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Focus on Herbs: Natural Pest Controlby Lynne
Latella Although
there are more pleasant topics than summer pests, it is inevitable that
the
season includes the annoyance of crawling and flying bugs. The market
is inundated
with numerous commercial pest repellants and killers that are extremely
harmful
to humans and pets. Although pests bring their own dirt and diseases,
it could
be more toxic to use chemicals that promise to end your critter woes. 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 Use
one of the following items: cucumber peels, mint tea bags, crushed mint
leaves,
cloves, coffee grounds, cayenne, ground garlic or cinnamon at the point
of
entry. 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. of 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. Roaches Roaches
like to be high, so place boric acid on top of 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. Fleas Score
lemon rind, slice it and pour 1 cup 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. (Note that 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. Mosquitos Use
oil of eucalyptus to prevent bites. When barbequing, throw some sage or
rosemary
on coals to repel them. Mix 1 part garlic with 5 parts 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. 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. 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. Mealy Bugs
& Aphids Mix
1 tablespoons 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. Marigolds
and
lemon grass planted around the yard can help repel some flying and
crawling
insects. Be cautious and use remedies carefully, because they can also
kill
beneficial bugs! |
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