Ask:
Does anyone have a website/book recommendation on chemical free gardening & landscaping? My FIL used to spray a homemade solution on his yard that had cayenne pepper? and some other 'safe' products. He used this to keep the bugs away. He's gone now and no one can remember exactly what he used. Thanks for any help.
Answer:
I did a search and found a bit of info for you.
Answer:
Here is another
Answer:
Someone gave me these recipes awhile ago. I've never ussed them, but she loved them.
Lawn Feeding
Spring/Fall: 3# epson salts
50# (oor 2500 sq ft bag) dry lawn food
Apply at half the recommended rate
Snack tonic:
This is an aggressive root action and thatch break down
1 can beer
1 cup liquid dish soap or baby shampoo
fill the balance of the sprayer jar with ammonia (This sprayer is a container that has a pump handle on top, you pump it and the liquid sprays out, I can't remember the name for it.)
All Season tonic:
After applying the snak tonic, every 3 weeks in the early morning feed everthing in your lawn with this mixed in your 20 gal hose-end sprayer
1 can beer
1 cup ammonia
1/2 cup liquid dish soap
1/2 cup liquid lawn food
1/2 cup molasses or corn syrup
Answer:
I've got a couple of books on organic-type gardening:
The Mother Earth News Almanac: a guide through the seasons
The Basic book of Organic Gardening (by Robert Rodale)
Square Foot Gardening and Worms Eat My Garbage are probably of the same mindset, although all four of these are boxed up right now, so I can't check specifically.
The cayenne pepper recipe sounds like something from the gardening guy I've seen on TV in the past. Can't remember if he was on PBS during pledge week, an infomercial guy, or one of the early-morning weekend shows. He used to mix up some concoction with beer and dish soap. Jerry Baker is the guy's name; I just Googled it.
The GardenWeb.com forums would probably have some organic boards, too.