It is that time of year. The soil is soft and rich, the sun is hanging out much later in the day, and Spring rains are on their way. Do you feel the itch yet? It is gardening time!
Top Ten
You already know how powerful essential oils are for making you smell, feel, and look great. And, you probably also know that essential oils have amazing dirt and grime fighting powers when it comes to house cleaning. But did you know that you can use essential oils in your garden, as well? Here are the amazing oils that made our Top 10 list:
Tea Tree
If you are an experienced gardener, you know how fungal infections like black spot and blight can wreak havoc on your garden. Tea Tree (or Melaleuca) oil contains natural plant protecting properties. Say goodbye, powdery mildew!
Peppermint
Peppermint is a garden powerhouse! Like tea tree, peppermint oil can keep funguses at bay. It is also an affective slug and snail repellent. It even keeps rodents away!*
Basil
Companion planting is a great strategy for boosting plant production. Basil essential oil works just like a companion plant for tomatoes, helping them to produce more fruit and grow stronger and healthier.
Lavender
Apples, grapes, and green beans love lavender. In addition to helping them grow, Lavender essential oil is a natural repellent for those bothersome insects that drive you crazy when you are out working in the garden, such as ticks, chiggers, mosquitos, and flies. While lavender deters the bugs you hate, it attracts the bugs your garden loves, such as butterflies and bees.*
Cedarwood
Cucumber beetles are every gardener’s archnemesis! Those pesky yellow and black striped pests are the things of nightmares, and they just can’t resist your squash, cucumbers, and melons. Keep them away using Cedarwood essential oil. A powerful insecticide, it also works on ants, aphids, caterpillars, gnats, mosquitoes, slugs, snails, spiders, ticks, and more.*
Rosemary
Have you ever wondered how bad bugs find your garden? It is by following the pheromones that are given off naturally by your plants. You can essentially hide your garden from invasive insects by masking its scent with Rosemary essential oil. It is especially effective on aphids and spider mites.*
Orange
Orange essential oil is great for attracting pollinators. Bees, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds can’t resist the sweet smell of orange oil.
Cinnamon
So far, we have addressed funguses, pests, and pollinators. You may have wondered if there is an oil for weeds. Well wonder no more! Cinnamon essential oil is a natural herbicide that takes care of those troublesome weeds in a flash.
Oregano
Flies and funguses have two things in common. They love your garden. And they hate Oregano essential oil! Farewell, carrot flies, green flies, and mosquitoes!
Clove
You can use Clove essential oil to make a natural, non-toxic herbicide to destroy unwanted weeds. Clove oil is also great for deterring deer.
Game Plan
Now that you know how essential oils are useful for your garden, it is time to learn how to use them. Follow these simple recipes to get the healthiest organic garden on the block!
Tea Tree Essential Oil Fungicide
- 1 Tablespoon Tea Tree oil
- 2 Tablespoons Baking powder
- 2 Quarts water
Combine the above ingredients in a sprayer and apply only to the affected areas once a week, in the early morning hours.
Peppermint Essential Oil Slug and Snail Repellent
- Gardening Spray Bottle
- Water
- 1 Tablespoon Peppermint oil
Fill the spray bottle with water and peppermint oil. Shake well. Spray around your plants once a week to keep snails and slugs away.*
Basil Essential Oil Tomato Booster
- 1 Quart water
- 10 drops Basil oil
Combine the above ingredients in a gardening spray bottle and spray directly onto tomato plants. You can also add 20 drops to a watering can full of water and apply to the soil.
Lavender Essential Oil Natural Insect Repellent
- 2 cups water
- 10 drops Lavender oil
Combine the above ingredients in a misting spray bottle. Apply directly to the plants or even to yourself to repel pesky insects while you are out gardening.*
Cedarwood Essential Oil Insect Repellent and Insecticide
- 1 Quart water
- 10 drops Cedarwood essential oil
- 2 drops Castile pure liquid soap
Combine the above ingredients in a 32 oz. spray bottle and spray your plants weekly.
Rosemary Essential Oil Garden Pheromone Masking Spray
- 1 Quart water
- 10 drops Rosemary oil
- 2 drops Castile pure liquid soap
Combine the above ingredients in a 32 oz. spray bottle. Shake well. Spray onto your plants after pruning and after rain to detract invasive insects.*
Orange Essential Oil Pollinator Attractor
- Orange Essential Oil
- Cotton balls
Soak orange essential oil into the cotton balls, and place in pots or around plants to attract pollinators.
Cinnamon Essential Oil Weed Killer
- 12 drops Cinnamon essential oil
- 2 cups water
Combine the above ingredients in a spray bottle and spray directly onto weeds.
Oregano Essential Oil Garden Insect Repellent
- 2 Quarts water
- 20 drops Oregano oil
Mix the above ingredients thoroughly and apply to plants using a garden sprayer. Reapply after rain.
Clove Essential Oil Pesticide
- 1 Quart water
- 10 drops Clove oil
Combine water and clove oil in a gardening spray bottle and spray the affected area of the plant, especially on the underside of the leaves.
If you’re interested in learning new ways to apply essential oils to your gardening, checkout our Guide for Using Essential Oils in Gardening.
Get to It!
Gardening is one of those tasks that you don’t want to delay. Getting your planting in at the earliest time for your region is one way to ensure healthy plants. Gardening has long been associated with a decrease in depressive symptoms, reduced anxiety, and improved cognitive function. It is a natural stress-reliever. Watching the fruits of your labors flourish boosts your self-esteem. Gardening even helps you sleep better! There is something about the quiet stillness of a garden paired with physical activity and getting your hands dirty that promotes a deep sense of physical and emotional well-being. And if you start now, you could have flowers in time for Mother’s Day!
You don’t want your home or community garden to be filled with toxic pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. You can garden peacefully when you use essential oils instead. Add essential oils to your gardening armory today!
*Many essential oils are listed on the EPA “Active Ingredients Eligible for Minimum Risk Pesticide Products.” However, in order for products that contain those ingredients to make pesticide or insect repellant claims, the products must be labeled as pesticides, including all the government-required verbiage and warnings. In addition, the products cannot contain any ingredients that aren’t on either the Active Ingredient list or the Inert Ingredient list for minimum risk pesticides. For these reasons, all Nature’s Fusions essential oil products are labeled as cosmetics or dietary supplements, instead of pesticides.
