My How To Guide on 3 Ways and 3 Sprays for DIY Insecticide
My last tutorial was on how I used Ariel laundry soap to get rid of Whiteflies and more pests in my yard. That method was great for the powdered laundry soap I was using but sometimes when dealing with pests, liquid methods are best. I have made little printables and I will try to attach them to the end of this tutorial. I like to print them and laminate them. My 3 ways to spray/treat are with a spray bottle, a watering can and my favorite way is a backpack sprayer. My three sprays are Whiteflies and more spray, Japanese Beetle Spray and Squash Beetle Spray.
Japanese Beetle Spray Printable
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1peDREqtp63PcCeK5HELrbDLzbFgKe6Yt/view?usp=sharing
Squash Spray Printable
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1jkCXOfH1DMMKif1bY1Onhwhtt-A0L_Uc/view?usp=sharing
Whiteflies and More Printable
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oTDeDOLw8HziMsijuauzyRbT27czuI9Z/view?usp=sharing
The first spray is to help stop Japanese Beetles. If it doesn’t kill them, it slows them down enough that you can pick them off and drop them in a bucket of soapy water or step on them. Your preference.
First, I mix the 1 cup of oil and 1 teaspoon Dawn until completely incorporated. After that you add 1 cup of rubbing alcohol and 1 quart of water. Then you shake it up. It will settle and separate and so every so often, you will need to shake it up again.
I made a video that will be at the end of the tutorial. Since I was measuring and mixing, I forgot to take pictures.
Here is one! They are totally feasting on my poor tree.
I completely soaked the tree and I looked for some to pull off and I couldn’t find any. I’ll check in a couple of hours to see if they came back.
When I use cooking oil in my spray bottle, I run through a bottle of just soap and water to clean out the oil. I’ve lost some sprayer to oil and now I make sure I clean them out.
Some plants and bushes are so dense that when you spray the insecticide on, the bugs are able to hide from it. For these I use the watering can method. I put about 1 or 2 cures of the Whitefly and more mixture and fill the rest. Of the watering can with water.
You can see this bush has some damage.
So I soak it and in a few days it will be good as new.
My favorite way to spray my DIY Insecticide is with a backpack sprayer. It’s also a good way to water plants that don’t like their feet wet.
I’m using Ariel Laundry Soap and water. At a Hometalker’s suggestion, I mix the soap with some hot water first to help it dissolve then I use the hose or bucket to fill up my backpack sprayer.
My Whiteflies and more spray is 1 tablespoon of Ariel laundry soap and 1 gallon of water.
I mixed a couple cups of hot water and the soap in this container. It works great to shake it up.
Adding the hot water…
Shake it up.
Pour it in the backpack sprayer.
Add desired water.
A little more water.
Slip it on and go. I find it easiest to put on a table and the put it on. I look a little wiped out here. One of my foster puppies had an emergency and I had to make a last minute road trip from Tennessee to Massachusetts. They might be in our homes for a short time but they are in our hearts forever. 
Lastly, I have a recipe for Squash Bug Spray. It’s so simple, I didn’t take pictures so let me know if you would like to see pictures.
Resources for this project:
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I have canna lilies on my fish pond and get these leaf rollers. I can’t spray any insecticide, so I wonder if anyone knows besides removing them by hand any method that won’t kill my fish, thank you!
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Just wondering if you have any advice on getting rid of grasshoppers! Would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
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Supposedly, the best way to get rid of grasshoppers is store bought garlic spray because it is the most potent. Also, you can sprinkle flour on the leaves. When they go to eat a leaf, they get a mouth full of flour which gums up their mouth making it difficult to survive.
There are many more suggestions at this link...
How to Get Rid of Grasshoppers? | 9 Easy Ways to Eliminate (housekeepingexpert.com)
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Frequently asked questions
Have a question about this project?
Can you use in vegetable garden and on Marijuana plants
Thank you! Does the squash bug
spray kill the bugs? I’m having a rough time with cucumber beetles
I am wondering if you have a solution for peach trees? My peaches were full of worms this year and I am not interested in insecticides.