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 quite a few home made natural bug sprays through the years.
Residing in Florida, a unhazardous repellent for insect critters is essential, notably if you’re an outdoorsy particular person.
My newest DIY bug spray success makes use of the leaves of the attractive American beautyberry bush.
I realized about this recipe from the supervisor of Wonderfield Farm, the place Rogue Meals Florida shall be held from March 13-15, 2025. I shall be a speaker at this occasion and am excited to see a lot of you there quickly! In case 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 shiny purple berries that pop in opposition to its inexperienced leaves, particularly in late summer season and fall.
The bush sometimes grows 3 to six toes tall, typically as much as 9 toes in the best situations. As soon as established, it’s drought-tolerant and hardy throughout temporary chilly snaps.
It thrives in a mixture of solar and shade—suppose woodlands, forest edges, or underneath a big tree in your yard when you domesticate them your self.
My American beautyberry plant grows underneath the shade of a number of massive oaks. It will get morning and early afternoon solar, however largely shade which it loves.
I found these attractive crops at an area native nursery. You possibly can in all probability do the identical when you dwell within the Southeast United States. In any other case, you may 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 when you dwell in a chilly local weather the place they’ll’t survive outdoor 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 home made jam.
I’m unsure but whether or not this home made 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 true across the nook beginning in Might.
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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Prime up the mason jar with extra witch hazel to the underside of the jar rim.
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Screw on the lid and depart on the counter at room temperature for 2 weeks. In a pinch, you may make a barely weaker batch after only some 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 material or fantastic weave cheesecloth.
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Pour the strained beautyberry-infused witch hazel into spray bottles. Your home made 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 excellent 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 thought of what the method entails.
