Fresh Clips: Plants That Repel Insects. Mosquitoes can ruin the enjoyment of your summer garden. Ordinary insect repellents slather you and your family in sticky chemicals; bug zappers are annoying and leave you sitting amongst charred insect parts; and sometimes you aren’t in the mood for the smoke of incense or candles in lieu of fresh summer air. So what’s left? Mosquitoes don’t like a few familiar herbs that you can use to stay bite-free this season. Keep the crushed leaves of these six plants in a small container at intervals on your patio to repel mosquitoes. . • Catnip (Nepeta cataria) . • Marigold (Tagetes spp. . ) . • Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) . • Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) . • Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium)
. • Mint (Mentha spp.). Tammie Painter gardens in Oregon. Divert Beetles with Mustard Greens - Martha's Vegetable Garden Tips - Vegetable Garden Guide - MarthaStewart.com. Bacillus thuringiensis. Control Pests and Diseases Safely with Neem. Neem comes in spray bottles and in concentrated form and can be used safely on both ornamental and edible plants. These days, savvy gardeners are reaching for a gentle but effective product to deal with many pest and disease problems: neem.
Extracts from the neem tree (Azadirachta indica), which is native to India, have been used for centuries for everything from cleaning teeth to killing aphids. The leaves are used in analgesic teas and skin-soothing tinctures, and powder made from the leaves has long been used in folk remedies for cuts and abrasions, because it is an effective antibacterial agent. The bark is incorporated into body care products, the twigs are used like dental floss, and various neem extracts are often included in toothpastes because they help fight cavity-causing bacteria.
Neem seed oil has antibacterial properties, and crushed seed is considered a valuable soil amendment. Insect Treatments. DIY Orange Oil. Homemade Ant Insecticide. Plant Diseases. Insect Treatments. What is Castile Soap?