39 Bizarre Pest Control Remedies and Ideas for Gardeners

Sheri Dorn is a versatile homesteader and culinary artist with a strong focus on organic and heirloom gardening. Holding a Master's degree in Culinary Arts, she combines her love for cooking and gardening in a unique way. Sheri is an active contributor to online gardening communities and enjoys quality outdoor time with her family and pets.
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Worried of your plants getting damaged? Here are some Bizarre Pest Control Remedies that you can use to save your green buddies!

In the world of gardening, battling pests is an ongoing challenge. While traditional pest control methods certainly have their merits, some gardeners have ventured into the realm of unconventional remedies and lesser-known tricks to protect their precious plants. Here’s a glimpse into the world of Bizarre Pest Control Remedies that might just save your garden.

Here are some home remedies to get rid of pest issues 


Bizarre Pest Control Remedies

1. Eggshell Barrier

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Crushed eggshells serve as a natural barrier against slugs and snails. The sharp edges deter these slimy invaders from crossing into your garden beds.

2. Beer Traps for Slugs

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Create slug traps by placing shallow containers filled with beer at ground level. Slugs are lured in by the scent, fall into the liquid, and are unable to escape.

3. Spicy Spray

Combine water, garlic, and hot peppers to create a homemade spicy spray. The pungent aroma and spicy taste repel a variety of pests, from aphids to deer.

4. Reflective Mulch

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Reflective surfaces like aluminum foil or reflective mulch disorient flying insects by creating dazzling reflections of light, deterring them from landing on your plants.

Ingenious Aluminum Foil Uses in the Garden

5. Floating Row Covers

Craft makeshift “blankets” for your plants using lightweight fabric. These floating row covers act as physical barriers against pests while allowing light and water to reach your plants.

6. Coffee Ground Barrier

Sprinkle used coffee grounds around the base of plants to fend off pests like ants, snails, and slugs. The grounds also act as a natural fertilizer as they break down.

7. Diatomaceous Earth (DE)

DE is composed of tiny fossilized organisms that have a razor-sharp texture. Sprinkle it around plants to deter crawling insects; it’s harmless to humans but lethal to insects.

8. Soap Spray

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Mix mild liquid soap with water to create a soapy solution. This concoction disrupts the cell membranes of soft-bodied insects, causing them to dehydrate and perish.

Top Dawn Dish Soap Uses in the Garden

9. Hair as a Barrier

Collect human or pet hair and spread it around your garden. The scent and texture deter animals like rabbits, deer, and squirrels.

10. Copper Tape

Wrap copper tape around pots or raised beds. The reaction between the copper and snail slime creates a mild electric shock, discouraging snails and slugs.

11. Scented Sachets

Hang sachets filled with strongly scented herbs like mint, lavender, or rosemary around your garden to deter pests with their overpowering aroma.

12. Citrus Peels

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Place citrus peels like orange or lemon around plants. The oils in the peels repel ants and other pests.

Awesome Citrus Peel Uses In Garden

13. Penny Trick for Tomatoes

Insert a copper penny into the soil near tomato plants. It’s believed that copper deters cutworms and helps prevent plant damage.

14. Marigolds!

Marigolds emit a scent that repels nematodes, which are soil-dwelling pests that attack plant roots. Plant marigolds as companion plants to deter nematodes.

15. Companion Planting

Integrate companion plants with natural pest-repelling properties into your garden layout. For example, planting garlic or chives alongside roses can deter aphids.

16. Aluminum Foil Banners

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Hang strips of aluminum foil from stakes around your garden. The shiny, moving strips confuse birds and keep them away from your crops.

17. Garden Art Predators

Set up decoy predators like plastic owls or rubber snakes in your garden. The sight of these “threats” can deter small animals like birds and rodents.

18. Milk Spray

Create a milk spray by mixing milk and water. The protein in milk acts as a natural fungicide and can also deter insects like aphids.

Milk Uses in the Garden Proven by Science

19. Flour Dusting

Dusting your plants with flour can deter pests like cabbage worms and aphids. The flour interferes with their feeding and breathing mechanisms.

20. Baking Soda Spray

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Mix water and baking soda to create a spray that helps control fungal diseases on plants like powdery mildew.

21. Basil Barrier

Plant basil strategically throughout your garden. The aromatic oils in basil plants repel flies, mosquitoes, and even aphids.

How to Grow Big Basil Plant Like a Shrub for Unlimited Harvest

22. Cucumber Peels

Place cucumber peels in areas frequented by ants. The natural compounds in cucumbers disrupt ant trails, leading them away from your plants.

Unique Ways to Grow Cucumbers

23. Vodka Spray

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Mix a small amount of vodka with water and a drop of dish soap. This concoction effectively eliminates soft-bodied insects by disrupting their cell membranes.

Use This Vodka Hack to Germinate Seeds & Propagate Cuttings Quickly

24. Bread Beer Trap

Create a beer trap for slugs by sinking a shallow dish filled with beer into the ground. To make it even more enticing, place a piece of bread in the center.

25. Lemon-Scented Herbs

Plant lemon-scented herbs like lemon balm or lemon thyme. The citrus aroma helps deter a range of pests, including whiteflies and cabbage moths.

26. Cooking Oil Spray

Mix cooking oil, water, and a drop of liquid soap to create a homemade insecticidal spray. The oil suffocates pests while the soap helps it adhere to their bodies.

27. Cornmeal Magic

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Sprinkle cornmeal around areas where ants are active. The ants eat the cornmeal, which swells in their stomachs and ultimately disrupts their digestive systems.

Unconventional Gardening Tricks to Become a Pro Gardener

28. Seaweed Mulch

Apply dried seaweed as mulch around your plants. Besides enriching the soil, it contains natural compounds that deter many pests.

29. Broken Eggshell Collars

Place halved eggshells around the base of your plants. The jagged edges deter cutworms and slugs from crawling up.

Plants that Don’t like Eggshells

30. Soap-Covered Plants

Dip a cotton cloth in soapy water and wrap it around the stems of plants prone to aphids. The soap discourages aphids from infesting the plants.

31. Vinegar Ant Repellent

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Mix equal parts vinegar and water in a spray bottle and apply it to areas frequented by ants. The strong smell disrupts their scent trails.

32. Alcohol-Water Mixture for Mealybugs

Wipe mealybugs off plants with a cotton swab dipped in a mix of rubbing alcohol and water.

Can You Spray Alcohol on Plants? Find Out!

33. Alfalfa Meal Barrier

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Sprinkle alfalfa meal around your garden beds. Not only does it add nutrients, but it also repels a variety of pests.

34. Epsom Salt Fertilizer and Pest Control

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Dissolve Epsom salt in water and spray it on your plants. Epsom salt not only acts as a natural fertilizer but also deters pests.

35. Toothpaste Aphid Spray

Mix water and non-gel toothpaste to create a spray that effectively controls aphids. The toothpaste suffocates the pests.

Surprising Toothpaste Hack for 100% Aphid Control

36. Garlic Barrier Tape

Attach garlic cloves to the stems of your plants using adhesive tape. The strong scent wards off pests and even some rodents.

37. Chili Powder Protection

Dust chili powder around plants to create a spicy barrier that discourages pests from feasting on your greens.

38. Orange Peel Snail Trap

Roll orange peels into cylindrical shapes and place them near snail-prone plants. Snails are attracted to the moisture and hide inside the peels.

39. Sound and Wind Deterrents

Bizarre Pest Control Remedies 39Hang aluminum foil strips or old CDs around your garden. The reflective surfaces and the sound created by the wind deter pests.

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