Any Gardeners?

[My Good Babushka]

My neighbor gave me some hostas and a hydrangea and something is chewing up the leaves. Does anyone know of any pesticides I could make at home of the non-toxic variety? I'm really new at this gardening stuff, usually I just let the weeds run wild, but I'm really trying this year.

[Callalily]

1. You'll probably

get some good advice in the Gardening Group. There are some very knowledgeable people in that group.

Good luck!

[querelle]

2. Sure

Make a solution of one part dish soap and four parts water in a spray bottle and mist the plants with it. It kills most insects and isn't toxic for the plants or soil. Works for me every time except on my lilies where I have these red beetles that seem resistant to everything I try. I'm tempted to just remove the lilies rather than try a chemical pesticide. If any of you DU'ers have this same problem with lilies, please tell me how you deal with it.

Q

[zanne]

3. Tobacco juice

I know it sounds yucky, but if you know somebody who smokes, let some butts steep in warm water for a few hours or overnight. Then use the "juice" (diluted), put it in a spray bottle and go at it. Actually, I like querelle's suggestion better, but if it doesn't work, look for smokers.

[AllegroRondo]

4. I add a teaspoon or two of tobasco to that mix

it keeps most bugs off my roses, including Japanese beetles which are pretty hard to get rid of.

[Lost4words]

5. Slugs love hostas, do you have them where you are?

[1gobluedem]

6. Beer repels slugs

Put some in a bowl near the plants.

[AllegroRondo]

8. it doesnt actually repel them

slugs LIKE beer

they will crawl into the bowl, get drunk, and drown.

same effect, though. no more slugs.

[1gobluedem]

9. I think I might be a slug

I'm attracted to beer too....:beer:

[My Good Babushka]

7. I've got grubs, slugs, beetles, you name it!

I'm going to try the beer for the slugs, and the soap solution for the plants. If that doesn't do it, then I'll try the tobacco-tobasco. My neighbor smokes like a chimbley. I tried some store bought spray, but the bugs just laughed at me. Thanks!

[Lost4words]

10. When we lived in Norhtern VA we had slug problems.

I tried beer for the slugs but I just kept falling over!

they (garden centers) have something just for them nasty slugs. Its a dry something that you sprinkle on the soil. I dont remember what it was but it worked.

Good Luck!