Discover a secret weapon against spring garden pests: homemade elderberry spray

Along with awakening the plants, the spring sun also stirs up garden pests like aphids and spider mites.

It may be tempting to fight these unwelcome guests with commercial products, but it’s worth considering a homemade, natural spray made from a May and June blooming plant. You'll only need three ingredients.

This simple yet effective spray to combat aphids, spider mites, and caterpillars requires only the flowers and leaves of the black elderberry plant and water. The essential oils in the plant pack a punch against these plant invaders.

All you need to do is grind one kilogram of elderberry flowers and leaves, soak them in approximately 2.64 gallons of water, and leave the mixture in a shaded spot for 24 hours. Afterward, dilute the mix with water at a ratio of 1:10 and apply it to the infested plants. Repeat the procedure until the pests are gone.

An added benefit of this spray is its environmental friendliness, and the low cost if the plant grows in your garden.

However, dried elderberry flowers can also be used to prepare the mixture; in this case, around 7 ounces of the product will suffice.

Not only valuable for the garden, black elderberry has long been used in herbal medicine. Infusions made from its flowers are believed to have diuretic, sweat-inducing, fever-reducing, and expectorant properties.

Additionally, juices and jams produced from black elderberry fruits help boost immunity. Some also appreciate the warmth of elderberry liqueurs during autumn and winter.

However, remember to consume the fruits only after cooking, and the best time to gather them is usually after the first frost.