I have a serious problem with spider mites eating the strawberries and other plants in my garden this summer. I’m trying to grow organically this year, so I don’t want to use insecticides. How do you make a natural spray for spider mites?
Lauren, Ouray, CO
Spider mites are a big problem for gardeners. They can infest house plants, too. You can make more than one kind of natural homemade spray against spider mites. Many of these treatments won’t harm beneficial insects either.
In fact, you can tackle spider mites on two fronts. You can spray for them, plus you can turn predatory insects loose in your garden to fight the infestation. Consequently, the spider mites won’t have a chance.
As for sprays, here are three of them you can mix up at home. The first, rosemary oil, is one of the top ways to kill spider mites without harming your plants and it also makes a great natural insect repellent. Mix it with water and spritz your plants. You can add in other essential oils like clove and peppermint for a homemade bug spray for plants to deter pests like aphids, too.
Neem oil is the second kind of natural spray that kills spider mites and it also makes a great homemade aphid spray. You can check out this article for specific instructions on how to mix up a solution and use it: https://www.tipsbulletin.com/how-to-get-rid-of-spider-mites/ It’s important to treat infested plants on a certain schedule for best results.
Also, you can make the third type of natural spray to get rid of spider mites from soap and water. The guide article explains the recipe and how to apply it.
Natural remedies are almost always preferred to get rid of household pests and to take care of issues in the yard, like eliminating tree stumps with a homemade tree stump killer or keeping snakes and rodents away.
Hope this information helps. Happy gardening!