Planting certain herbs in your backyard or around the perimeter of your home can keep flies, mosquitoes, ants and other insect pests away. Basil controls flies and mosquitoes, as does garlic. Rosemary controls mosquitoes, flies and ticks. Sage repels ticks, and spearmint keeps ants away.
What does basil keep away?
Basil. An ever popular herb and a great source of Vitamin A. Basil compliments a variety of dishes but is also good at repelling pests such as mosquitoes and houseflies. Importantly, basil works as a bug repellent when crushed.
What herbs deter critters?
5 Herbs that Are Natural Pest Deterrents
- Mint.
- Basil.
- Lavender.
- Chives.
- Rosemary.
What animals are repelled by garlic?
What pests does garlic repel? Garlic spray will repel most small flying or crawling, but not burrowing, insects. In particular, garlic spray has been noted to work against aphids, mites, caterpillars, armyworms, cutworms, beetles, slugs, mosquitoes, and flies.
Is basil a good fly repellent?
But good news: there are several plants that repel flies.
If you want to keep those pesky flies and mosquitoes away then try keeping basil in your home. The herb has been used for pest control since ancient times, due to its strong aroma and oil. As a bonus, it also makes for a tasty garnish.
Is basil toxic to dogs?
Yes! Basil is healthy for your dog to eat in small quantities. It’s anti-inflammatory and contains a high level of antioxidants that help prevent many types of illness including cancer. Basil also helps prevent cellular damage, calms your anxious dog, and eases arthritis pain.
What bugs does basil attract?
Aside from people, there are a variety of things that eat basil. Japanese beetles, slugs, and aphids are the most common basil pests. Other pests include whiteflies, spider mites, caterpillars, and thrips.
What plants keep rats and mice away?
Plants and herbs known to keep mice and other rodents away include:
- Marigolds.
- Garlic.
- Daffodils.
- Black pepper.
- Rosemary.
- Lavender.
- Onions.
- tomatoes.
What herbs do mice hate?
Mice have very sensitive noses and will not nest or stay long in areas with smells they particularly dislike – cedar, mint, lavender and rosemary being a few. This herbal sachet, placed near where you think the mice are congregating, will soon have the creatures running for the door!
What herbs do raccoons not like?
The stronger the smell, the better the deterrent, and peppermint essential oil added to the plants will make them smell stronger. They also don’t like garlic (Allium sativum, USDA zones 3 to 8) so planting garlic bulbs around garden beds and spraying garlic juice around should keep them away.
What animal hates mint?
Castor, peppermint, and spearmint oils are odors that digging and burrowing animals dislike. (This can include groundhogs, mice, moles, rats, skunks, voles, and others.)
What plants keep animals away?
Lavender, verbena, thyme, balsam, lilac, and pine are all good choices. Implementing fragrant plants can deter garden crashers by overwhelming their sense of smell. Animals rely on their sense of smell to determine what is safe or desirable enough to eat.
Does cinnamon keep animals away from plants?
6) Deters furry pests.
Dust cinnamon along the outside of the garden to deter rabbits, squirrels and even moles. Small critters are close enough to the ground that as they walk through the cinnamon they will get it on their face and breathe it in.
What bugs do basil repel?
Basil also acts as a good insect repellent for flies and mosquitoes. Very useful using fresh leaves rubbed on the skin. Eucalyptol. According to research conducted by Kansas State University, this compound is effective in eliminating bugs from the kitchen and repelling cockroaches and weevils.
Does basil plant attract bugs?
A handful of insects are attracted to the basil plant. The Japanese Beetle, slugs, thrips, aphids, spider mites, and some caterpillars. Smaller insects can be removed with a strong water spray, while larger garden pests can be picked off by hand.
Does basil keep mosquitoes away?
As one of the most pungent herbs, I can easily see why basil makes the list as a natural mosquito repellent. It makes sense, because basil is known as the perfect companion plant to tomatoes to help keep bugs away.
Do dogs like the smell of basil?
Fresh Herbs
Basil, mint, rosemary, and thyme all have a very pungent aroma when grown fresh and picked fresh, making them an excellent addition to gardens that you’d like to keep dogs out of. The abundant presence of volatile aromatic oils in these herbs is what gives them their dog-deterring power.
Are cats attracted to basil?
Also, cats love the flavor of the basil leaves. They might like it if you sprinkle them as seasonings in your cat food as well.
Is basil toxic to cats or dogs?
Although non-toxic, basil is healthy for both cats and dogs when given in small quantities.
What animals eat basil?
Basil grown in the garden can also be eaten by wild birds, rats, or possums. Luckily, keeping small animals away from your basil is more manageable than protecting it from insects.
Do spiders like basil?
Basil. All basil (Ocimum basilicum) varieties—Genovese, cinnamon, lemon, and Thai basil—have a strong scent that deters spiders. It is a cold-sensitive herb that can be grown as a perennial in warm climates and indoors.
Justin Shelton is a professional cook. He’s been in the industry for over 10 years, and he loves nothing more than creating delicious dishes for others to enjoy. Justin has worked in some of the best kitchens in the country, and he’s always looking for new challenges and ways to improve his craft. When he’s not cooking, Justin enjoys spending time with his wife and son. He loves exploring new restaurants and trying out different cuisines.