Focus
on Herbs: Bugs be Gone
by Lynne Latella
Summer brings warm
weather, green leaves and colorful flowers.
It also brings bugs that also enjoy all summer has to offer.
Unfortunately,
most people buy toxic chemicals to banish bugs. Not only does this kill
unwelcome pests, but it also eliminates beneficial bugs that pollinate
and eat
pesky bugs.
Fortunately, there are
some natural alternatives, a few of which
are described below. The Co-op carries most of these remedies. They may
have to
be reapplied more often than their chemical counterparts, but that is a
small
price to pay in order to preserve the well-being and health of your
home, your
family and pets. Needless to say, cleanliness and consistency in
dealing with
bugs is most important. Experiment with some of these natural
repellants and
remedies that in some cases have the added bonus of imparting a
pleasant aroma
to your surroundings.
Ants
At the point of entry,
cucumber peels, mint tea bags, crushed
mint leaves, cloves, coffee grounds, cayenne, ground garlic or cinnamon
are
common deterrents. Soak a string with lemon oil or lemon juice and
position
where they enter. Combine ½ teaspoon each of borax, honey and
artificial
sweetener. Place in small bottles turned on their sides so that the
ants will
be able to take the bait. Mix 4 oz. liquid soap, preferably Dr. Bronner
brand,
with ½ oz. of tee tree, rose cinnamon, citronella or pennyroyal
oil. Add 5
tablespoons of this mixture to a quart of water and spray directly on
the ants.
Slices of garlic are purported to discourage ants, particularly when
placed
between the cracks of a deck. In desperation, purchase an anteater.
Fleas
Score lemon rind, slice
it and pour 1 cup of boiling water over
it. Sponge this on a pet to kill fleas. Add garlic, apple cider vinegar
and/or
brewer’s yeast to pet food — although raw garlic may not be good for
cats. Use
cedar oil and shavings in bedding. Fill a shallow pan with soapy water
and
shine a light bulb directly over it. Fleas will be attracted to this
and get trapped
in the water. Soak a collar with pennyroyal or tea tree oil.
Diatomaceous earth
can be sprinkled where fleas congregate, although it is not safe to use
around
pets. A healthful diet is the best deterrent.
Flies
Place bags of crushed
mint around the house. Place basil at
entryways. Hang bay leaves, clover and eucalyptus in cheesecloth bags
by
windows and doors. Use basil and cloves near pet food. Fill a plastic
bag with
water and suspend near entryways. Last resort: a Venus Fly Trap.
Mealy Bugs & Aphids
Mix 1 tablespoon of oil,
a few drops of liquid soap and 1 quart
of water. Shake well and spray plants from the top down and underneath
the
leaves.
Mosquitoes
Use oil of eucalyptus to
prevent bites. When barbequing, throw
some sage or rosemary on the coals to repel them. Mix 1 part garlic
with 5
parts of water; shake well and spray on exposed areas of the body, or
soak
strips of cloth with the solution and hang around areas of activity.
Neem oil
has been an effective repellant. Bat homes can be placed around your
property
to attract bats, which find mosquitoes to be quite tasty.
Roaches
Roaches like to be high,
so place boric acid on top on cabinets.
Catnip is a natural repellant; use crushed leaves or make a tea to
spray. Spray
soapy water directly on the roaches. Soak bread in beer and place in a
container to attract them. Use bay leaves, cucumber slices or garlic as
a deterrent.
Slugs
Mulch 3 inches thick with
seaweed or coffee grounds around plant
base. Fill a shallow pan with beer to trap them. Place sand on top of
emerging
plants in the spring. Cut a small paper cup to form a collar around the
base of
the plants.
Finally, marigolds and
lemon grass planted around the yard can
help repel some flying and crawling insects.
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