Protect your garden from pests. Activities for Kids.

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Protect your garden from pests

Make natural sprays and simple plant barriers using soap, garlic, and recycled materials to protect seedlings from common garden pests safely and sustainably.

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Step-by-step guide to protect your garden from pests

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How Does Companion Planting Prevent Garden Pests? - Insects and Invaders

What you need

Adult supervision required, clean jar or bowl, empty spray bottle, garlic cloves, mild liquid soap, old pantyhose or mesh fabric, recycled plastic bottle or milk jug, scissors, spoon, strainer or cheesecloth, twine or string

Step 1

Gather all the materials and set them on a clean table where you will work.

Step 2

Make a garlic infusion by peeling and crushing 2–3 garlic cloves then placing them in a bowl with 1 cup of hot water and covering the bowl to steep for at least 4 hours or overnight.

Step 3

Strain the garlic infusion into a clean jar using the strainer or cheesecloth to remove the garlic bits.

Step 4

Add 1/4 teaspoon of mild liquid soap to the strained garlic liquid and stir gently to mix.

Step 5

Pour the garlic mixture into an empty spray bottle and tighten the nozzle.

Step 6

Make a soap-only spray by adding 1/4 teaspoon mild liquid soap to 1 cup water in a second spray bottle and shaking gently.

Step 7

Test the garlic spray by spraying one short mist on a single leaf of a test plant.

Step 8

Test the soap spray by spraying one short mist on a different leaf of the same test plant.

Step 9

Wait 24 hours and then inspect the two test leaves to make sure they look healthy and not burned.

Step 10

With adult help, cut the top third off a recycled plastic bottle using scissors to make a collar or mini cloche.

Step 11

Slide the cut bottle top upside down around a seedling to protect it and tie a strip of mesh or pantyhose around nearby plants with twine to make a low barrier for crawling pests.

Step 12

Use the garlic spray around the base of seedlings once a week and after rain and use the soap spray carefully directly on any visible pests you see.

Step 13

Share a photo and a short description of your natural sprays and plant barriers on DIY.org so other kids can learn from your garden protection idea.

Final steps

You're almost there! Complete all the steps, bring your creation to life, post it, and conquer the challenge!

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Help!?

What can we use if we don't have a strainer, cheesecloth, or a spray bottle?

If you don't have a strainer or cheesecloth, strain the garlic infusion through a clean coffee filter, fine-mesh sieve, or an old clean cotton T‑shirt into the jar, and if you lack a spray bottle use a reused misting bottle or the recycled plastic bottle top after you cut and re-fit it.

What should we do if the test leaf looks burned after 24 hours or the spray seems too strong?

If the test leaf looks burned after 24 hours, dilute the garlic spray with extra water, use only 1 crushed clove or reduce the soap to 1/8 teaspoon and then re-test on a different leaf, and if the nozzle clogs rinse it with warm water before spraying again.

How can this activity be adapted for younger children or older kids?

For younger children have an adult handle the hot water infusion and cut the top third off the recycled plastic bottle while the child peels the 2–3 garlic cloves, helps stir, labels the two spray bottles, and gently mists the test leaf, whereas older kids can measure ingredients precisely, tie the mesh or pantyhose barrier with twine themselves, and keep the weekly garlic-spray schedule.

How can we extend or personalize the garden protection project?

To enhance the project, decorate and label the recycled bottle cloche, keep a simple log of weekly garlic-spray uses and pest sightings to compare results, try adding a few drops of peppermint essential oil to the garlic infusion for stronger repellent scent, and then share photos and your short description on DIY.org.

Watch videos on how to protect your garden from pests

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HOW TO SAVE THE BEES

4 Videos

Facts about organic pest control and sustainable gardening

♻️ Simple recycled items — like cut milk jugs, cardboard collars, or plastic bottles — make effective physical barriers and keep trash out of landfills.

🧼 A few drops of mild liquid soap in water can break down the sticky coating on soft-bodied insects like aphids, helping wash them off seedlings.

🧄 Garlic contains sulfur compounds that help repel aphids and some other garden pests when used in homemade sprays.

🐞 Ladybugs are garden superheroes — one ladybug can eat hundreds to thousands of aphids over its lifetime, helping control pest outbreaks naturally.

🌱 Using natural sprays and barriers as part of a plan keeps seedlings safe while being gentler on beneficial pollinators than many chemical pesticides.

How do I make natural soap and garlic sprays and build simple plant barriers to protect seedlings from pests?

To protect seedlings, make two simple defenses. For soap spray: mix one drop of mild biodegradable liquid soap with 1 liter (4 cups) water in a spray bottle; test on a single leaf, then spray pests. For garlic spray: crush 4–6 garlic cloves, steep in 1 liter hot water for 1–12 hours, strain, dilute 1:1 with water and add a drop of soap. Build barriers from recycled bottles (cut and pop over seedlings), cardboard collars, or mesh to block slugs and caterpillars. Always supervise children and test

What materials do I need to make natural pest sprays and recycled barriers for garden seedlings?

You'll need mild biodegradable liquid dish soap, 4–6 garlic cloves, jars or a blender for crushing, mesh or cheesecloth to strain, spray bottles, clean water, recycled plastic bottles or milk cartons for cloches, cardboard or toilet-paper tubes for collars, scissors, tape, stakes or sticks, labels and marker, gloves and adult supervision. Optional: sand or diatomaceous earth for slug barriers, netting for flying insects. Keep all tools child-sized and safe for young helpers.

What ages are suitable for kids to help make sprays and build barriers in the garden?

Children aged 3–5 can help gather recycled materials, rinse seedlings gently, and stir cooled garlic steep under close adult supervision. Ages 6–8 can mash garlic, fill spray bottles, and help build simple collars with scissors and tape. Ages 9+ can follow measurements, strain sprays, and manage tools like small blenders with adult oversight. Always supervise steps that use blenders, cutting tools, or concentrated mixtures; adapt tasks to the child's maturity and motor skills.

What safety tips should families follow when making and using natural sprays and recycled barriers?

Safety tips: always dilute garlic and soap sprays and test on one leaf before wide use. Wear gloves and avoid spraying open cuts or sensitive skin. Do not spray flowers when pollinators are active; treat in the evening. Label and store mixtures out of reach of children and pets. Use blunt scissors and supervise cutting recycled materials. Rinse skin or eyes immediately if exposed and seek medical advice if irritation persists. Never let children taste or handle concentrated mixtures.

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