Description
Essential Oils for the Home & Garden
If you are trying to limit your exposure to toxic and synthetic chemicals in your garden and home essential oils can be valuable tools. They are well-known for their wellness virtues for humans, and can also be precious allies to protect your plants naturally and ecologically.
These oils have been used for thousands of years for their medicinal and cosmetic benefits, and their power lies in the hundreds of chemical constituents they contain. Whether you are trying to chase away garden pests from your vegetable or flower garden, protect your plants against diseases, or simply to improve their overall health, we can use these natural defences to our advantage in both our home and garden, using products you can store in your medicine chest. How cool is that!
Clove Bud Essential Oil
Clove oil is steam-distilled from the dried flower buds of the Syzygium aromaticum tree, native to Indonesia.
In the Garden
In the garden Clove oil has both Fungicidal and Insecticidal properties, and is proven to deliver.
As an Insecticide & Fungicide
Clove oil is a powerful, eco-friendly natural pesticide and pest repellent. Driven by its active compound, eugenol, it kills insects on contact, disrupts pest navigation, and masks scent trails.
The eugenol in cloves acts as a contact insecticide and feeding deterrent for soft-bodied insects and Mites. It targets the octopamine receptors in insects—a nervous system function which mammals do not have, making it a safer option around the home.
The strong aroma disorients bugs and deters them from entering. Eugenol has also been proven to control Roaches, and studies also found eugenol most effective to control Termites.
Eugenol not only controls insects like Ants but also provides a knock out to hard to control pests like Mites, Thrips, Aphids, Whitefly, and Ticks, unlike most synthetic pyrethroids that do not work against most of these pests or have resistance issues. Clove oil is also an effective Mosquito and Flies repellent.
It was proven effective as a fumigant and a feeding deterrent which is great for Lawn and Ornamental insect pests.
With anti-fungal properties, Eugenol is also proven to prevent and control some fungal diseases on plants.
Garden Spray
For a pest spray, mix 10-20 drops of clove essential oil into 1L of warm water with 1 teaspoon of gentle liquid dish soap to help the oil and water blend. Spray this mixture directly on baseboards, windowsills, and doorways to block bugs from entering.
In the garden spray directly on outdoor ornamentals or crops to deter insects.
In the Home
Clove bud Essential Oil is used in the home for it’s warm, spicy, and sweet aroma, and this thin, golden to brownish oil is a staple in both traditional wellness and natural perfumery.
Its middle-to-base note is rich and penetrating; blending well with orange, cinnamon, vanilla, and frankincense.
Eugenol, the main active compound, is a well-known topical anesthetic that provides quick relief for toothaches, sore gums, and minor muscle pain. It is also used in muscle-soothing products, and for respiratory support, as it helps break up mucus and phlegm, offering relief from colds or seasonal congestion.
Due to its ability to reduce microbial load clove oil is also perfect for DIY cleaning products.
- Add a few drops to a diffuser to create a peaceful, meditative atmosphere.
- Dilute with carrier oil for use in massages or skincare applications.
- Combine with Epsom salts and other relaxing oils for a deeply calming bath soak.
How to Use Essential Oils for Pest Control
When it comes to organic gardening, prevention is better than cure, and spraying crops regularly with essential oils to prevent insect infestation and disease is the most effective method. This will not only chase pests away, but also make your garden smell great!
Always use pure essential oils, and because they are so potent, always dilute them first.
How to dilute essential oils
One of the drawbacks of using essential oils in the garden is that the levels of terpenes and other constituents can vary greatly depending on the region where the plants are grown, genetics, climate and other seasonal factors. Therefore, maintaining consistency in the chemical profile of the oils is hard.
For example, Rosemary oil extracted from plants growing in two different regions of Italy will contain varying levels of α-pinene, ranging from 11% to 36%. Another study showed that essential oils extracted from different chemotypes of garden thyme did not have the same toxicity against the bean weevil.
This is the reason why, if you look for exact recipes for the oil you wish to use in the garden, you will find many different quantities of oil versus water used.
Another factor to take into account is the actual number of drops in a milliliter can vary greatly depending on the thickness of the liquid: Thicker liquids like essential oils produce larger drops, meaning it takes fewer drops to make 1mL. Different dropper bottles or droppers also have varying nozzle sizes, which changes the volume of a single drop.
