Favorite Natural way to keep bugs at bay
- Thread starter Anny
- Start date
Tutter
Deeply Rooted
I use a box fan for mosquitoes. They can't fly in a stiff breeze, so if I am outside where there are mosquitoes, I set one to my right or left, on a box or something.
Yarrow helps with mosquitoes...in a pinch we crush it and rub it on key places of clothing or skin, but it won't dissuade them all; I'm not sure anything shy of a fan will.
I have, in the past, taken one of those small electric bug zappers, and put it on a table next to where we sat in the evenings. Set it on a paper plate. It does help, (I mean in the house.)
I also have a large, electric mosquito dealy outside. It uses attractant, and a fan to suck in victims. It makes a huge difference. Living in a forest, and having creeks and such, you need all the help you can get. The upside is that there are zero mosquitoes here from the last week in September to the first week in October, even when its still hot, until between April and June, depending on the year.
I use yellow jacket traps for yellow jackets, in the trees, and deal with ground nests as they are found. It works by attractant.
Big Stinky hangs from a further tree for fly control. It, too, attracts them.
I'm sure my herbs help, but with a large area that's full of bugs, real comfort depends on more aggressive methods. I don't use insecticides, and the above work well without them.
Yarrow helps with mosquitoes...in a pinch we crush it and rub it on key places of clothing or skin, but it won't dissuade them all; I'm not sure anything shy of a fan will.
I have, in the past, taken one of those small electric bug zappers, and put it on a table next to where we sat in the evenings. Set it on a paper plate. It does help, (I mean in the house.)
I also have a large, electric mosquito dealy outside. It uses attractant, and a fan to suck in victims. It makes a huge difference. Living in a forest, and having creeks and such, you need all the help you can get. The upside is that there are zero mosquitoes here from the last week in September to the first week in October, even when its still hot, until between April and June, depending on the year.
I use yellow jacket traps for yellow jackets, in the trees, and deal with ground nests as they are found. It works by attractant.
Big Stinky hangs from a further tree for fly control. It, too, attracts them.
I'm sure my herbs help, but with a large area that's full of bugs, real comfort depends on more aggressive methods. I don't use insecticides, and the above work well without them.
- Thread starter
- #4
Here is a little bit from Science daily:PennyinOk said:
Catnip Repels Mosquitoes More Effectively Than DEET
Researchers report that nepetalactone, the essential oil in catnip that gives the plant its characteristic odor, is about ten times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET the compound used in most commercial insect repellents.
The finding was reported today at the 222nd national meeting of the American Chemical Society, the worlds largest scientific society, by the same Iowa State University research group that two years ago discovered that catnip also repels cockroaches.
You can read more here on the science daily website.
patandchickens
Deeply Rooted
Well, I have to tell you that by far the most mosquito-ey part of this (very) mosquitoey property is along the E side of the house which is almost totally consumed by mint and catnip, mainly the latter. Mind, it is also shady and cool-ish, but still, clearly there is a VERY SHARP limit to how much catnip will do vs the bugs 
I have not had a lot of luck w/yarrow either, crushing it and wearing it, or rubbing it on my skin. It probably does do some good for the first, like, three minutes, but after that forget it. Alas.
Pat
I have not had a lot of luck w/yarrow either, crushing it and wearing it, or rubbing it on my skin. It probably does do some good for the first, like, three minutes, but after that forget it. Alas.
Pat
Tutter
Deeply Rooted
No, yarrow is just an emergency measure, such as when you are late getting back to the house, and there's a sea of mosquitoes between you and your goal! Rub on yarrow, and make a dash for it! LOL!
patandchickens
Deeply Rooted
LOL, yeah, that is pretty much the only time I use it -- when I have to run out to the chickens or horses as it's getting dusky
I am planting a bunch of it along the house foundation all along the back of the house, though, in hopes that *possibly* slightly fewer mosquitoes may hang out there during the day (I suspect a few are getting in through the basement windows and into the house). Dunno if it will work. Fortunately I like yarrow flowers no matter what
Pat
I am planting a bunch of it along the house foundation all along the back of the house, though, in hopes that *possibly* slightly fewer mosquitoes may hang out there during the day (I suspect a few are getting in through the basement windows and into the house). Dunno if it will work. Fortunately I like yarrow flowers no matter what
Pat
nccountrygirl
Garden Ornament
Has any one ever used Eucalyptus Citriodora. It smells like citronella. My sister gave me some, you have to mix some in a carrier oil like Olive or Almond. I haven't used it yet, it is very strong smelling. It is suppose to keep mosquito's away from you and as strong as it smells every one else too.
- Thread starter
- #9
I found a interesting website that talks about Home remedies for natural pest control....
arriers act like barbed wire to keep crawling pests, such as ants, out. These include garlic - grind it up with water and apply - cayenne pepper, cinnamon, powdered charcoal, bone meal, talcum powder or chalk. Keep in mind that different pests have different aversions, so you'll have to see what substance works best with the ones trying to sneak into your home.
