A Spicy Solution to Garden Pests
Are mealybugs feasting on your indoor topiaries? Rabbits nibbling on your garden broccoli? Pass over toxic chemical sprays and pesticides in favor of a more eco-friendly solution. Mix a tablespoon of liquid detergent and half a bottle of hot sauce in a watering can full of water. Simply spray on foliage, fruits, and vegetables -- including citrus, herbs, and ornamental plants throughout the growing season. The detergent will help the hot sauce stick to the leaves. The plants need to be reseasoned after a rain. Pesky insects and critters from aphids to squirrels will soon bypass your plantings and head straight to your neighbor's veggie patch.
One more tip... save your eggshells from the kitchen because they make an excellent deterrent for slimy slugs that invade your garden. Crush up eggshells in a paper bag and then scatter the shells in your garden. Initially your garden will look a little unusual with all of the eggshell debris scattered along your garden floor, but rest assured because this technique will prevent those "slimers" from moving safely about in your garden. Also, watering your garden in the morning instead of the evening will reduce slug and snail damage that occurs when the soil surface is moist.
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