How to get rid of flies in the house without chemicals: 6 plants will help
For villagers, flies are one of the most annoying insects in summer. However, they can be fought not only with dichlorvos and rolled up in a tube newspaper, but also with folk methods, such as the smell of herbs and flowers. There are at least six green plants that repel flies and have repellent properties. Here is a brief description of these plants.
basil
Decided to drive the flies away from your summer kitchen? If so, we recommend planting basil in tubs or tubs and then placing flower pots with the greenery on window sills and near the front doors. The smell of this plant drives away not only flies, but also other annoying insects, such as mosquitoes.
Succulent basil leaves can be used to make a powerful insect repellent. It is enough to squeeze a lot of juice, dilute it with liquid soap in a ratio of 1: 1, and then spray the places where mosquitoes or flies congregate. The main thing is to leave at least a little solution on the insects. The resulting liquid can be stored in the refrigerator, but no more than 4 days.
Basil can also be used in cooking. The leaves of this plant go particularly well with meat dishes, salads and some soups. The flavor of basil can complement many vegetables such as tomatoes, asparagus or peppers.
lavender
Since ancient times, lavender has been used to add a pleasant fragrance to clothing or shoes. To do this, a bundle of dried herb was simply placed in a closet or other enclosed place. As time went on, however, we discovered that lavender had the added advantage of keeping out flies, mosquitoes, fleas and moths.
To reliably deter intruders from your home, place several bundles of dry grass in different parts of the home. Particular attention should be paid to the hallway, since this is where insects usually enter the house. Also, do not forget about such an option as planting a few bushes of lavender in the garden, so that pests do not appear near your area at all.
The oil of the plant can be used to apply to the body before picnics or camping trips. It works long enough so mosquitoes won’t bother you even at night. In addition, lavender oil is extremely beneficial for the body: it takes care of the skin and has a soothing effect on the nervous system.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass contains citronella, so it’s no surprise that its natural oil can repel even the most harmful insects (including flies and mosquitoes). The plant can reach a height of 120 cm and a width of 90 cm. and is therefore best planted in an open soil or in wide pots. However, if you pay special attention to the planting location and place these plants every 4-5 meters of your plot, you can easily protect your home from insect invasion.
Don’t forget that fragrant lemongrass leaves are great for cooking. For example, they complement chicken or pork dishes and also go well with light soups and fresh salads. If you like Asian cooking, lemongrass is almost as good as soy sauce because its extract can be mixed with sushi, rolls, curries, ramen and udon.
The lemongrass is extremely unpretentious to grow, but a well-lit area is best for it. The soil should have a drainage layer, as the crop does not tolerate excess moisture.
Lemon – Thyme
Lemon thyme is the best herb for mosquito control. It also repels them well (although not as well as, say, basil). In addition, this grass is practically unpretentious to growing conditions, as it can grow even in rocky and dry areas. The main thing is to have enough sunlight on the plot.
To scare off insects, you can cut a few stems of grass, then dry them and place them in different places in the house or summer kitchen. You can also grate the juice to repel mosquitoes before hiking or fishing. However, make sure you are not allergic to any of the herbs, as lemon thyme is a strong allergen. Also, don’t apply the juice to areas with open wounds or where the skin is most sensitive.
It is one of the most aggressive herbs against stitched houses from insects. However, it is quite difficult to grow at home, so the ideal solution is to plant a few bushes in the open ground. Once the plant has grown, you can dig up a couple of young shoots with roots and then transplant them into pots.
From the leaves of mint, you can prepare an extremely useful essential oil, which is used in many folk recipes. Also, do not forget the benefits of aromatic mint tea with ice, which is not only a great thirst quencher, but also has a preventive effect in the fight against cardiovascular disease, as well as calming the nerves. In cooking, mint is usually added to meat dishes or refreshing drinks.
rosemary
This is another beneficial herb that culinary professionals revere almost as much as they hate insects. Rosemary works wonders at repelling not only mosquitoes and flies, but cockroaches as well, so growing it in the kitchen is a must. Some farmers even plant this herb in greenhouses because it repels spider mites, whiteflies, aphids and other insect plants.
Rosemary oil is used in high-end restaurants to dress salads and in meat dishes, which have a refined and unique taste. Fresh rosemary leaves are a wonderful addition to any side dish or meat sauce. In addition, rosemary is used in a number of folk recipes aimed at combating various internal diseases (digestive, nervous and circulatory systems).
