How to Keep Those Pesky Pests Off Your Herbs, Pets and Food

If you use herbs for seasoning and craft items you don't want holes or insect eggs on your leaves or attached to the plant stems. Although most herbs are naturally repugnant to insects because of their strong, pungent oils, those that are most fragrant to us are also nectar to the insect kingdom. Homemade organic sprays must be used often and after each rain on such herbs as flowers as roses, scented geraniums, and lemon verbena in your garden.

Here are some organic remedies easily made at home for your herb plants, food, and pets.

Chive Spray - This is especially recommended for roses. Whirl lots of chives with water to cover in a blender; Let it sit overnight; then strain through cheesecloth and add 3 times as much water as you have blend. Spray 3 times in one day, then again after heavy rains. Store excess in refrigerator.

For White Fly & Mealy Bug Control on Herbs - Bring to a boil one quart of water, add 4 cigarettes but not the paper filter, 2 crushed garlic cloves, 2 T. household ammonia, and 2 T. Ivory Soap Flakes. Steep this for 3 days then strain; spray on plants.

Culinary herbs are safe to use the next day after a clean water rinse.

Grasshopper & Garden Bug Repellent - Boil 2 tomato plant leaves in a big pot for 10 minutes, then strain the liquid through cheesecloth; spray it on the herbs and other garden plants. Store this in a plastic or glass container.

Spray for Mold, Mildew or Other Fungi Diseases - A spray of tea made form camomile and onions or garlic has proved worthwhile in protecting plants or eradicating diseases caused by fungi. To make the spray, dry the herb or root and prepare a strong infusion or decoction. Add a pint of this to a gallon of water. Shake well and add 1 T. of liquid soap or mild detergent. Stir gently and use immediately. Observe the results and adjust the strength of your spray accordingly.

Grain Weevil Prevention - As soon as you bring a package of grain, legumes, pasta, flour, cereal, crackers, or raisins into the house, date it and freeze it. After 2 days empty contents into a clean gallon jar or plastic container into which you have first placed a bay leaf or two.

The moth invasion can be recognized in your cupboards by a small cocoon or worm - even under screw lids of jars or a fluttering gray moth. If not discovered early this nuisance will spread through the house. Although it won't bother cloth, it is upsetting when you open a container and find weevil.

Rosemary Flea Rinse/Spray - Steep 1 t. rosemary for each cup boiling water. Cool. Use as an after-bath rinse and as a spray between baths. Allow your pet to dry naturally. Use for several days for severe problems.

Herbal Flea & Tick Powder - Pulverize equal amounts of dried rosemary, rue, wormwood, pennyroyal, and eucalyptus, and blend in some citronella oil. Powder your pet out side on a newspaper. Comb the coat carefully with a flea comb. The fleas will be stunned, not killed, so wrap them up in the newspaper and burn them.

Tick Removal - Moisten a cotton pad with oil of eucalyptus, pennyroyal or rosemary. Rub this on the ticks to stun them and make removal much easier.

Natural Dog Flea collar - Blend together dried pennyroyal leaves, orrisroot, and oil of pennyroyal. Wrap in fabric and secure with Velcro or a stretchable material such as elastic. A cord soaked in pennyroyal oil every two-week, and wrapped in fabric; is even more effective.
Oil of pennyroyal is very toxic and must not be consumed by humans or pets. Ingestion of pennyroyal oil can cause spontaneous abortion, illness, and even death to adults if consumed in large doses.

Pet Pillows - To perfume the dog's bed and chase fleas away, make pillows of the following herbs, or a combination of them; camomile flowers, pennyroyal leaves, cedar chips, or rue.