Essential Oil Usage in and Around the Garden
I have been so busy this year with school and recovering from a knee injury that my passion for gardening has had, by necessity, taken somewhat of a backseat.
But my new-found love of essential oils AND my still ever-present love for gardening, has inspired me to jot down some different ways which we can incorporate essential oils into our gardening routines.
Essential Oils in the Garden
I have had great sucess with using essential oils to deter pests and pathogens from infecting my plants. Strong and healthy plants resist disease which will produce higher yield and more fragrant and abundant crops. Many plants have symbiotic relationships, which you can capitalize on by either growing the plants next to each other or by adding the essential oils that are beneficial to your various plants to their water.
The Basic Recipe
6 drops of your desired essential oil
2 gallons warm water
~Combine, then allow to cool
~Fill your watering container half full with the essential oil water, then top off with cool water.
~Water as usual
Companion Plants and Essential oils
Vegetables
Asparagus – Basil EO
Green Beans – Lavender, Basil EO
Broccoli – Basil, Thyme EO
Cabbage – Peppermint, Clary Sage, Thyme, Clary Sage EO
Carrots – Clary Sage EO
Cauliflower – Clary Sage EO
Cucumbers – Clary Sage EO
Peas – Geranium EO
Potatoes – Basil, Clary Sage EO
Tomatoes – Basil EO
Fruit
Apples and Grapes – Lavender EO
Flowers
Roses – Basil EO
Mildew and Fungus Protection
The Basic Recipe
10 drops of your desired Essential Oil (EO)
1 gallon water used in garden spray equipment
Essential oils: Patchouli, Melaleuca,
** Make sure to spray on plants when there is no risk of sun burning**
Insects and Pesky Bugs
Bugs go hand-in-hand with gardening. Some are good beneficial bugs…we love them and want them to stay and be very happy. But other bugs are not so welcome in our gardens. Let’s see how essential oils can help boot their buggy butts out!
Application Methods
Sprays: Use 4-8 drops of essential oil to 1 gallon of water for spraying on flowers fruit and vegetables. Sprays are best used as insect deterrents, to rid plants of mold and mildew and to encourage growth.
Hanging Strips of Cloth: Place 1 drop of undiluted essential oil on a cloth strip and attach to a pole or hang from a branch. Use multiple strips of cloth to cover desired area.
Cotton Wool: Bury small cartons, such as yogurt containers, in the ground keeping the top level with the soil. Add 4 drops of essential oils with strong odors such as Peppermint, Thyme or Eucalyptus and refresh as needed. The strong scent of these essential oils will help deter all ground moving insects i.e. slugs, snails, mice; as well as cats and dogs.
String: Soak a string in a solution of water and essential oils then string between plant rows to deter flying insects.
Ants: Peppermint, Spearmint EO
Aphids: Peppermint, Spearmint, Cedarwood EO
Beetles: Peppermint, Thyme EO
Chiggers: Lavender, Lemongrass, Thyme EO
Cutworm: Thyme, Clary Sage EO
Flies: Basil, Clove, Eucalyptus, Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary, EO
Mosquitoes: Lavender, Lemongrass EO
Moths: Peppermint, Lavender EO
Plant Lice: Peppermint, Spearmint EO
Slugs: Cedarwood, Pine EO
Snails: Patchouli, Pine EO
Spiders: Peppermint EO
Ticks: Lavender, Lemongrass, Thyme, Clary Sage EO
Weevils: Patchouli, Cedarwood EO
Wooly Aphids: Patchouli, Pine EO
Fire Ants
Mix 1 tsp Liquid Soap, 6 ounces Wild Orange EO, 1 tsp molasses and 1 gallon of water; pour mixture on top of the ant mound. Wait a few days and check area, if any surviving ants are creating a new mound, repeat the process.
Good Bugs
Essential oils in your garden will attract Bees and Butterflies; Bees are particularly attracted to Coriander.
Gardner-Heal Thyself
As a gardener you know that gardening is beneficial for both body and soul. Being outdoors, close to nature, being active and growing our own food / flowers feeds us body, mind and soul. However, usually gardening comes with sore muscles, dry skin, sunburns, bug bites or respiratory congestion. Luckily I have found, there are essential oils to help ease our symptoms, allowing us to keep doing what we love….garden!
Sore muscles: Add 20 drops of Deep Blue Blend & 10 drops of Frankincense to a roller bottle, top off with carrier oil of your choice and massage into sore muscles and joints.
OR
Use a couple of drops of AromaTouch Essential Oil neat on areas of soreness.
Dry Skin, Sunburn: Lavender & Peppermint essential oils. Lavender essential oil is a must have for its soothing, healing and regenerating properties and Peppermint I have had great success with easing pain and inflammation.
Bug Bites: Apply Lavender or Peppermint essential oils undiluted to bites. You can use one or both. (Note for people with sensitive skin it may be necessary to dilute the Peppermint essential oil in a lotion or carrier oil prior to application. If using Peppermint undiluted make sure to use for spot application only e.g. on bug bite.)
Dry Chapped Skin: Mix 20 drops Lavender and 10 drops of Geranium essential oil in a roller bottle topped off with carrier oil of your choice. You can add 5 drops of Myrrh as well.
Sun Burn: Cool Compress and/or Spritzer:
• Compress: Fill basin with cool water. Add 10 drops of Lavender and 10 drops of Frankincense essential oil and briskly stir. Lay in a washcloth, wring and apply to area in need. Repeat 3 times and leave the last compress on for 3 minutes.
• Spritzer: Mix 20 drops of Lavender and 20 drops of Peppermint in a 2 ounce Spritzer bottle, fill with water of FCO (fractionated coconut oil).
• Shake and spritz over area in need, careful to avoid spritzing in to eyes. (Keep spritzer in the refrigerator, use cold spritzer to help cool the heat of a sun burn), spritz every 2 hours, repeat 4-6 times.
• Continue with 20 drops Lavender and 20 drops Frankincense in 1 ounce water 2-4 times daily. If blistering occurs add 20 drops of Melaleuca.
Respiratory: Add a drop or two of Breathe Blend on a tissue or cotton ball and inhale as needed. You can also add 5 drops of Lime and/or Rosemary to tablespoon of carrier oil and apply to chest, neck and back.
Preventative: Apply 2-4 drops of Balance on the bottom of each foot in the morning upon waking. Layer Bergamot after Balance for stress. Take 3-5 drops of Frankincense.
Allergies: Mix 3 drops EACH Lavender and Lemon and 3-5 Drops Peppermint, repeat use every 3-4 hours as needed to relieve symptoms in one of the following ways:
1: Put 2 drops of Lavender and lemon with 4 drops of Peppermint in a empty vegetable capsule and take internally.
2: For the adventurous: Mix the oils in a mouthful of juice (preferred) or water, swish 10-20 seconds then swallow. This is called an EO Shot.
3: Pre-mix oils for several uses and keep in a amber dropper bottle; place a few drops in palm of hands; rub together, cup and inhale deeply for several seconds.
4: Take TriEase capsules as needed instead of the Lavender, Lemon and Peppermint EO directly in the mouth. (Much better tasting!)
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Medical Disclaimer Notice: Nothing in this post is to be construed as medical advice, simply a sharing of things that have worked for me &my family. If you have any symptoms of serious illness, taking medication, pregnant or nursing, or have never worked with herbal materials or essential oils before, please consider consulting a medical professional before use. I am unable to offer advice for your particular medical situation; please ask your Doctor, Nurse Practitioner or Naturopath for further guidance. The statements made here have not been approved by the Food & Drug Administration. These statements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. This notice is in accordance and required by the Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act.
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