The most effective spray against insects
From rosemary, you can prepare a fairly simple but extremely effective spray. For this you will need the following ingredients:
- 20 tablespoons of dried rosemary;
- 400 milliliters of vodka or 200 milliliters of alcohol;
- 1 liter of boiled water.
So, first of all, put dried rosemary in boiling water, put the pot on fire and boil for 20-30 minutes. After this, the resulting decoction should be strained properly and mixed with alcohol or vodka. The resulting mixture is best used immediately to control insects, but it will keep in the refrigerator for 8 days.
Can plants completely eliminate the possibility of insects near my home?
It’s important to understand that flies, mosquitoes, and other pests flock to your home for completely objective reasons. For example, it may be the light at night, the heat on cold nights, and the smell of garbage or cesspools. So before you plant any special plants in your garden or home, first make sure that nothing in your area attracts insects. For example, mosquitoes like to settle in tall grass because it gives them protection from the sun, so mow your lawn in a timely manner.
Conclusion
So, the listed plants are really able to chase away uninvited guests from your home. In addition, unlike various chemicals, these methods of insect control are natural, which means that you do not risk harming your health. Do not forget about the culinary properties of some herbs, as well as their medicinal properties.
Behind the wall of flowers: what to plant next to cabbage
Cabbage is one of the most useful and popular vegetables in cooking. Properly selected varieties of cabbage can be stored until the new season. The crop is not capricious, its cultivation is not much trouble. The most common problem faced by gardeners when growing cabbage is an insect infestation, which can destroy a significant part of the harvest. The use of insecticides helps to fight them, but this measure is undesirable: toxins can accumulate in the vegetables themselves. There is only one way out – to place nearby plants, which will scare away uninvited guests with their fragrances. Knowing what to plant next to the cabbage, you can not worry about its fate.
The essence of the method
Insects have receptors that pick up the scent of the vegetables they feed on. Many pests swarm and crawl to the smell of cabbage like flies to honey. Cabbage is plagued by butterflies, beetles, and fleas – they use its leaves to reproduce and lay eggs on them. Later, the larvae of these insects begin to feed on the same leaves, which is not good for the development of the plant. Bed bugs, root weevils, and snails can feed on leaves, stems, and roots of cabbage. Nematodes also parasitize the crop.
There are plants that emit a completely different odor – repellent. Their phytoncides clog the receptors of insects, so that the cabbage is reliably hidden from its enemies. Such plants include some flowers, many herbs. They are useful in the garden: some of them can be used as spices, others are medicinal, others have a decorative appearance.
Covering plants should be planted simultaneously with the planting of cabbage sprouts, or even a few days before, then the effect will be maximum.
What flowers protect cabbage from pests?
Some flowers, which are very unpretentious and can grow without the attention of the gardener, scare away the worst enemies of cabbage – whitefly, miniature moth. Among them, there are also those that are effective against other pests. Who are these nice characters?
- At the head of the list of plants – defenders of cabbage marigolds. They release phytoncides not only from the inflorescences, but also from the roots. This protects vegetables not only from aphids, whiteflies and moths, but also from mole crickets and nematodes.
- Calendula has similar properties. The advantage of this medicinal plant is that it can reproduce by self-seeding. It is enough to sow it once, and its garden will be protected from moths for a long time.
- Daisies surrounding cabbage beds give the garden a delicate and romantic look. In addition, this flower has medicinal properties. The phytoncides emitted by chamomile repel flying insects. This delicate looking flower keeps moths and butterflies away.
Tansy has similar properties, but it is not recommended to plant in close proximity to cabbage beds: this plant depletes the soil.
Spicy alliance
Pests are deterred by many spicy plants, so they are good neighbors for cabbage:
- Dill not only attracts insect-eaters, which destroy caterpillars that feed on cabbage, but it also improves the taste of vegetables;
- Sage and thyme simply repel a number of insects that are dangerous to cabbage (ground flea, whitefly, whitefly);
- Peppermint repels not only flying insects but also ants from cabbage.
Estragon can also be an effective defender of cabbage, but it grows vigorously, so estragon bushes need protection while they are small and don’t have time to take up much space.
Good and Bad Vegetable Neighbors
Among the vegetables that protect kale, gardeners name tomatoes first. Lettuce also has a good reputation.
However, it is not recommended to plant next to cabbage radishes, beets, cumin, parsnips and carrots: they attract common pests.
The juxtaposition of plant crops plays an important role when growing vegetables. Some plants can protect cabbage from pests, while others increase the risk of infestation. By choosing the right neighbors for cabbage, you’ll protect your crop without the use of chemicals.
