Thyme is an herb you can rely on when insects are bothering your home. The herb deters mosquitoes, earworm, maggot, hornworm, and whiteflies. You can plant thyme in your garden easily as it can become accustomed to dry and shallow soil.
Do mosquitoes hate thyme?
Thyme, including red creeping thyme (shown), possesses excellent mosquito-repelling properties. The secret is to crush the leaves to release the volatile oils. You can simply place crushed stems around outdoor seating areas or rub the leaves on skin or clothing.
What plant repels most insects?
Here’s a quick list of some of plants that are revered for their insect-repelling properties.
- Lavender. Lavender.
- Basil. While we all love the smell of basil, mosquitoes, moths, and flies are not fans.
- Thyme.
- Mint.
- Lemongrass.
- Alliums.
- Chrysanthemums.
- Petunias.
What scent repels most insects?
Those most closely associated with repellency are citronella oil, eucalyptus oil, and catnip oil, but others include clove oil, patchouli, peppermint, and geranium.
Does thyme oil keep bugs away?
Thyme has mosquito-repellent properties that even surpassed DEET in one study. This essential oil also helps repel chiggers and ticks. Thyme has strong antimicrobial properties and has been used in multiple medicinal remedies throughout history.
What insects does thyme attract?
Pests and Diseases
- Gray Mold. Creeping thyme is susceptible to a fungus called botrytis.
- Root Rot. Creeping thyme is susceptible to root rot, especially in spring and autumn.
- Aphids. Creeping thyme attracts aphids as well as spider mites.
Does thyme repel spiders?
Lemon thyme makes a great addition to any herb or flower bed. It’s used in cooking, has attractive foliage, and keeps spiders away. Ideas for lemon thyme include using lemon thyme to attract bees to help pollinate surrounding plants.
Does Irish Spring soap keep bugs away?
No, there is no scientific backing from the EPA or CDC that Irish Spring soap repels mosquitoes.
What bugs does mint attract?
Let your mint go to flower and it will attract bees, beneficial wasps, hoverflies (aphid eaters), and tachinid flies (parasitic on nasty bugs).
What insects does oregano repel?
Here is a list of some herbs and which type of bugs they deter:
- Basil – Flies, Mosquitos, Thrips.
- Catnip – Mosquitos.
- Chives – ants, aphids, fleas, nematodes.
- Mint – Cabbage Moths, flies, flees, ants.
- Oregano – Mosquitos (can you tell I really don’t like this pest?), Cucumber beetle, Cabbage butterfly.
What can I put in my drawers to keep bugs out?
Use Dried Lavender
Use lavender essential oils. Spray a lavender solution on your clothes. Put fresh lavender in your closet drawers and on your shelves.
What smell do spiders hate?
It’s easy to keep spiders away using natural products. These eight-legged creatures hate the smell of citrus fruits such as lemons and oranges. They also don’t like peppermint oils, tea tree oils, eucalyptus, and vinegar. Using any of these around your home will keep spiders away.
How do I bug proof my house?
General Measures for Keeping out Pests
- Screen all openings.
- Install door sweeps or thresholds at the base of all exterior entry doors.
- Door seals.
- Fill cracks.
- All outside doors should be self-closing.
- Seal all utility openings.
- Repair leaky piping.
- Install wire mesh.
What is the best insect repellent?
- Our pick. Sawyer Products 20% Picaridin Insect Repellent. The best bug repellent.
- Runner-up. Ranger Ready Picaridin 20% Tick + Insect Repellent. Another standout picaridin spray.
- Also great. Cutter Backwoods Dry Insect Repellent. The best DEET-based repellent.
- Also great. Sawyer Products Permethrin Fabric Treatment.
What bugs does lavender repel?
A soothing favorite for centuries, lavender repels fleas, moths, mosquitoes, and many other insects. While oil extracted from the flowers makes an effective mosquito repellent, just the plant itself can ward off unwelcome insects.
What bugs does lemon balm repel?
Lemon balm repels mosquitoes and gnats. Commonly grown as ornamental border plants, marigolds are hardy annual plants which have a distinctive smell which mosquitoes, and some other insects, find particularly offensive.
Are wasps attracted to thyme?
The wasps are attracted to dill, fennel, lemon balm, thyme, yarrow, and cilantro.
Does thyme repel ants?
Thyme. This herb is commonly used in cooking, but it can also control the ants and other pests in your yard. Thyme, especially lemon thyme, deters pests like ants, cabbage moths and whiteflies. The nectar produced by the plant attracts bees and other pollinators.
Does thyme repel wasps?
However, naturally-repellent plants do exist and include mint, wormwood, lemongrass, citronella, clove, pennyroyal, sage, rosemary, geranium, chamomile, thyme, fennel, wintergreen, and sweet marjoram. Cucumber peels may also repel wasps.
What plant will keep snakes away?
Snake-repellent plants, such as marigolds, allium, lemongrass, mother-in-law’s tongue, garlic, wormwood, pink agapanthus, snakeroots, basil and yellow alder will all keep snakes away naturally.
What plant keeps ants and spiders away?
There are quite a few plants that repel spiders and ants. For example, roses, citrus, lavender, peppermint, and eucalyptus are natural spider repellents and so are chestnuts. If you lay cedar mulch down around your windows and garden, it deters spiders, too.