Some excellent tips Wombat, I find that if I strain the galic, chilli mix, through an old pantyhose leg, it sprays fine, without clogging the nozzle.
What are "dryer sheets" ? I saw this but have no idea what they are.
I love your idea of letting, at least parts of, your garden go wild. I have quite an overgrown garden, and birds love to nest in the vines I have growing on all the fences. My Grandkids make caves in the shrubs, and you would be amazed at what gets discovered in my back yard, aliens (weird insects), dinosaur bones (long buried dog bones), fossils (odd shaped rocks), and much more exciting stuff (just imagine you are 5 and 3 years old, and you get the idea).