Another way to think of barriers is to grow certain plants around the periphery of your home. They not only look nice, but will also deter pests. Plants known to repel ants and aphids include: spearmint, peppermint and pennyroyal.
You can use the same trick for fly control. Just substitute the above plants with mint and basil which repel flies, but smell good to humans.
Boiling water is excellent for ant control or if you see where they are creeping into your house, squeeze some lemon into the hole or crack.
Barriers also work for snails. They dislike sand, lime, copper or ashes, so use these borders to keep snails away.
Baking soda and powdered sugar mixed in equal parts is a good roach killer. Just spread around the area where you see roaches and soon you won't see them anymore. (Boric Acid, while slightly more toxic, is naturally occurring and is another way to get rid of them.)
Here's a really sneaky way to get rid of fire ants. (All's fair in love and the war against insect pests.) The only way to get rid of an infestation is to assassinate the queen. Wait until a dry spell is about to end. Sprinkle instant grits on the fire ant hill. The workers will carry the grits to the queen for her royal meal. She'll eat the grits and when it rains, she'll drink. And that's what will kill her. The grits will expand in her stomach and she'll "bloat" to death. Once she's out of the way, the leaderless ants will die off. (This suggestion came courtesy of the Tightwad Gazette II book.)
Cloves smell better than moth balls and are a natural deterrent against winged pests. You can also create a water trap by filling a small basin with water and leaving a night light suspended over it. Moths will be attracted to the light and will end up crashing and burning and falling into the water. Add a little dish soap to break the surface tension of the water.
Corn Gluten Meal may not sound very appetizing, but it's a natural, preemptive strike against weeds. Apply it early in the spring before weeds sprout. Corn gluten meal is a byproduct of the corn milling process and is a natural fertilizer.
Diatomaceous earth is made up of the fossilized remains of diatoms, single-cell organisms. The glass-like nature of diatomaceous earth makes it one of the oldest forms of insecticide. The sharp surfaces cut through the insect cuticle and the insect dies of dehydration. Diatomaceous earth kills earwigs, ants and box elder bugs. Since it's non-discriminate when it kills, be sure to only apply it just to the ground surface where you think insects are overstaying their welcome.
Grind rosemary leaves into a fine dust and sprinkle it onto your pet or its bedding to ward off fleas.
Ivory liquid dishwashing detergent can act as a natural insecticide. Dilute with water until it is a 1 or 2 percent solution and then spray on plants.
Need neem oil? Neem oil - made from guess what? - neem seeds, prevents fungus growth, and repels and kills insects, including mites. While it fights many scourges, it's nontoxic to birds, mammals and most beneficial insects. One word of caution - it can sometime affect bees so use it as a spot treatment to minimize contact. Neem oil is usually sold in a concentrated form, to which you add water.
Fruit flies are wine connoisseurs. Okay, maybe they are not wine snobs, but they have been known to quaff a few drops here or there. They particularly like Chardonnay or so we hear. Use that knowledge to your advantage: fill up a saucer of some cheap white wine and add a little detergent to it. Leave it around for the flies to sip and die on. This solution brings knew meaning to the expression "rot gut."
A natural fly catcher related to wine is to put something sickly sweet like mango peels in the bottom of narrow-necked wine bottles. The flies can fly in, but can't fly out.
You can even make your own fly paper. Boil water, sugar and corn syrup together. Spread the extra-sticky mixture on brown paper grocery bags and voila you have your own fly paper which will trap flies.
For mosquito control the aged old custom of burning citronella candles will help repel the pesky critters.
To get rid of slugs and snails, invert a flower pot near a shady plant. Use a stick to prop up the flower pot or place on irregular ground - whatever will give enough of an entrance way for slugs and snails. They will crawl under the rim to avoid the heat. Check the flower pot at the end of the day and remove the slugs and snails.
Vinegar is a great herbicide. Fill a spray bottle with vinegar - white is best since it won't stain, you certainly don't want to use expensive, aged Balsamic vinegar on weeds - and spray the vinegar on your unwelcome flora on your porch, patio or back yard. It's one of the few things that will work against noxious weeds such as Canadian Thistle. All vinegars are diluted, so try and buy the highest concentration you can at the supermarket.
Using organic lawn fertilizers will not only keep it green, it will make it healthy and more equipped to defend itself against weeds and pests. Organic fertilizers, such as bat guano, grass clippings, alfalfa meal, fish emulsion and worm castings, work well.
While natural pest control products are a step up from most commercial insecticides, you should still be restrained about using them. Don't just leap at something that cures the symptom - look for the underlying or root cause and seek a solution for that problem. Overuse can end up creating new problems - getting rid of one pest in exchange for another.
That said, natural pest control can be a great non-toxic solution to keeping your garden and home pest free.
arriers act like barbed wire to keep crawling pests, such as ants, out. These include garlic - grind it up with water and apply - cayenne pepper, cinnamon, powdered charcoal, bone meal, talcum powder or chalk. Keep in mind that different pests have different aversions, so you'll have to see what substance works best with the ones trying to sneak into your home.
