DIY Peppermint Bug Spray for Gardeners: A Natural, Skin-Safe Pest Control

 

Repel mosquitoes, ticks, and more without harsh chemicals or synthetic additives

If you’ve ever stepped outside and felt like a walking buffet for bugs, you’re not alone. Many gardeners and outdoor advocates turn to homemade sprays for protection but not all recipes are created equal. Some include dish soap or chemical additives that aren’t meant for prolonged skin contact.

This post offers a gentle, effective alternative: a peppermint-based spray that’s safe for skin, clothing, and conscience.

 

 The Safer DIY Recipe

This version skips the dish soap and uses witch hazel or vodka to help disperse the essential oils. It’s gentle enough for daily use and smells refreshingly minty.

Ingredients:

• 20 drops peppermint essential oil
• 2 cups distilled water
• 1 tablespoon witch hazel or vodka
• Optional: 5 drops lavender or eucalyptus oil for added repellent power

Instructions:

1.    Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle.

2.    Shake well before each use.

3.    Spray on clothing, exposed skin, and gear before heading outdoors.

 

What Bugs Does It Repel?

Peppermint oil is a proven natural repellent against a wide range of pests. When used in a properly diluted spray, it helps deter ants, spiders, mosquitoes, roaches, moths, gnats, ticks, and flies including black flies, which are notoriously persistent. It’s also known to discourage mice from nesting or lingering in treated areas, thanks to its strong scent. This makes peppermint spray especially useful for gardeners, hikers, and outdoor advocates who want protection without resorting to harsh chemicals. Whether you're tending raised beds, walking wooded trails, or hosting a backyard gathering, this gentle blend offers a layer of defense that respects both your skin and your surroundings.

 

A Note on Dish Soap

While some DIY recipes include dish soap to help emulsify oils, it’s not designed for skin contact. Dawn and similar soaps contain surfactants that can strip your skin’s natural oils, leading to dryness, irritation, or allergic reactions. If you’re spraying your body or clothing, skip the soap.

⚠️ Pet Safety Warning: Peppermint oil is toxic to cats and may cause adverse reactions in dogs. Do not spray this mixture directly on pets or their bedding. Keep animals away from freshly treated areas until the scent has dissipated. Always consult your veterinarian before using essential oils around pets.

 

 Seasonal Note on Oak Mites

As fall approaches, many regions especially in the Midwest see a rise in oak tree mite activity. These microscopic pests (Pyemotes herfsi) often drop from infested oak trees and bite humans during outdoor tasks like leaf raking or yard cleanup. While peppermint oil may help deter certain insects and mites, it is not proven to prevent oak mite bites, especially when mites are airborne or already present on clothing. For best protection, wear long sleeves, avoid standing under infested trees, and shower promptly after outdoor exposure. This spray is intended as a general repellent, not a guaranteed barrier against oak mites.

 

---

Source Links

For those who want to dig deeper into the science behind peppermint oil’s pest-repelling power, here are a few verified resources:

• The Science Behind Peppermint as a Pest Deterrent – Pesky Little Critters
• Is Peppermint Oil the Secret to a Bug-Free Home? – The Spruce
• The Buzz on Peppermint Oil: Does it Really Repel Bugs? – Kitchen Journal

---

Author Disclaimer

This post reflects my personal experience and research as a wildlife advocate and past estate gardener. All recipes and recommendations are intended for educational purposes only. Always patch-test any spray before full use, and consult a healthcare provider if you have known sensitivities or allergies

Why Did My Nikko Blue Hydrangea Turn Pink? Understanding Soil Chemistry

 

Last spring, my brother gifted me a gorgeous Nikko blue hydrangea, and its vivid sky-blue flowers instantly became the star of my garden. I nurtured it through the seasons, imagining it would bloom again in that same blue hue. But this year, something unexpected happened: the very same plant burst into a bold splash of pink. I couldn’t help but wonder what changed?

