Plants for Your Gardens That Are Natural Insecticides
It seems that the growing trend in yard and garden care is starting to turn towards the use of natural insecticides for many reasons. The health risks of traditional insecticides are well known and many commercial farmers are attempting to employ more natural insecticides whenever possible.
One of the ways to cut the risk not only for your health, but also to cut the risk of environmental contamination to our streams and local wildlife, is to employ the use of plants that are natural insecticides.
There are several plants that have natural insecticide qualities, and have been employed throughout history and have been proven to be quite effective. Normally the natural insecticides are made from the leaves, flowers, and stems or root of the plant and are normally dried and then ground up, for natural insecticides. The majority of these plants can be easily found at your local home improvement or garden shop center.
Mountain tobacco, Nicotinia Attenuata is actually a very ornamental and lovely scented addition to your garden. The leaves of this plant are then dried and powdered and are often used as a garden "tea." This is very effective to remove aphids, whiteflies, leafhoppers, and thrips. You basically steep about 1-2 teaspoons of dried tobacco leaves in water, preferably overnight, to make a "tea." Often gardeners will add one teaspoon of dishwashing detergent to this mixture and put it in a spray bottle. Pure nicotine extract is highly toxic to warm blooded animals, making your own from a dried leaves is much safer. This is safe to use on fruits and vegetables.
Rosemary, Rosemarinus officinalis. Is used as a flea and tick repellent. This beautiful aromatic evergreen shrub is a beautiful addition to your garden. You simply dry and powder the rosemary leaves, and then sprinkle the powder onto the pets and in areas with the pet sleeps. This is very effective and safe repellent.
Wormwood, Artemisia absinithium. Is an attractive plant and grows throughout the United States as a hardy perennial. This plant has been used as food seasoning and has been used for its medicinal qualities. Powdered leaves are sprinkled on plants and the soil seems to repel many insects. It seems that the insects do not like the smell of this plant.
True lavender, Lavandula. Simply planting lavender within your garden works as a natural insecticide, simply because of its fragrance, which insects despise. Planting this around plants that are prone to insect infestation helps keep those bugs at bay. The dried flower can be placed inside drawers or closets repels moths and it makes your cloths small great.
Pyrethrum Plant, this plant is in the Chrysanthemum family and is the main component of many natural insecticides. The flower heads are dried and then powdered which then can be mixed with water, were simply sprinkled throughout your garden. This is considered one of the best natural insecticide available.
Fleabane Daisy, Erigeron speciosus is another nice addition to your flower garden and since the Roman times has been used as a natural insecticide to repel fleas. Just growing it in your garden controls insects, but you can also rub the leaves on your clothing or paths to also repel mosquitoes, flies, gnats, and ticks.
Thus simply adding plants known to be natural insecticides to your garden and around your home you will be able to cut down on the use of commercially prepared insecticides. These little steps go a long way with helping our environment and our planet.
