Add Photo to Journal
|
|
| Photo Credit: ©Pennystone Gardens |
| Lemon balm leaves are most potent in late summer, but you can rub them on whenever you need for a quick lemon-scented insect repellent. |
Herbs have been protecting homes and skin from pesky insects since the Middle Ages. So why turn to all the new-fangled chemical products when you can deter flies, moths and mosquitoes with safe repellents made from these wonderful plants? Best of all, unlike many chemical formulations, herb-based repellents are harmless to people and the environment.
Unfortunately, no herbal repellent is effective against all insects, but they do work well against many of the common buggers. And of course the bonus is they smell great – not to mention are easy to grow and use. Some herbs can be simply rubbed on the skin, while some can be picked and hung. Others may require a little preparation for a more professional effect, but they still work great, too! If you’ve already got a successful culinary herb garden, many of your plants can start working double duty for you. Otherwise, pick up a few starter plants at your local garden center and find a home for them in your garden. Most herbs will survive in a sunny to part-sunny location in average, healthy soil with good drainage. (But always check plant tags to make sure you’re planting each in the right spot.) For a quick bug repellent, pick leaves and flowers of basil (Ocimum basilicum), lemon balm (Melissa officianalis), pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) or catnip (Nepeta cataria). Simply crush them and rub on your skin. Catnip, a perennial in USDA hardiness zones 5-7, grows in almost any condition and deters mosquitoes extremely well. In fact, according to researchers at Iowa State University, the essential oil in catnip is 10 times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET!
|