Pantry foods offer organic way to eliminate garden pests

MALIBU, Calif. (KABC) -- There is nothing more frustrating than going to collect your garden bounty, only to find a bug has beaten you to it.

Expert Andy Lopez, known as "The Invisible Gardener," says bug killers won't solve your problems.

"It doesn't deal with the law of cause and effect. It only deals with the effect," Lopez said.

Lopez says to start with the proper soil combination. If plants get a full spectrum of minerals, they won't have these challenges.

He recommends rock dust, which provides minerals, a live organic compost with probiotic bacteria for the soil and an acid mix mulch to help hold water.

To push away pests, Lopez sprays plants with a combination of one tablespoon of hot sauce, garlic or cold brewed coffee in a gallon of water.

"If you can smell it, the bugs smell it 10,000 times even more," Lopez explained.

In addition, one tablespoon of flour in a gallon of water will form a layer of flour on the leaves or the base of a tree.

"Any bug will come along and start getting flour all over them and they'll go, 'Well, I don't think so.' It's a deterrent," Lopez said.

He invented a liquid seaweed fertilizer to feed good nutrients to your plants.

Lopez also uses a tablespoon of vinegar per gallon of water, which creates a plant with higher sugar content.

"The higher the sugar level, you have all the minerals, the bug cannot eat that," Lopez said.

With a little help from your pantry, your edible garden has a fighting chance.