Another way to think of barriers is to grow certain plants around the periphery of your home. They not only look nice, but will also deter pests. Plants known to repel ants and aphids include: spearmint, peppermint and pennyroyal.
You can use the same trick for fly control. Just substitute the above plants with mint and basil which repel flies, but smell good to humans.
Boiling water is excellent for ant control or if you see where they are creeping into your house, squeeze some lemon into the hole or crack.
Barriers also work for snails. They dislike sand, lime, copper or ashes, so use these borders to keep snails away.
Baking soda and powdered sugar mixed in equal parts is a good roach killer. Just spread around the area where you see roaches and soon you won't see them anymore. (Boric Acid, while slightly more toxic, is naturally occurring and is another way to get rid of them.)
Here's a really sneaky way to get rid of fire ants. (All's fair in love and the war against insect pests.) The only way to get rid of an infestation is to assassinate the queen. Wait until a dry spell is about to end. Sprinkle instant grits on the fire ant hill. The workers will carry the grits to the queen for her royal meal. She'll eat the grits and when it rains, she'll drink. And that's what will kill her. The grits will expand in her stomach and she'll "bloat" to death. Once she's out of the way, the leaderless ants will die off. (This suggestion came courtesy of the Tightwad Gazette II book.)
Cloves smell better than moth balls and are a natural deterrent against winged pests. You can also create a water trap by filling a small basin with water and leaving a night light suspended over it. Moths will be attracted to the light and will end up crashing and burning and falling into the water. Add a little dish soap to break the surface tension of the water.
Corn Gluten Meal may not sound very appetizing, but it's a natural, preemptive strike against weeds. Apply it early in the spring before weeds sprout. Corn gluten meal is a byproduct of the corn milling process and is a natural fertilizer.
Diatomaceous earth is made up of the fossilized remains of diatoms, single-cell organisms. The glass-like nature of diatomaceous earth makes it one of the oldest forms of insecticide. The sharp surfaces cut through the insect cuticle and the insect dies of dehydration. Diatomaceous earth kills earwigs, ants and box elder bugs. Since it's non-discriminate when it kills, be sure to only apply it just to the ground surface where you think insects are overstaying their welcome.
Grind rosemary leaves into a fine dust and sprinkle it onto your pet or its bedding to ward off fleas.
Ivory liquid dishwashing detergent can act as a natural insecticide. Dilute with water until it is a 1 or 2 percent solution and then spray on plants.
Need neem oil? Neem oil - made from guess what? - neem seeds, prevents fungus growth, and repels and kills insects, including mites. While it fights many scourges, it's nontoxic to birds, mammals and most beneficial insects. One word of caution - it can sometime affect bees so use it as a spot treatment to minimize contact. Neem oil is usually sold in a concentrated form, to which you add water.
Fruit flies are wine connoisseurs. Okay, maybe they are not wine snobs, but they have been known to quaff a few drops here or there. They particularly like Chardonnay or so we hear. Use that knowledge to your advantage: fill up a saucer of some cheap white wine and add a little detergent to it. Leave it around for the flies to sip and die on. This solution brings knew meaning to the expression "rot gut."
A natural fly catcher related to wine is to put something sickly sweet like mango peels in the bottom of narrow-necked wine bottles. The flies can fly in, but can't fly out.
You can even make your own fly paper. Boil water, sugar and corn syrup together. Spread the extra-sticky mixture on brown paper grocery bags and voila you have your own fly paper which will trap flies.
For mosquito control the aged old custom of burning citronella candles will help repel the pesky critters.
To get rid of slugs and snails, invert a flower pot near a shady plant. Use a stick to prop up the flower pot or place on irregular ground - whatever will give enough of an entrance way for slugs and snails. They will crawl under the rim to avoid the heat. Check the flower pot at the end of the day and remove the slugs and snails.
Vinegar is a great herbicide. Fill a spray bottle with vinegar - white is best since it won't stain, you certainly don't want to use expensive, aged Balsamic vinegar on weeds - and spray the vinegar on your unwelcome flora on your porch, patio or back yard. It's one of the few things that will work against noxious weeds such as Canadian Thistle. All vinegars are diluted, so try and buy the highest concentration you can at the supermarket.
Using organic lawn fertilizers will not only keep it green, it will make it healthy and more equipped to defend itself against weeds and pests. Organic fertilizers, such as bat guano, grass clippings, alfalfa meal, fish emulsion and worm castings, work well.
While natural pest control products are a step up from most commercial insecticides, you should still be restrained about using them. Don't just leap at something that cures the symptom - look for the underlying or root cause and seek a solution for that problem. Overuse can end up creating new problems - getting rid of one pest in exchange for another.
That said, natural pest control can be a great non-toxic solution to keeping your garden and home pest free.
mirime
Garden Ornament
ooh this is wonderful! thanks for posting all of these remedies.:bouquet
