Beer Can Actually Repel Pests in Your Garden—Here’s How

Choosing the right insect repellent from the myriad of bottles, sprays and pills at the store isn’t easy, but there’s one thing you probably already have in your kitchen that’s worth experimenting with.

Before using pesticides, try using beer as an effective insect repellent.

For a natural way to repel specific insects, here’s everything you need to know about why bugs hate beer and how to use beer in the garden.

Does beer repel bugs?

Beer can deter some pests and is a temporary solution to keep your plants away. Josh Payne, landscaper and founder of Classic Landscapes, has used this trick for years with clients, noting that it is a natural, organic method that avoids harmful pesticides.

This unique solution repels slugs, snails, aphids, spider mites and fruit flies.

Like most DIY solutions, results are not guaranteed, so re-spraying and incorporating other pest management strategies may be necessary, Payne says.

“But when it works, there’s a lot of satisfaction in using a simple repellent that’s readily available in your fridge,” he says.

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Why beer can stop bugs on the spot

Beer has two uses in preventing pests from destroying your favorite plants:

• Some pests can’t stand the smell. Payne says it’s due to yeast and bitterness. Just one whiff and they might want to go the other way.
• In other cases, like with slugs, pests will be attracted by scent. This is especially useful when using beer bottle traps, to lure specific pests to the beer puddle.

How to use beer to repel pests in your garden

If you want to make your own beer insect repellent, here are three quick and easy steps to create the solution and apply it:

1. Mix beer with water: Open the can or bottle and pour it into a spray bottle with water. Payne says to mix about three parts beer to one part water.
2. Apply to your plants: Use a spray bottle to focus on the undersides of leaves. Payne says it’s best to spray in the evening when pest activity is highest.
3. Reapply to plants: Using beer is not a permanent solution, so you will need to reapply this solution every two to three days.

In addition to this diluted spray, another option is to use beer bottles to trap slugs.

1. Prepare the bottle: Open a glass beer bottle and pour most of the beer out, leaving about an inch at the bottom. You can do this with one bottle or several depending on how many traps you want to make.
2. Set bottle: Place the bottle on its side in areas of the garden where slugs are most prevalent. You may need to push the bottle down slightly to make it easier to access the opening from the ground.
3. Check the bottle: Leave them in your garden for days and nights. When the slugs get in and fill the bottles, you can clean them up and then put them in the recycling bin.

Additional tips to keep pests away

Here are some more tips for making the most powerful beer insect repellent, and other tips for keeping your garden pest-free (or nearly so):

• Use popular beers: Payne notes that the most popular beers tend to be the ones that bugs dislike the most. He says the bitterness and yeastiness in certain beers like IPAs, stouts, and porters are often much more effective than lighter, flavorless beers.
• Use a mixture of insecticide solutions: Beer can only help keep bugs away to a certain extent. While it’s a useful DIY method, it’s best to mix several bug repelling solutions together for best results.
• Try these other kitchen ingredients: Beer isn’t the only thing in your home that can effectively repel bugs. Garlic, hot peppers, and dish soap can also work.