AI generated image 

Hydrangea color shifts are a fascinating expression of soil science. The flower shade isn’t random it’s rooted in the chemistry of your garden. Specifically, the color reflects your soil’s pH level and the presence (or absence) of aluminum. If your soil is acidic, aluminum becomes available to the plant, turning blooms blue. More alkaline soil, however, locks aluminum out, nudging flowers toward pink or even lilac.

Here in the Ozarks, with its rugged terrain and abundance of limestone, I assumed our rocky soil leaned naturally acidic. But limestone-rich earth is more alkaline than it appears. That’s likely what caused my blue hydrangea to shift revealing how important it is to test your garden's soil pH if you're aiming to maintain or change hydrangea color. It's one of those small steps in blue hydrangea care that makes all the difference.

So how do you get blue hydrangeas in alkaline soil? First, conduct a simple soil test to find your current PH. If it reads above 6.0, you’ll need to gently nudge it downward. Gardeners often turn to acidic soil amendments like pine needles, coffee grounds, or peat moss to begin rebalancing. For a quicker fix, many use aluminum sulfate a popular choice in how to change hydrangea color though it's essential to follow instructions carefully. Even your water source matters: hard tap water with minerals can raise soil pH over time, so switching to rainwater may help stabilize acidity.

The shift in color doesn’t mean your plant is unhealthy far from it. My Nikko hydrangea is thriving with its pink blossoms, larger and brighter than ever. But if you’re dreaming of those cooler blue hues and want to restore them, understanding your soil’s character is key. It’s not just about gardening it’s about listening to what your landscape is trying to tell you.

Hydrangeas have a charming way of whispering soil secrets with every bloom. Whether they wear blush or blue, they invite us to look deeper and connect more thoughtfully with the ground we tend.

Rosemary Tips to Encourage Flower Blooms

 

I have a four year old  rosemary plant that is thriving but its not blooming.  I would really like it to bloom this year. A friend of mine has a “green thumb” and everything that she plants thrives and blooms so I decided to ask her why my rosemary wasn't flowering.  Here are a few of her tips to encourage flowering.

Rosemary - Wikipedia

Sunlight is a factor.  Rosemary loves full sun and needs at least six to 8 hours of sunlight daily.  The hotter and the dryer the better.  My rosemary is grown in a container and was on the patio where it was partial shade in the afternoon so I moved it to an area where I knew there would be ample sunlight.

The only time I cut my rosemary is when I need a sprig for cooking.  I usually take a new stem from the bottom leaving the top and sides full.   Pruning too much in the spring is a good way to remove flower buds before they bloom.

Rosemary thrives in light soil that drains well.  Heavy soil that is non draining  will prevent flowering.

Fertilizing I use Spray n Grow in the spring  but other than that all I do is water my rosemary when soil is dry.  I grow rosemary in a container and the soil dries out quicker than in the ground so I water my rosemary once a day or when the soil is dry to the touch. 

My rosemary plant grown in a container 

Rosemary is not a fan of fertilization as too much nitrogen will encourage a leafy bushy growth but limits flower production.

The age of the rosemary matters.  Rosemary needs at least five years to bloom.  So my plant needs more time and more sun. 

Growing Strawberries in a Container

 

Just because you have a small space does not mean you cannot grow strawberries.  Plant everbearing strawberries in a container and enjoy fresh picked strawberries during the summer months.

Normally I grow strawberries in the ground but this year I planted everbearing strawberries in a container.   I added 3 plants to a hanging container to protect the plants from garden pests. (deer, raccoon, rabbits and armadillo slugs and snails)

I like growing strawberries in a container because it saves on space, plus I can easily move the container to a sunnier spot and plan to move indoors during the winter months.

Containers have better drainage; the soil drains well through the holes at the bottom of the container and roots are never waterlogged.

When plants produce fruit, you will be able to harvest the berries easily from the container making the container strawberry garden perfect for patios and decks.

I have many container gardens on my patio and find that these gardens add interest to my outdoor living space. The trailing plants like strawberry and sweet potato are eye appealing.

Growing strawberries in a container is a great way to enjoy freshly harvested fruit in a garden that has limited space.

