3 Organic Treatments for Your Summer Garden

You want your garden to be productive and beautiful this summer. You’ve got big plans for the food, flowers, and herbs you want to grow, and you’re already thinking about all the things you can do once you start to harvest later in the year.  This article will give you the best 3 organic treatments for your Summer garden to help with increased bounty!

Of course, you aren’t the only one thinking about the bounty of your garden. Insects, fungus, and diseases have their eyes set on your garden, too. Below, we’ll be looking at three fantastic organic treatments you could use to keep things growing and looking good and healthy this summer.

Insecticidal Soap

You can buy premade insecticidal soap, or you can make your own relatively easily. It can help to remove your pest problem and keep your garden looking great. You can spray early in the day on a dry day. You can reapply the soap every four to seven days to ensure that your plants are free from pests.

You will find that most plants can handle the soap without any problems. However, some types of plants could be sensitive, including sweet pea, azalea, and begonias. If you aren’t certain about your plants, spray the solution on just a couple of leaves and see what happens after 24 hours.

Making Your Own Organic Treatments for Your Summer Garden

If you want to make your own insecticidal soap, you can do it easily with just three ingredients. Check out this recipe.

• Distilled water
• Vegetable oil
• Mild liquid soap

Now, let’s learn how to make this soap. You will want a gallon of distilled water. To the water, you will then add 2.5 tablespoons of mild liquid soap. You could use liquid dish soap if that is all you have handy, but be sure it’s a natural soap. You will then add 2.5 tablespoons of vegetable oil. As an alternative to vegetable oil, you could instead use coconut oil, grape oil, or olive oil.

Mix the solution fully by capping the jug/bottle and shaking. You will need to shake and mix each time you fill up a spray bottle with your insecticidal soap. Make sure that you shake your spray bottle, too, if it’s been some time since you’ve sprayed.

I also like this post from Bob Villa with his insecticidal soap recipe and details!

Diatomaceous Earth

Another option for dealing with insects, including ants, is diatomaceous earth. It is a natural, organic insecticide that works simply and effectively. It is made of the fossilized remains of diatoms, which are tiny aquatic organisms. The remains are shells, which are made from silica. This has been used to control pests in the garden for decades because it works so well.

You will find that it can work to kill and deter many different types of pests including slugs, worms, mites, fleas, spiders, ants, squash bugs, beetles, and most other types of insects. It doesn’t present a problem for larger creatures, so it is entirely safe to use. It is safe around your pets, your kids, and any sort of wildlife that visits the garden. You will also find that since bees don’t spend a lot of time crawling around the plant and they fly, they shouldn’t be negatively affected.

Diatomaceous earth can be applied either as dry dust to the plants and garden or wet with a sticking agent as noted in this article from epminerals.com. This can help it adhere to the plants better when it dries. It will continue to work as long as it is present. You can add it to the plants or the soil on a dry day. Add it during the first part of the day. Typically, though, you will want to reapply it after each rain or after periods where there is a lot of humidity.

Something to keep in mind when you are buying diatomaceous earth is that you should only use food-grade options. It is the only one to use in gardens, and around your kids and pets. Other types could contain contaminants.

Organic Copper Fungicide Treatment for Your Summer Garden

When you have tomatoes or other plants that could be at risk of developing bacterial or fungal diseases, it can seem like you have no other option than to remove the infected parts of the plant or try again next year. It doesn’t have to be like that, though. Organic copper fungicide used as a preventative measure is the key to helping keep your tomatoes nice and healthy.

Organic copper fungicide can help to protect from issues like black spots, anthracnose, powdery mildew, and other issues your tomatoes might face. Of course, the copper fungicide is not going to take care of all the potential problems your tomatoes might face. There are also other issues, such as blight or poor caretaking that could cause problems for you. However, it will help with quite a few of the unfortunate problems that tomato plants face.

What Is Organic Copper Fungicide?

This is a type of product that utilizes positively charged copper ions. Fungi and bacteria are sensitive to these ions, which will stop the disease from spreading. It can also stop it from occurring in the first place. The organisms damaging your garden need copper to survive, just as you do. However, too much will kill them. When you use copper fungicide in your garden, you want to have enough to kill those bad elements. Fortunately, it will only take trace amounts to kill them.

When you are using copper fungicide, always follow the directions from the manufacturer for the best results. A little copper won’t hurt you, but you should always make sure that you are wearing protective gear. You should also keep the kids and pets away.

Apply the copper fungicide when the weather is dry and before there are any signs of disease if possible. Prepare the product for use and then wait for a clear, dry day before you apply it. Apply it during the earlier part of the day, so it has plenty of time to dry. During the dry weather, you will likely need to reapply the fungicide every week or two if there is a risk of infection.

Take Good Care of Your Garden and It Will Take Good Care of You

These three simple organic treatments for your Summer garden will help to ensure your hard work is healthy and productive this summer without worrying about insects and disease. When you care for your garden, you are more likely to have a nice harvest that you can enjoy down the line. Use these and other tips to ensure your garden stays in great shape.