Herbal Pest Control

Benefits

• When killing intruding insects, many commercial pesticides inadvertently poison beneficial creatures like ladybugs, bees and birds.

Potential

• Some plants work to ward off pests when simply planted beside your vegetables and flowers in the garden. Wormwood repels slugs and snails from vegetables and tansy keeps ants, fleas and moths away from fruit trees.

Expert Insight

• A Dog's View Aromatherapy for Dogs recommends lavender and lemongrass oil for the prevention of mosquitoes, ticks, chiggers and flies.

Considerations

• When using herbal insecticides, it is advisable to spray the mixture directly onto the pest when you see them. Preventative sprays made with basil or peppermint can also be applied to human skin or animal fur.

Research

• A 2001 study from the University of Iowa found that catnip essential oil may be 10 times more effective than DEET at repelling mosquitoes.