Herbs in Your Garden that Help Repel Bugs

Posted on July 27, 2012

No one likes flies! Actually most will tell you that flies are one of there least favorite bugs. They are annoying nasty flying bugs. Or what about mosquitoes? Have you ever heard anyone say, ‘gee, lets go outside it’s perfect mosquito weather’… NO! How about moths, maybe they don’t bother you, but how about the weevils you get in your dried cupboard food because of them???
No one wants to be spraying bug spray all day everyday and in your home never the less, so why not try these tried and true herbs. That’s right, you heard me correct, herbs! They will grow from just about anywhere and lots of us have them in our private garden for eats, so why not try them as a pest solution??
Herbs That Will Repel Flies And Other Nasty Bugs
1. Basil
Most people know fresh basil is delicious in pesto, tomato based dishes, and salads but did you also know that it is one of the best ways to keep flies out of your house? Just plant basil next to the doors, use as a foundation planting mixed in with your flowers, or plant in containers. The flies will stay far away. Basil is a beautiful fragrant plant that grows easily in most climates. You can grow basil in containers by your picnic table or on your patio and cut a nice size bunch of it to decorate the blanket with when you go to a remote picnic spot. As an added bonus, mosquitoes don’t like it either.
2. Bay Leaf
You can grow bay outside in the summer but you will need to bring it indoors during the winter months. You can buy dried bay leaf at the store if you find you are unable to grow it; the dried variety that you put in stews and soups works as well as the fresh for keeping pests away. You can put one bay leaf in fifty pounds of wheat berries or organic white flour and it will keep the weevils out of it. If you don’t happen to buy flour in those quantities you can add a bay leaf to a smaller sized container with similar results. Don’t forget to add a bay leaf to all your other dried food like, cornmeal, rice, and oatmeal. And I am sure there are many other, give it a try! Scatter a few leaves on the pantry shelves to repel moths, roaches, earwigs, and mice. Flies seem to hate the smell of bay leaves, too!
3. Lavender
Lavender smells wonderful and repels moths, mosquitoes, and fleas:

Hang a bundle of it in your closet or lay a few sprigs of it in with the out of season clothes you are storing.
Grind it to a powder and sprinkle it on your pet’s bedding.
Grow it in containers on your patio to repel mosquitoes.
Grow it in your kitchen garden to keep rabbits out of your lettuce and spinach.

4. Mint
Mint planted around the foundation of your house can keep both ants and mice out of your home. Neither of these pests seem to like the smell and all but the most determined will head to a better smelling yard. You can also place shallow bowls of the dried mint leaves in your pantry to discourage mice.
5. Rosemary
Rosemary is one of my favorite herbs, not only for cooking and grilling but because it has a number of uses medicinally and as a household herb. As it grows it repels mosquitoes. Try planting it around your patio or any area that you use in the evenings to keep the air smelling fresh and the mosquitoes on someone else’s property.

Tagged with: a1 exterminators, basil, bay leaves, Bugs, flies, homemade repellent, lavender, mint, mosquitoes

Herbs in Your Garden that Help Repel Bugs

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