Maintaining and Caring for Herbs

  

Herbs will bring joy to your garden with their aromatic fragrance and pretty flowers.  You will also enjoy harvesting the leaves for flavorful teas, food recipes, and medicinal properties.   However, you will need to do specific steps throughout the growing season to maintain the health of your herb plants.

Here are some garden tips for maintaining and caring for herb plants.

Happy Gardening! 

 

Always plant your herbs in a garden bed with well-drained soil. Amend the soil with organic compost.  

Plant herbs in a garden that gets 5-8 hours of sun. Don't plant herbs too close; space herbs 12-18 inches for growth and air flow. 

Water herbs regularly to keep the soil moist but not soggy.  

It's best to keep the soil moist throughout the growing season.  To achieve this,  set up a slow-drip hose or inground water irrigation.   Otherwise, water the herb garden in the early morning.  In the peak season, when the days are extremely hot, you should mist the herb plants in the late afternoon.

 

Provide a balanced fertilizer every few weeks to encourage healthy growth.

Pinch back the tips of the plants to encourage bushier growth. Regular pruning encourages bushier growth and helps prevent the plant from becoming leggy. Pinch off the flowers to direct the plant's energy toward leaf production. 

Check your herb plants daily for common pests like aphids and mites. Neem oil or insecticidal soap can help keep pests under control.

*Image 1 is of my garden, image 2 was AI created

Growing Tips for Holy Basil Seed

  

Holy Basil is easy to grow from seed, or you can buy it as a nursery-grown plant at Lowes or other garden centers. I grow my basil herbs in raised garden beds or containers, but that doesn’t mean you can’t grow them in the ground.

The herb holy basil, also known as Tulsi, has many health benefits. In the past, I have harvested holy basil leaves for tea. Drinking two cups of tea daily was a great way to relax and unwind and boost my immune system. You can also cook with this basil; it will add a delicious flavor to many foods.

 

Here’s a step-by-step guide for growing Holy Basil

• You will need the following
• Holy Basil seeds
• Seed starter soil mix
• Seed trays with covers or containers
• Plastic wrap
• Watering can / spray bottle
• A sunny window for indoor growing or a grow light.

Plan to start your Holy basil seeds indoors in early spring to protect them from a late spring frost.

Fill the seed trays or containers with seed-starter soil mix or potting soil.

Use a water sprayer to moisten the soil. The soil should be moist but not muddy.

Sow your basil seeds by sprinkling them lightly on the soil surface.

Use your index finger to press the seeds into the soil.  Do not cover the seeds with soil, as the seeds need light to germinate.

Water your newly planted seeds with a spray bottle.  Mist the soil lightly so that the soil is moist.

Set the seed tray in a sunny location, by a window or under a grow light. Put the plastic cover on the seed tray or wrap the trays or containers with plastic wrap. (The cover will help maintain humidity, which is needed for germination.)

 

Holy basil seeds will germinate indoors where the average temperature is 70 to 75 degrees Fahrenheit.   Seedlings will be healthy if they get 6 to 8 hours of sunlight daily.  

Your seedlings should emerge in about 7 to 14 days.  Once they germinate, you would remove the plastic covering.

Keep the soil moist and continue to provide light and warmth to your seedlings.

When the threat of late spring frost has passed and your seedlings have a few leafy branches, transplant them outdoors. You can grow in a raised garden bed, containers, or in the ground.

*AI generated watercolor images created by Susang6

End of Summer Garden Maintenance

  

Presently we have a few cooler days and I took advantage of the weather and started the end of summer garden maintenance.  So, I made a list of the garden tasks that need to be completed now so we can enjoy a maintenance free garden during the fall season.

 

Today I removed all of the seedheads from the annual flowers and put the seeds in an envelope.  I will use these seeds for next growing season. 

Then I removed all annual flowers along with wild grasses and weeds from the garden bed.  I also harvested any remaining vegetables and herbs for drying.

 

The end of summer is a good time to trim and prune perennial shrubs, trees and to transplant irises that are overcrowded.

