Herbs that Repel Insects
Easy to Grow Herbs are Effective for Insect Control
Herbs smell great, look great and are beneficial to our planet. They are also very useful for medicinal, cosmetic and culinary purposes. One of the most overlooked ways to use herbs though, is to repel insects. Why use a horrible smelling, dangerous chemical blend when a great smelling herb would do the job as well, or even better? With the planet in danger, and the health concerns that come with the use of chemicals, many people are turning back to the saner methods used by grandparents. Often they turn out to be better, and are definitely safer. Here are just a few herbs to start out with, and the bugs that they will help to get rid of.
Pennyroyal
There are two kinds of pennyroyal. Both the trailing European variety and the American variety have a pungent scent, which will not appeal to everyone. It is very useful, though, in keeping fleas away from pets. Pennyroyal can be applied to a pet's collar, as well as its sleeping area. A number of other insects avoid pennyroyal, including mosquitoes, gnats, and household flies. Pennyroyal is easy to grow, and will keep unwanted bugs away when planted in flower beds. This herb is toxic to humans and animals, it should never be ingested and must be kept away from pets that might chew on the leaves.
Lavender
Lavender is not as easy to grow as many other herbs, but well worth taking extra care to have in the garden. Not only does it repel fleas and mosquitoes, but it is quite valuable for its ability to repel moths. Sachets made of dried lavender flowers will repel moths for years when placed in drawers and closets. Unlike pennyroyal, it smells wonderful. Lavender is ornamental as well as useful and looks great in the flower bed as well. There are several different varieties, all of which smell terrific.
Lemongrass
This tall, grassy herb is one of the best mosquito repellents around. It can be safely rubbed on the skin to keep them at bay. The fresh, lemony scent is quite pleasant, and looks nice in either the herb, flower or even vegetable garden, where it will work to repel biting insects. For those who don't wish to grow their own, lemongrass can be purchased as an essential oil, which is just as effective.
Rosemary
This attractive herb is often grown in pots at Christmastime, as it resembles a small Christmas tree. It prefers warmer climates, and does well when grown as a houseplant. The fragrant, pine needle like leaves are very pungent, and are best for repelling mosquitoes and gnats. When planted in pots and placed on a deck or porch, rosemary looks quite beautiful while repelling insects. It needs to be brought indoors in winter in colder climates.
All of these herbs can be dried and made into fragrant sachets. The leaves of the herbs can be bruised or crushed to release a stronger scent. Simply brushing against them when working in the garden can release the scents as well. Any of these is a much better way of keeping biting insects away than chemical preparations. They are worth a try, and much better for the environment.
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