The key to a home and garden that’s healthy for your dog and cat, as well as for your kids, is natural pest control. One of my favorite products is Dr Bronner’s Soaps, which have been around for over 50 years and are still going strong. I started using this great soap back in the sixth grade when I first began my natural pest control business. It’s basically an essential oil and of a very high energy quality level. Only herbs are used to make a concentrate. Not too many insects can handle this soap! The many different scents range from lavender and peppermint to almond and tea tree oil and are excellent both for bathing yourself and your pets as well as controlling insects in your home and garden.

There are many other types of natural soaps on the market as well. Just be sure to read the ingredients. If the product contains sodium laurel sulfate, then I would not use it. This substance has been known to cause liver disorders in both humans and animals. Please stick to products with natural ingredients. Ivory soap is not natural; the ingredients are toxic to your pets!

Soap solutions for trees, roses and vegetables

Trees
Dr Bronner’s Soaps are very effective for controlling many
types of tree pests. I use an in-line feeder (found at the local
hardware store) to spray natural soaps high up in the trees.
I put a special tip on the hose that shoots a mixture of water
and soap (16 to 1).

Roses
Natural soaps are a very safe way to control the many pests that can attack roses. A basic formula contains ten tablespoons of soap per quart of water, or no more than one ounce per gallon. It can be used on its own or mixed with other things to increase its effectiveness. Try adding two tablespoons of crushed garlic (either oil or strained or try a gel pill from the health food store) per quart of water, one tablespoon of tea tree oil per quart of water, or two tablespoons of castor oil per quart of water
See www.invisiblegardener.com/roses.htm for
more information. Avoid spraying on hot days (over 90°F). It’s best to spray in the early morning (if the day is not going to get too hot) or in the late afternoon. For best results, spray at night when the pests are out!

Vegetables
Using natural soaps to control pests on vegetables makes a lot of sense for many reasons, the most important of which is that the soaps are non-toxic. All you need to do is wash the vegetables before using. Soap kills many insects on contact. You have to first find the proper strength; make it too strong and you might kill the plant, while if it’s too weak it won’t work at all.

As a preventative, use one tablespoon of peppermint soap per quart of water. Add seaweed as per instructions on my website. Spray on vegetables on a regular basis or at the first sign of trouble.

For specific pests, use five tablespoons of soap per quart water. Test first on the plant/bug to see if it is too strong, or not strong enough.

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