THERE’S nothing more annoying than trying to enjoy your garden in the summer, only to be attacked by flies and mosquitos.
But one pest control pro has revealed a clever £1 hack to keep the pesky critters away – and it has the added benefit of making your house smell nice and fresh too.
“Mint is a natural deterrent for wasps, mosquitoes, flies, hornets, moths, ants, and cockroaches,” Seasoned Pioneers‘ Matt Webster explained.
“These insects have a strong sense of smell and are often confused by any strong smelling foods or plants.
“Place a pot of mint around the home or the area that you’re sitting in, to deter any unwanted visitors – the mint will help to keep these
pests away from the area.”
You can buy a pot of mint in your local supermarket for around £1, or you can try and use peppermint oil instead for the same effects.
Another way to deter flies is to use lemon and cloves.
“Flies hate the smell of cloves and the addition of lemon enhances this effect, so when combined together they make the best natural repellent for keeping them away,” Matt said.
“Simply cut a lemon in half and insert the cloves into the flesh, then place them around the garden or in the home.
“This duo will keep the flies away, whilst also giving a lovely aroma to the surroundings too.”
If mosquitoes are rife in your area, then you should stock up on rosemary on your next trip to the shops.
“Its intense fragrance is enough to deter any of these summer pests away,” Matt said.
“Why not make your own bug spray by adding rosemary to boiling
water?
“Once it’s been boiling long enough that you can start to smell the earthy flavours of the rosemary, strain the water into a spray bottle and spray any areas around the garden that you want the pests to avoid.”
IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know.
Hornets and wasps – hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay.
Moths – acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent.
Flying ants – herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents.
Mosquitoes – plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.
And if you’re more concerned about the amount of ants in your home, then black pepper is your secret weapon.
“Sprinkling black pepper on work surfaces, door entrances, and between floor boards will keep the ants away,” Matt said.
“Mixed with a little flour and sprinkled around garden plants, black pepper will see all the bugs, previously munching away, disappear overnight.”
