Is there anything worse than sitting down to enjoy a picnic only to find that every fly in a 10-mile radius decides to come along and enjoy it too? Whether you are picnicking in the garden or enjoying a lazy afternoon at a local park or the beach, these flowers will help to keep flies away, so you don’t have to worry about any nasty bugs and critters.
Either plant them in your garden or use them (and their scent!) in a posy in a jam jar at your next picnic to (hopefully) keep it fly-free!
Herbs that keep flies away
Planting herbs is a great way for the keen cook to add a touch of their own to their dishes or you can sit back and admire their scent on a Sloane & Sons teak wooden bench, without being bothered by flies.
So, what should you plant?
Basil
Fantastic for repelling houseflies, a pot of basil on the window ledge, basil in the garden or even around lawn edges can help to keep the pesky flies away. You can also pick the leaves, crush them and then allow them to steep in 4 fluid ounces of very cheap vodka – this makes a perfect insect repellent! Just spritz onto your skin and enjoy your picnic.
Lavender
Keeping away moths, fleas and flies, this sometimes pungent-plant has for centuries, been nature’s fragrance used in the home. Its scent is thought to relax us, too, and so no wonder it finds its way into pillows and soaps. Use lavender oil for everything from nourishing your skin to getting a better night’s sleep to applying to exposed skin to be fly-free on the patio.
Lemongrass
Containing citronella flies simply hate the smell of lemongrass thus, citronella candles are a common sight at picnics and BBQs. Lemongrass can be grown, although it is a tall plant with a wide growing habit. In the UK, it may struggle to get a foothold in our less-than-tropical temperatures. Use the oil and candles for a great effect.
Mint
It may go down a treat with freshly boiled new potatoes, but many insects are not attracted to the smell of mint. Crush the leave the release its oils and use in apple cider vinegar or a cheap vodka to make a handy insect repellent.
Other herbs that insects and flies are not keen on include rosemary, great for protecting your vegetables, too, as well as chives, dill, fennel, lemon balm, oregano, parsley and thyme.
Flowers that keep flies away
Grabbing a bunch of flowers or using their oils in sprays make for a pleasant perfume, as well as an effective insect repellent which will keep flies away and allow you to use your garden without having to swing your fly squatter like a madman.
Alliums
Worth considering as they are considered a wide-spectrum insect repellent that keeps flies away from your alfresco picnic as well as all kinds of critters from your prized blooms, vegetables and fruit shrubs.
Chrysanthemums
Everything from lice to bedbugs is, allegedly, repelled by chrysanthemums, a pretty flower, the species and varieties of which remain popular with gardeners and florists. In fact, its scent is commonly added to many chemical repellents and cleaning products, including pet shampoos. However, some species can be carcinogenic when on the skin, more so over long-term use so know how to use it.
Marigolds
Problem with rabbits? Consider planting a border of marigolds. Notice an increase of nuisance flies? Consider planting marigolds. A well-known plant to keep flies away, this annual flower is often used in hanging baskets and containers, making them the perfect choice for placing near doorways and patios.
Nasturtiums
Super easy to grow, nasturtiums are loved by some insects but avoided by others, irritating flies and midges just two of them. These clever plants release an airborne chemical that wafts through the air, undetected by humans, but repellent to flies and other insects. A fantastic spreader, they do equally as well in pots as they do in borders.
Petunias
Again, a favourite for the hanging basket, the trumpet flower of the petunia can bring welcome colour but not only that, it is another of nature’s pesticides. Requiring little effort to grow, you may find that fewer midges and other insects loiter around the patio area when you have these plants in your pots and baskets.
Other plants include geraniums and daffodils, perfect for giving irritating flies the heave-ho from your next picnic.
Flies are a nuisance and because they like the same stuff that we do, as soon as you whip off the picnic box lid, along they come. But with these inexpensive ideas for using nature’s insecticides and pesticides, tell the flies to buzz off!
This post was brought to you by Sloane & Sons who stock a wide range of teak garden benches that make enjoying the garden a real pleasure.
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