it over a bowl. Pour the mixture into the cloth, and close it with the garlic inside. Squeeze the liquid out.
Once you’ve wrung all the juice out of the pulp, pour the liquid into a spray bottle. You can test the spray on a small section of your infested plant and let it sit for 24 hours.
If everything looks good and there is no sign of damage, such as yellowing or brown leaves, go ahead and treat the whole plant.
By adding this one cheap addition to your garden, you’ll be able to keep your garden free from pests and keep your plants healthy.