Apply a layer of organic mulch or layer of leaves to your garden beds to enrich the soil during the fall and winter months.  Mulch is also a good way to protect perennial flower  roots from shifting soil due to freezing soils or soil movement.

Maintain your end of summer garden by watering trees, shrubs and fall flowers at least once a week.  

 

Take time to clean your bird feeders, bird baths garden tools, and your lawn mower.  It’s a good idea to take your lawn mower in for service so that its ready for the following season.  

When to Water Tomatoes Grown in Containers

 As a rule, the best time to water your outdoor plants is early in the morning.  The weather in the morning is cooler and this temperature will allow the water to be absorbed into the soil and hydrate the plants.

 It’s not a good idea to water plants in the afternoon or early evening because it its hot outside the water will evaporate instead of being absorbed by the plant’s roots.  However, tomatoes grown in containers will need to be watered more than plants grown in the ground.  It’s smart to check your tomato containers a few times daily to make sure that the soil is not dry. If plants need to be watered late in the day they water them, but at the soil line and not on the leaves.

 

I grow tomatoes in containers and find that the soil does dry out very quickly during the hot summer months.  The container plants need regular watering.  You do not want the soil to dry out, so I recommend watering directly to the soil surface until the water drains from the holes at bottom of the pot.   Then check your tomato plants again before the heat of the day. Water your tomato containers deeply. 

Tomatoes like it hot but extreme heatwaves might be too harsh for a tomato grown in a container.  That is why my tomatoes get 6 hours of morning sun, and shade in the afternoon when the heat is excessive. Then from five in the afternoon to dusk the plants will get three more hours of late in the day sun.  

Keep your tomatoes in container hydrated.  Know that if you water your tomato plants in the morning, then skip the late in the day or early evening watering.  The soil will dry out you will run the risk of your tomatoes cracking from receiving too much water after a dry spell. 

Other Information

If you have not added mulch to your tomato containers then I recommend that you do as it will aid in keeping roots cooler and the mulch will hold moisture.

Growing Tips for Larkspur from Seed

 

Larkspur is a pretty flower that comes in a variety of colors including purple, pink, red, yellow white and blue. The leaves on the plant are fern-like in appearance and the flowers grow in clusters. 

The flowers have no fragrance although my friend tells me that hers have a fresh scent. 

I have never gotten that close to the flower due to the   toxicity.  If my nose were to touch the larkspur the leaves could cause skin irritation.   Every part of this plant is poisonous so I just grow it for pollinators.  The Larkspur attract bees, hummingbirds and butterflies as the vibrant color flowers are rich with nectar

Last spring I bought a mixture of wildflower seeds and purple and white larkspur was including in the seed.  Here are a few Larkspur flower photos

 

I grew the wildflowers mix that included the larkspur in a garden bed that had full sun with partial shade in the heat of the day.  The seeds were sowed in rich well drained soil.  All seeds were planted at ¼ deep into the soil.  The flower garden is watered daily to keep the soil evenly moist. 

The best time to plant the seeds is in late spring or early summer when the soil is warm, the seeds will not germinate if the average temperature is below 55 degrees. 

Where I reside the summer months are extremely hot during the day but temperature is cool during the night.  Its important to keep the larkspur hydrated or it will die back.  This plant does better when the summer weather is cooler, rather than hotter.

Growing Tips for Fern

 

Where I reside part of our property is dense woods with fern growing wild underneath the trees. My husband and I transplanted a few fern plants to grow in our yard and gardens.

The first season I grew the fern with my Hosta plants, the second season I transplanted the fern to grow as a border plant along a shaded walkway and also planted them in a garden bed under fir tree.

Fern is easy to grow outdoors and indoors.  As long as the fern is planted in rich well drained soil and they are watered to keep the top five inches of soil evenly moist the fern plant will flourish.

Providing the right light is kind of trickly.  Most people think fern like shade.  But I have found they do best with some shade and indirect light.  You need to avoid direct sunlight for long period of time.  My fern gets morning sun followed by partial shade.

