Kathy’s Front Garden Sitting Area

Ok, this is a new twist on helpful recipes.  Take note because you could win some major praise from the gardeners in your life.  What am I talking about?

Gardeners love to see things grow.  And high on the list of things they like to grow is plants–flowering, green or vegetable.  Anything with a root will do.  It’s what gardeners do in their spare time because it kind of proves to themselves and others they can properly care about, care for and nurture things from birth to maturity.  They also love beautiful blooms, healthy vegetables and tall statues of green leaves attached to brown branches.  I certainly enjoy beautiful gardens, but being the caretaker is not on my bucket list.

My Kathy is very big on this pastime.  She takes it seriously, devotes real time to her passion for growing things, and is even a Master Gardener so she has the right level of knowledge to do it well.  To wit, the pictures in this post are from her garden.

I have never seen Kathy more angry or frustrated than when she witnesses Insects, Deer, Rabbits, Chipmunks, Squirrels, Ground Hogs, Possum and other vermin eating her precious, well-cared for flowers, plants, vegetables and herbs.  Among Kathy’s large group of gardening friends, this is a common reaction.  These insects and animals always seem to know exactly when her flowers are ready to make their spectacular show of bloom.  At that point, they all send invitations for a dinner party in her back yard garden.  Then an assortment of insects and vermin who have not visited the yard for months, show up for the after dark feast of flowers and greens.

Soft and Hard Blooms in the Garden

Now, as much as our gentle gardeners are disgusted by the insects, deer and other vermin grazing their garden salad, the idea of hurting them is just not in the cards.  So you won’t be considered helpful if you reach for the gun in the closet.  That approach is not going to work!!  Instead if you really want to impress the gardener in your life, goto the grocery and hardware stores and buy the ingredients for this Insect, Maybe Deer and Small Vermin Repellent recipe.  Take the stuff home, and make a batch of this recipe.  Either copy or write this recipe on an index card and tape it to the outside of the spray bottle.    

Now, wait until your special gardener is working in garden.  Explain that you have been aware of the insects and vermin problem, and have done some homework, you have found a way to protect the gardens from overnight feasting by unwelcome friends.  Give your gardener the filled spray bottle with directions to spray the garden plants in the early evening hours, then repeat it as often as needed to keep the insects and vermin away, and after it rains or a heavy watering.

My Kathy swears by this potion to repel insects, maybe deer, and if you spray the ground around the plants, some of other small rodents that like to eat her garden goodies.  She’s given it out many times, and I’m pretty sure it works.

Try it!  And let me know how it works.

Insect, Maybe Deer and Small Vermin Repellent

Prep Time: 5 mins | Cook Time: 0 hr 0 min | Servings: 1 Quart | Difficulty: Easy

Note:  This is not for human consumption!

Ingredients:

• 1 quart capacity spray bottle
• 2 tbsp Tabasco or other similar hot sauce without seeds
• 1/4 cup rubbing alcohol
• 1/2 tsp Liquid Dawn Dish Detergent
• Water to fill

Directions:

1. In the quart spray bottle (buy at hardware store), combine next 3 ingredients.

Quiet Deck Garden Area

2. Fill the remaining volume with tap water.

3. Shake gently.

4. Spray plants and flowers in the late afternoon and after the sun has begun to set.  Respray once every few days and again after heavy rains or watering.

Source: My Inedible Recipe Collection
Sent from Paprika Recipe Manager

Categories: Great Recipes, Just Great Ideas!

Tags: Deer, deer repellent, Garden, garden spray, ground hog repellent, Master Gardener, men cooking, Pest and Disease Control, Plant, rabbit repellent, romance, simple recipes, Tabasco, Vegetable