Garlic wash sprays a la James Wong...

[Herbsandveg]

It's soon going to be decision time regarding what kind of deterrent to use as a foliar spray for the fruit trees and other plants in the garden, and I've been toying with the idea of trying out a garlic wash concoction as recommended by James Wong in his most recent book, the 'Homegrown Revolution' . Have any members tried this, or does anyone have a good idea of their own on how to make a good, home-made spray to defer the sneaky little critters that nibble our stuff? All suggestions gratefully received!...

[zazen999]

What actual pests are you trying to 'remove'. Don't forget that whatever you kill with your spray, you will also likely kill any predators that would have eaten the thing you have killed. So they don't get food and thus won't be there in future to keep your pests at bay. That's how pesticides work, they kill everything so that you have to rely on them every year. Neat, huh?

[Herbsandveg]

Dinnertime pause in proceedings, and just time to answer a good reply!

What actual pests are you trying to 'remove'. Don't forget that whatever you kill with your spray, you will also likely kill any predators that would have eaten the thing you have killed. So they don't get food and thus won't be there in future to keep your pests at bay. That's how pesticides work, they kill everything so that you have to rely on them every year. Neat, huh?

Hello again, Zazen

I think I was just trying to deter the slugs and snails, but maybe I'd be overdoing things by trying to kill - or, at least, 'deter' - any predators. Maybe I'm taking a mallet to crack an egg (or any other metaphor you choose), but I find the Nematode solution a bit gruesome, and refuse point blank to resort to slug pellets (the gardening equivalent of chemical warfare to this would-be 'organic gardener'), so that's why I plumped for something as relatively benign and 'natural' as garlic...But I am more than prepared to learn, and really take your point about the 'wipeout mentality' of pesticides...

[rustylady]

Salty water is organic. Just drop the slugs and snails into a bucket full of it.