 

I do mist my fern in the morning as this plant does like humidity.  So, if you plan to grow them indoors, I find that bathroom, laundry rooms and kitchens are ideal growing areas.  For growing fern outdoors plant them in locations that offer production from direct sun.  Ideally under trees or shrubs.

 Ferns are really easy to grow as long as they are planted in areas that agree with them, they have the right soil and water so that they soil does not dry out. 

I have fertilized in the spring will a slow-release fertilizer to produce more runners, but its not necessary.

 Maintain your fern by removing dead leaves and keep the garden bed weed free.  My yard and garden is large and other than dividing and replanting in the spring to other areas I have never cut the fern back in the fall.

 Know that if you are growing your fern indoors in a container and see that the roots are growing out of the drainage holes that this is a sign that you need to repot your fern into a larger pot.   Shop for a pot that is three inches larger or a pot with amble space for your fern to grow.  I always clean my pots with antibacterial dawn dish soap and let it dry before filling with rich potting soil for repotting of the fern plant.  Water  well and place in a room in your home that has indirect light and humidity.

Other information about ferns.

It’s a good idea to grow ferns indoors because ferns can help clean the air by absorbing airborne pollutants and increasing humidity.

Grow Black-Eyed Susan Vine from Seed

 

 

In March I bought from 100  Thungergia Black-Eyed Susan flowering vine seed mix for planting in a container that would be located in a sunny location.

Here is a photo of a fully grown  black-eyed Susan flowering vine

 

The photo shown was of an ivy like trailing plant that was covered in yellow blooms.  I thought it was pretty so I bought and planted indoors so it would grow for eight weeks or until the threat of spring frost would pass.

 

The direction of the back of the seed packet indicated that it was best to soak the seeds in tepid water overnight.  The following morning I  planted the seeds in a container that was filled with miracle grow  well-drained soil that was formulated container gardens.  I then watered, then covered the flower bed with saran wrap.  The indoor hanging container was then hung next to a southern exposure window.

 Here are a few of my photos 

The annual seeds for USDA zone 3 to 10 germinated very quickly and produced strong leafy vines.  In May I brought the container outdoors and hung in an area where it would get 6 hours of sun daily.

 

I fed with miracle grow bloom booster and kept the soil moist.  My yard does not get a lot of sun and this plant needs full sun.  For me it bloomed once two small flowers.

Know that if I had more sun in my yard that this plant would produce more blooms.  I like the plant as it is pretty and plan on bringing it indoors in the winter.

 

If you have a lot sun in your yard then I would recommend that you grow   the black-eyed Susan flowering vine as it is low maintenance, produces pretty longs season flowers that will add interest to your yard and garden.        

About Black Swallowtail Caterpillars

 

 

This morning, I went outdoors to harvest some dill for my recipes and found that the black swallowtail caterpillars had another idea.  Overnight this caterpillar had devoured my entire herb plant.

Swallowtail  Caterpillar on Sage Leaf

This caterpillar is known to eat the entire dill plant as soon as the butterflies lay their eggs on the plant and caterpillars emerge there is a feeding frenzy.   They will also lay their eggs on parsley and carrot tops.

Here are some photographs of my dill plant before and after the caterpillars foraged off the herbs.

caterpillars devoured my dill plant

You can identify the Black swallowtail caterpillars due to their brightly striped black, white, and yellow, markings. This caterpillar can grow quite large in a short period of time.

The lifespan for the caterpillars is as follows, they emerge from their eggs, then eat the egg shells, they then will forage off plants in your garden and in the fall the caterpillars will hibernate as pupae. Then the following spring they will turn into beautiful butterflies.

Many gardeners view this particular caterpillar as a garden pest because they eat the entire plant.  The only way that I will prevent the caterpillars from devouring my plants is to physically remove them and gently place them on a fennel plant which is another host plant.

I love butterflies so I allowed the caterpillars to eat my dill and parsley.  Next year I will probably grow more dill and parsley indoors and outdoors.