So you’re a gardener…or maybe a startup gardener! Wherever you land, there are some basic things that seem to apply to everyone during the stages of their gardening journey.
Things like weeds, pests, and bad harvests show up in every garden.
You’ll have tricks up your sleeve that will help you succeed from the day the seed goes in the ground ‘til the day you harvest it.
Using essential oils in the gardening process helps us garden in a way that results in fruits and veggies that have been lovingly cared for. You can even achieve that affordably, sustainably, and without the use of harsh chemicals.
It’s no secret that bugs can totally ruin your garden plans. You could use insecticides or sprays made from harsh chemicals. These harsh chemicals can lead to bioaccumulation of toxins in your body (and even in your plants) that are linked to chronic illness and disease!
Pure sesame oil and a carefully selected blend of essential oils traditionally used for their bug-repellent properties come together to make up all 99% of the active ingredients in this formula. The other 1%? Vitamin E. That means you can use it on your little ones and not worry about the synthetic chemicals used in many traditional repellents.
Outdoor Spray
2 oz. Witch Hazel
2 oz. distilled water
20 drops Thieves
20 drops Lemon
20 drops Rosemary
20 drops Citronella
Mix together in a 4 oz. glass spray bottle. Shake before each use. You should spritz this on your plants once at night. Doing it in the morning may burn the leaves as the sun rises.
What about the pets we love and adore but can’t seem to keep out of our gardens? A simple and safe way to encourage them to stay away is by using scents. Dogs dislike the smell of Black Pepper and cats dislike the smell of Rosemary And if you didn’t know already, those essential oils exist! Perfect!
Pets Be Gone Recipe
Drop 5-10 drops of Black Pepper essential oil (for dogs) or Rosemary essential oil (for cats) in a shallow pan of warm water.
Whisk until oil is spread throughout the water.
Take old washcloths or scraps of clothing and tear into long, skinny strips.
Soak the strips in the water for about 30 minutes to absorb the oils.
Dry them out, then tie them around stakes or plants to keep those animals at bay.
Did you know that some plants self-pollinate? Fruits like peppers can stand alone and produce fruit. Not every plant does that. Lots of them need the help of cross-pollination between male and female plants!
Know who helps with that?! POLLINATORS!
Bees and butterflies are some of the friendliest insects you can get into your garden! Without them you’ll have measly harvests and be disappointed that all your hard work didn’t result in the delicious produce you wanted!
Pollinators are attracted to the smell of flowers and luckily some of our wonderful essential oils are distilled from flowers… so convenient! Create a spray using essential oils to spritz on the flowering buds of your garden to encourage pollinators to come in and get the job done!
Pollinator Attraction Spray
Pollinators are attracted to the smell of flowers.
Add 6-8 drops of Lavender and Orange essential to a 4 oz. glass spray bottle.
Top with distilled water.
Shake, spray, and party with the pollinators!
You can waste SO many hours on weeds. Summer is short enough, let’s not spend unnecessary time dealing with weed overgrowth!
If you’re like me and trying to get rid of unwanted plant growth that doesn’t involve harmful chemicals (linked to so many neurological, hormone, and overall health imbalances) just know there are some safe alternatives. Weeds HATE Cinnamon so try your hand at this easy DIY.
Wither the Unwanted Weeds Spray
Add 25-50 drops of Cinnamon Bark in a 4 oz. glass spray bottle.
Top it off with distilled water.
Shake and spray at offenders.
Douse roots and leaves as needed.
Sometimes ‘unwanted friends’ begin to grow on our beloved plants. That can cause poor growth, bad harvests, or even plant death. They can block the pores of the plant responsible for breathing and eventually choke out the plant completely. They can also steal vital nutrients from the plants which significantly decreases the amount of your harvest! We don’t want that!
Plant Love Spray
10 drops Tea Tree
10 drops Peppermint
10 drops Citronella
Mix in a 4 oz. glass spray bottle. Top off with distilled water. Shake and spray along affected parts of the plant during your gardening chores!
Companion Planting
As a long time gardener maybe you’ve heard of companion planting. And if you haven’t heard, let me enlighten you!
Some plants play well together; others do not. This is because every plant has certain nutrients that it uses from the soil for growth and fruit production. Also, plants excrete certain byproducts back into the soil that can either help or hinder your harvest!
When you grow two types of plants next to each other that both rely strongly on nitrogen for growth, they will compete and overuse the nitrogen in the soil and starve each other out! Corn and tomatoes are an example of plants that don’t play nice.
Conversely, if you plant two types of plants next to each other that eat different nutrients they will work together to promote each other’s growth. A good example of this is tomatoes and carrots. They work together in the soil. Therefore, plant them next to each other and it will result in a more bountiful harvest.
So what does this have to do with essential oils? Well, essential oils are made from plants so consider using oils in place of your companion plants. For example, if you are looking to plant Lavender next to Green Beans, grab your Lavender essential oil instead. Create a “Companion Spray” to use on the soil and leaves of the plant using this guide. Add 10-15 drops of the corresponding essential oil to a 4 oz. glass spray bottle. Top with distilled water; shake before each use. So easy!
PLANT COMPANION PLANTS
Green Beans….....…… Lavender, Basil
Broccoli………….....…. Basil, Thyme
Carrots…….....……….. Sage
Cucumber…….....……. Sage
Onion…………...……. German Chamomile
Potatoes……….....…… Basil, Sage
Tomatoes……….....….. Basil
Get your garden off to the right start with Young Living essential oils. Order your oils today so they are ready to go once your plants are in the ground. To order these oils and others from Young Living, click here.
댓글