A easy recipe for making bug spray utilizing the leaves of the American BeautyBerry bush (Callicarpa Americana). A extremely efficient natural mix to be used as a mosquito and tick repellent.
I’ve tried numerous do-it-yourself natural bug sprays over time.
Residing in Florida, a unhazardous repellent for insect critters is essential, significantly if you’re an outdoorsy particular person.
My newest DIY bug spray success makes use of the leaves of the beautiful American beautyberry bush.
I discovered about this recipe from the supervisor of Wonderfield Farm, the place Rogue Meals Florida will probably be held from March 13-15, 2025. I will probably be a speaker at this occasion and am excited to see lots of you there quickly! Should you haven’t signed up but, use coupon HHE15 for a reduction on premium or day passes!
This native shrub discovered throughout the southeastern United States, is thought for its placing clusters of vibrant purple berries that pop in opposition to its inexperienced leaves, particularly in late summer season and fall.
The bush usually grows 3 to six ft tall, generally as much as 9 ft in the correct circumstances. As soon as established, it’s drought-tolerant and hardy throughout temporary chilly snaps.
It thrives in a mixture of solar and shade—assume woodlands, forest edges, or beneath a big tree in your yard should you domesticate them your self.
My American beautyberry plant grows beneath the shade of a number of giant oaks. It will get morning and early afternoon solar, however principally shade which it loves.
I found these beautiful crops at a neighborhood native nursery. You may in all probability do the identical should you reside within the Southeast United States. In any other case, you possibly can typically discover seeds or younger beautyberry crops on-line to have shipped to your door.
Develop them in containers on an enclosed patio or porch should you reside in a chilly local weather the place they’ll’t survive outside year-round.
Making a bug spray from the deep inexperienced leaves works extraordinarily nicely for repelling all method of native biting bugs.
As a bonus, the purple berries are edible. They’re a bit bitter on their very own however make yummy do-it-yourself jam.
I’m unsure but whether or not this do-it-yourself natural spray works to repel deer flies, although it’s extremely efficient for mosquitoes, no-see-ums, and ticks. Proper now, I primarily use deer fly traps as safety.
I’ll discover out quickly, as deer fly season in Central Florida is correct across the nook beginning in Could.
American BeautyBerry Bug Spray
Easy recipe for making bug spray utilizing the leaves of the American BeautyBerry bush. Extremely efficient as a mosquito and tick repellent.
Directions
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Fill your meals processor about half full with beautyberry leaves. Add 1/4 cup of witch hazel and mix to a leafy paste.
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Add about the identical quantity of leaves and one other 1/4 cup of witch hazel to the meals processor and mix to a paste once more.
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Switch all leafy paste to a quart measurement mason jar. Will probably be about half full.
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High up the mason jar with extra witch hazel to the underside of the jar rim.
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Screw on the lid and go away on the counter at room temperature for 2 weeks. In a pinch, you may make a barely weaker batch after just a few days.
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Flip the jar a couple of occasions every day because the beautyberry leaves are infusing into the witch hazel.
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Pressure out the leaf matter from the infused witch hazel utilizing a floursack fabric or tremendous weave cheesecloth.
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Pour the strained beautyberry-infused witch hazel into spray bottles. Your do-it-yourself bug spray is now prepared to make use of!
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Retailer unused beautyberry bug spray bottles in a darkish cupboard. They are going to be good for as much as two years.
Right here’s an important video on making American BeautyBerry bug spray. I take advantage of a barely totally different technique, however the visuals are very useful to get the concept of what the method entails.
