Before we dive into the best essential oils for gardening, let me take a moment to chat about your organic garden.Think of your garden as a little community where every part works together to create a thriving ecosystem. For this community to flourish just the way you want, each element has to do its job.
It all starts with the soil.
Your soil is the backbone of your organic garden. Healthy soil is packed with nutrients, rich in organic matter, and drains well.
A great garden needs great soil. A healthy garden thrives on great soil. So if you haven’t already, make sure you’re testing and improving your soil as needed. For some handy tips, take a look at my article on 8 Ways to Improve Your Garden Soil for Free.
Now that we’ve covered that, let’s get back to how essential oils can help your garden—whether it’s fighting off diseases, keeping pests away, or even attracting pollinators.
Organic Gardening Fun Fact:
Did you know you can use essential oils to help your garden grow better? Learn how to use them in your garden, plus get some easy recipes to get started!
9 Best Essential Oils for Gardening
1. Cinnamon Essential Oil
Cinnamon oil works wonders at repelling pests like ants, gnats, and snails. But its real superpower? Killing garden weeds! Check out the weed-killer recipe at the end of this article.
It’s also great for treating fungal infections on your plants.
2. Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea tree oil is another fungus-fighting essential oil. Mix it into a spray to tackle issues like blight (which attacks tomatoes and potatoes) or powdery mildew (common in cucurbits).
⚠️ Be careful—tea tree oil can burn plants, so spray lightly in the morning or evening.
(Psst… Want to design the perfect garden? Grab my Companion Planting Guide and Binder! It’s packed with easy-to-follow tips so you can start companion planting right away.)
3. Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint oil is a fantastic insect repellent for your garden (and home!). It fights off pests like:
- Ants
- Aphids
- Bean beetles
- Cutworms
- Flea beetles
- Slugs
It also keeps away bigger pests like mice, moles, and squirrels. Just soak a cotton ball in peppermint oil and place it near problem areas—or even inside mole tunnels!
4. Basil Essential Oil
Essential oils aren’t just for pests—they can also boost plant growth, just like companion planting.
If your garden is too small for basil (or you just don’t want to grow it), basil essential oil can help enhance growth in plants like:
- Tomatoes
- Beans
- Broccoli
- Peppers
- Potatoes
Just mix it into an essential oil tea (recipe below) and water as usual!
5. Rosemary Essential Oil
Rosemary oil is another pest-control powerhouse. It repels:
- Ants
- Aphids
- Bean beetles
- Cabbage butterflies
- Flea beetles
You can also use it in an essential oil tea for plants like broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower.
6. Clove Essential Oil
Clove oil is a multi-purpose garden helper—great for:
- Killing weeds
- Repelling insects
- Controlling mold, mildew, and fungus
7. Oregano Essential Oil
Oregano oil is strong—I even use it at home for things like athlete’s foot and ringworm. In the garden, it’s perfect for fungal issues and keeping away flying pests like:
- Carrot flies
- Green flies
- Mosquitoes
- Regular flies
8. Lavender Essential Oil
Essential oils don’t just deter pests—they can also attract pollinators! Lavender oil is amazing for bringing in bees and butterflies.
If you don’t grow lavender, just place cotton balls with a few drops of oil around your garden or make a light spray.
9. Orange Essential Oil
Orange oil is another pollinator magnet. Mix it with lavender (or use it alone) to make your garden smell amazing and bring in more bees and butterflies!
How to Use Essential Oils in Your Garden
There are a few simple ways to use essential oils:
1. Sprays
A little goes a long way! Just mix 1-2 drops in a spray bottle with water. Shake well before each use and spray plants in the morning or evening (avoid rainy days).
💡 Glass spray bottles work best, but they’re harder to find for large gardens.
2. Essential Oil Tea
Think of it like compost tea but with oils. Make the tea, then use it to water your plants. (Basic recipe below!)
3. Cotton Balls
Great for deterring pests (like rodents) or attracting pollinators. Place soaked cotton balls in problem areas and replace as needed.
4. Strings or Strips
Soak a cotton string or strip in oil and hang it between rows or from branches. This confuses pests’ sense of smell without needing to spray everything. Refresh when needed.
Essential Oil Recipes for Your Garden
1. Insect Deterrent Spray
(Per cup of water)
- 1 drop peppermint oil
- 1 drop rosemary oil
- 1 drop thyme oil
Shake well before spraying (best in mornings or evenings).
2. Fungus Spray (For blight, powdery mildew, etc.)
*(1-gallon spray bottle)*
- 5 drops tea tree oil
- 1 drop oregano oil
- 1 squirt Castile soap
- 3 Tbsp baking soda
- Fill with water
Shake well and spray affected plants once a week (morning or evening).
3. Weed-Killing Spray
(Large pump spray bottle)
- Distilled white vinegar (fill almost to the top)
- 1 squirt Castile soap
- 15 drops clove oil
- 10 drops cinnamon oil
Shake well and spray only on weeds—this will kill garden plants too!
4. Essential Oil Tea
(Basic recipe—use any oil you like!)
- 8 drops essential oil
- 2 cups very hot water
- Let cool
Dilute with ¼ cup tea per 1 gallon of water, shake, and water as usual.
Final Reminder:
Don’t forget to use other natural and organic methods in your garden too!