Try natural alternatives to keep flies out of your home and garden.
Nobody likes flies or mosquitoes. You could go to the store and buy a bug zapper, bug spray or pesticides to keep flies and mosquitoes away from yourself, your home and your garden. It may, though, be cheaper and greener to grow plants that naturally repel the insects. Does this Spark an idea?
Basil
Basil isn't just a tasty ingredient found in salads and pesto, it is an effective fly repellent. There are many different varieties of basil and it can grow in a variety of environments, making it an option for people from Texas to Maine. The basil can be grown on its own or planted along the base of other plants. Putting pots of basil by the doors and windows in your home will help keep the flies out.
Rue
Rue is a shrub that can grow up to two feet tall. It grows across parts of the Midwest, on the West Coast, in the South and as far north as Massachusetts. When planted in a garden or in a pot indoors, Rue effectively repels fruit flies. Rue's scent drives fruit flies away, but is pleasant to humans. It could also deter some animals from entering your garden. Be careful handling Rue. It can cause skin irritation.
Citronella Grass
Citronella grass is a tropical grass that can grow over six feet tall. It naturally produces citronella oil, which is an an ingredient found in many mosquito repellent products available for purchase. If you live in the right climate, you can plant citronella grass to naturally repel mosquitoes and keep them from your yard. You can also put citronella grass blades indoors, or in any other location where mosquitoes may gather.
Catnip
Catnip, the same herb that drives cats wild, is also an effective mosquito repellent. Researchers at Iowa State University determined that catnip is approximately 10 times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET, the chemical compound found in many mosquito repellents on the market. The plant itself will not repel mosquitoes, but catnip oil will. Extracting catnip oil from the plant can be accomplished with equipment found in a basic high school laboratory.
Tags: keep flies, your home, citronella grass, feet tall, flies mosquitoes