As we all know, spring is the season for gardening. If you're like me and thought that gardening was just putting seeds in the ground, you might find this article interesting. It seems there is much more to it than just having adequate dirt and water to grow your plants. dōTERRA has 8 Tips for Starting Your Own Organic Garden that make the process much more friendly for those who have yet to develop the green thumb. What tips and tricks have you discovered that have made your garden flourish?
Keeping your hands as nourished as your plants is an important aspect to keep in mind while gardening. dōTERRA has created just the recipe to get your hands clean and moisturized after a morning in the dirt. You can check out the recipe here.
Hornworms and cutworms can strip your plants, but dōTERRA users on my team have found that a spray of Peppermint and Cedarwood with distilled water is great for deterring them!
Here are more solutions, based on your specific pest: Try mixing 8 ounces of water with a ½ teaspoon of natural soap and 12 drops of essential oil(s) from this list. Remember to shake the bottle frequently as you spray and that a little goes a long way. Apply to plants sparingly, and use several applications over several days for best results.
Ants: Peppermint
Aphids: Peppermint, Cedarwood, Siberian Fir
Beetles: Peppermint, Thyme
Caterpillars: Peppermint
Chiggers: Lavender, Lemongrass, Thyme
Cutworm: Thyme
Fleas: Lemongrass, Lavender, Thyme
Flies: Basil, Clove, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary
Gnats: Patchouli
Japanese Beetles: Rosemary
Mosquitoes: Lavender, Lemongrass
Moths: Lavender, Peppermint
Plant Lice: Peppermint
Roaches: Eucalyptus
Slugs: Siberian Fir
Snails: Patchouli, Siberian Fir
Spiders: Peppermint
Ticks: Lavender, Lemongrass, Thyme
Weevils: Patchouli, Sandalwood
When it comes to keeping bugs off of your body when you go out to garden, the dōTERRA Science Blog has these great tipsto keep in mind:
Common "scents" defense. Use a good essential-oil-based repellent that contains a blend of two or more essential oils with known repellency properties (see list above). Blends containing cedarwood essential oil are particularly useful and provide an aroma profile that is reminiscent of nature. Additionally, the product should contain a fixative like Fractionated Coconut Oil and/or vanilla absolute, to help ensure long-lasting efficacy.
Dress for the occasion. Weather permitting, wear long-sleeve shirts, pants, and socks to provide a first-line physical barrier.
Keep your eye on the clock. Mosquitoes are generally most active between the hours of dusk and dawn, so plan your day accordingly.
Need to keep cats away from your garden? Try Rosemary oil around the edges of your garden boxes!
If you get splinters or thorns while working in your garden, remember that Frankincense and Lavender diluted with Fractionated Coconut Oil is a great option for soothing the pain, clearing the debris from skin, and promoting fast recovery of scratches and small cuts. Correct X is also a great product to have on hand for such times.
For more tips, hacks, and gardening help, check out this short video presentation from dōTERRA.