10 Best Ways to Use Essential Oils in the Garden

If you want to learn how to use essential oils in the garden, this article is for you.

Keeping a garden healthy without chemicals can be difficult. Luckily, some essential oils may help keep pests away and support healthy plants.

Essential Oil Uses in the Garden

Remember that essential oils work best as part of an overall garden care routine. They should not replace proper watering, healthy soil, or good sanitation.

Below are some practical ways to use essential oils in the garden—to help prevent the growth of fungus, keep bugs off plants, and more.

For DIY sprays, shake the bottle before each use because essential oils naturally separate from water.

1. Repel Garden Pests

Garden pests are some of a gardener’s greatest enemies. However, some essential oils may help repel common garden pests [1].

Oils like rosemary, peppermint, and lemongrass can help repel plant pests. Other effective oils include clove, eucalyptus, lavender, cedarwood, thyme, sage, tea tree, and citronella.

To make a homemade essential oil pesticide, combine peppermint, tea tree, cedarwood, and thyme oils in a spray bottle.

Using a dropper, add 15 drops of each oil per 4 ounces of water. Add 1/2 teaspoon of mild liquid soap to help the oils mix with the water. Shake well, then spray your plants.

This spray may help repel many common garden pests.

2. Fight Fungus

Some essential oils have natural antifungal properties. Oils such as orange and lemongrass are useful for controlling fungal infections [2].

Tea tree oil has antifungal properties and may help slow the spread of some fungal diseases when used as part of regular plant care. Clove, cinnamon, thyme, peppermint, and oregano are also useful in this way.

To use essential oils to fight fungus on plants, mix about 20 drops of essential oil with 8 ounces of water and a few drops of mild liquid soap in a spray bottle. Shake well before each use.

No matter which oil you use, be careful to avoid the hot sun, as it can react with the oil and burn the plant’s leaves.

Spray your DIY essential oil fungicide on plants and soil early in the morning or in the evening.

Apply once a week.

3. Freshen Your Potting Shed

A potting shed can become musty after rain or humid weather.

Lemon, lavender, eucalyptus, and tea tree oils leave a fresh, clean scent.

Add a few drops to a cotton ball and place it on a shelf. Replace it every week or two.

4. Freshen Compost Bins

Compost bins can sometimes develop unpleasant smells, especially in hot weather. While essential oils will not speed up composting, they can help reduce odors around the compost bin.

Lemon, eucalyptus, peppermint, and lavender oils work well.

Add a few drops to a cotton ball or cloth and place it near the compost bin. Avoid pouring large amounts of essential oils directly into the compost because they may affect helpful microbes.

5. Keep Rodents Away

Soak cotton balls with peppermint oil and place them near squirrel nests, mouse holes, and other places where rodents are active.

Many rodents dislike the strong smell of peppermint oil. This makes peppermint oil useful for helping to repel rodents, but you will need to reapply it as the scent fades.

Additionally, you can hang strips of rags soaked in peppermint oil near crops to deter vermin.

6. Keep Pets Away

As much as we love our pets, they can sometimes be a nuisance around plants. Next door’s cat can also be an uninvited guest, using the flowerbed as a litter tray.

Some gardeners spray mulch or areas around garden beds with diluted essential oils to discourage pets.

Peppermint and orange oils are great home remedies for repelling cats. They detest the smell of these oils.

Additionally, dogs generally dislike strong scents such as citrus or peppermint, but avoid spraying essential oils where pets can lick or touch them because some oils can be harmful to cats and dogs.

7. Treat Insect Bites and Stings

This is one of the perils of the garden in spring and summer, but one that certain essential oils can help to alleviate.

To make a DIY remedy for insect bites and stings, mix 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar. Add 2 drops each of lavender, basil, and chamomile essential oils.

Apply to affected areas with a cotton ball to help prevent itching from bites.

Keep this solution handy when weeding or working in the garden. Use it to swab any bites or stings immediately.

8. Repel Mosquitoes

Citronella is one of the best-known oils for keeping mosquitoes away.

Candles, sprays, and other citronella repellents are familiar items in the summer months, but there are others worth trying.

Combine 10 drops of a strong-smelling oil, such as eucalyptus, citronella, lemongrass, peppermint, geranium, or garlic oil, with 2 ounces of water in a small spray bottle. Shake well before use.

Additionally, add 1 ounce of witch hazel to the mixture. Add a few drops of mild liquid soap to help the oils mix evenly.

You can also use any of these oils, or a combination.

Shake well and spray around patios, decks, and other outdoor areas. You can also use it on your clothes.

9. Homemade Cleaning Spray

Some plants produce essential oils with natural cleansing properties. Tea tree oil is one of the best known for this purpose.

Lavender oil also has natural disinfecting properties, as do citrus oils like oranges and lemons.

To make a homemade cleaning spray, combine 10 to 15 drops of your chosen oil with 1 cup of water. Next, add 1/4 cup of white vinegar.

Shake well, then spray on surfaces to help clean hard surfaces.

10. Set the Mood

Spending time in the garden is even more enjoyable with pleasant natural scents. Lavender, neroli, bergamot, sweet orange, and lemongrass are popular choices for creating a relaxing outdoor space.

The Best Essential Oils for Gardening

Many essential oils have more than one use in the garden.

• Peppermint helps repel many insects and rodents.
• Tea tree is useful in homemade cleaning sprays and has antifungal properties.
• Lavender freshens garden spaces and has a calming scent.
• Lemongrass may help repel flying insects and has antifungal properties.
• Lemon is commonly used in homemade cleaners and to freshen potting sheds and compost areas.
• Rosemary has a strong scent that may help discourage some garden pests.

Can Essential Oils Harm Plants?

Yes. Essential oils are very concentrated. If they are not diluted properly, they can burn leaves and flowers.

Always mix them with water and a small amount of mild liquid soap to help the oil blend.

Plants with soft or fuzzy leaves may be more sensitive to essential oils, so always test the spray on a small area first.

Safety Tips

• Always dilute essential oils before spraying plants.
• Test the spray on one leaf first and wait 24 hours.
• Do not spray plants in hot, sunny weather.
• Avoid spraying flowers that bees and butterflies are visiting.
• Keep essential oils away from children and pets.
• Store oils in a cool, dark place.

Takeaway

Essential oils can be useful tools in the garden.

They may help repel some pests, reduce odors, and support healthy plants. However, they work best when used with other good gardening practices.

Always dilute essential oils before using them, and test them on a small part of a plant first to make sure they do not damage the leaves.