In standard pharmaceutical measurements, 1 mL is equal to approximately 20 drops (meaning 1 drop is about 0.05 mL). Therefore, 10 drops are typically equal to about 0.5 mL.
This is why physicians do not rely on counting drops, as this can lead to incorrect dosing. Instead they use an oral syringe, a graduated measuring cup, or the specific dropper provided with the medicine.
CAUTION:
Because the actual number of drops in a millilitre can vary greatly depending on the thickness of the liquid and varying nozzle sizes, which changes the volume of a single drop, I recommend starting with the lowest recommended dosage. You can always increase it later.
Preventative Spraying
A general guideline when mixing sprays to deter insects, and for anti-fungus protection is to mix 4–8 drops of Essential Oil in 1 Litre of water with an emulsifier.
Garden Sprays
At certain times of the year various pests and diseases will be more prevalent, so for stronger protection dosages can be increased.
Generally you will find recommended dosages are between 10-20 drops per Litre of water.
Always Test Sprays First
Unless you apply very high doses of essential oils, they are perfectly safe to use in the garden. However, because the strengths of essential oils vary, to ensure they do not cause leaf burn, it’s important to always test your spray on a small, isolated area of the plant first. Wait at least 24 hours to check for damage before applying it everywhere.
A good method of remembering which leaves you tested your spray on is to tie string or ribbon onto the stems that have been sprayed.
Take Notes
Taking note of which plants were tested and the dosages used, will soon give you a good indication of the strengths your plants need for protection.
Mixing your spray
The Emulsifier:
Soap is essential as an emulsifier as essential oils do not mix with water and will float to the top, potentially burning your plants. A gentle liquid dish soap, pure liquid Castile or Black soap can be used.
Approximately one teaspoon of liquid soap emulsifier is used in one litre of water. Witch hazel, Vodka, or apple cider vinegar also emulsifies oil and water.
The Method:
In a small glass container, mix your essential oils with your emulsifier, then add some of the water and stir well. Warming the water helps with emulsification. Add the oil mix to the spray bottle with the rest of the warm water. Agitate well and also regularly whilst spraying.
Applying your Oils
Spraying in the middle of a hot, sunny day can cause leaf burn, so always apply the mixture in the cool of early morning or late afternoon. Remember to agitate the spray bottle well before use, and regularly while spraying. Ensure that you spray underneath the leaves where insects commonly hide.
During the cooler times of the day beneficial daytime pollinators are not that active. Never spray plants if you can see beneficial pollinators like bees around the plants. Even organic sprays can be abused in the garden, so as they say “everything in moderation”.
NOTE: The strength of the oils will evaporate, so reapply to plants after rain, every 2 weeks, or as needed.
Cotton Ball Method
To target specific insects in large numbers, like ant hills or rodent burrows, take some cotton balls and add a few drops of essential oils to them. Place the cotton ball right onto the ant hill, burrow or other insect grouping. This will cause them to relocate immediately. If that doesn’t work immediately you should repeat the process using a stronger solution.
You can also rub the oils onto any hard surfaces to create a long-lasting barrier.
Hanging Strips to Deter Pests
Add essential oils to a bowl of warm water and soak strips of pretty material or ribbon in the water before hanging onto the branches of fruit trees, or near edible gardens and ornamental shrubs.
Is there a waiting period before harvesting?
You should not eat vegetables and fruits immediately after spraying them with essential oils. These oils are highly concentrated and consuming them without a waiting period or proper cleaning can cause digestive upset, inflammation, or irritation of the mouth and oesophagus.
Essential oils degrade in sunlight and waiting 24 hours should be sufficient. Ensure that you always wash your food well and all will be fine.
Storing Essential Oil Mixes
Try to mix up only sufficient spray to use in a day, or within 24 hours of mixing. Once exposed to water and oxygen, oil-based garden sprays begin to separate, degrade, and lose their effectiveness.
If you do have any left-over, store it in a glass bottle in a cool, dark place, not in your plastic spray bottle, as essential oils break down quicker in plastic. Agitate well before using again.
