eucalyptus oil to control garden pests aphids....

 

Hi,

Has anyone else tried using Kevin Walsh, ABC radio, receipe for controlling
garden pests?

He includes

1 teaspoon of eucalyptus oil
1 teaspoon of biodegradable liquid detergent
500ml of water

Mix the ingredients together in a small sprayer. Always shake thoroughly
before each use.
Spray around seedlings and base of plants, and under leaves to ensure spray
actually contacts the insect it is trying to control.
Use to control many garden pests including aphids, pear and cherry slug,
caterpillars, whitefly, mealybugs, etc.
Do not store made up spray. Thoroughly wash sprayer after use.

Ingredients: 100% pure eucalyptus oil.

I thought of using it on my azaelas which have small black bugs underneath.

 



I have been fighting aphinds here, I'm about 8km from Perth. Tried the
remnants of "bug Gun" and a "pyrethrum" trigger pack. Were still there a few
days later. Tried a mix of neem leaf extract, pyrethrum and methylated
spirits and still there 3 days later. Got the hose out and blasted them off
and 3 days later back again. Got the eucalyptus oil out and made up this mix
and will see how it goes. I have never notice aphids this bad. I used to
have one bush that got affected while the others remained virtually
untouched. I wandered next door to have a look at what was happening there
and the story is aphids down at least 3 inches under every bud. Something
has made it the aphids time. I just hope I have them knocked off before the
thrips arrive. I am looking forward to the first blooms after pruning in
late July and I am so disheartened by the numbers of aphids and just hope
the flowers will be ok.

 

I'm about 8km from Perth. Tried the

You could buy mix the mixture yourself using the stuff that sells at the
gardening shops to treat the aphids. Just make it a wee bit stronger.

In the meantime, the eucalyptus oil + soap combo seems to be working in my
garden. I checked it out - and there are only a very few aphids left. But
I'd suspect I'd have to spray the plants again on Friday - and then follow
it up every week.

Oh and by the way, spray in the evening. My neighbor sprayed his roses
during the hot day - and ended up scorching the leaves. Not pretty.

 


I know nothing of it.  But I'll point out that I've seen large bottles of
eucalyptus oil in the laundry area of supermarkets, where it is sold for
killing dust mites in the wash.

Try your spray on just one branch first off.  Late afternoon might be a
good time, since it's oil based.
--
John Savage                (my news address is not valid for email)

 

news:0809300231234.30Sep08

That's what I'm using. Its actually intended for laundry use.

I used a cap full in a 1 litre spray the other day with some detergent soap
mixed inside.

I had a cut on my hand that day- and didn't want to use the normal pesticide
mix I usually use.

Let you know the results in a month's time of use.