Tis the season here now in the U.S. and Canada, anyway, when the days are getting longer, trees are leafing up and plants all coming back to life. Along with this of course comes the not so good parts of spring and summer....the nasty mosquitoes, gnats, spiders, etc. Here is a good mosquito repellent, great for your yard, and you can also use it (in another recipe) for yourself to keep the nasty's far from you. Thankfully, I happen to like garlic, and don't really mind the aroma of it myself, but even more thankfully, when you spray this concoction in your yard and/or home--it loses its aroma quickly for us humans, is non toxic to pets - but the nasty pests listed above can still detect it and will stay far away!
GARLIC SPRAY FOR YARD AND GARDEN (& home too, I hear) NON TOXIC
the easiest way to do this is to purchase some garlic powder and mix with water to make some garlic water. Put this garlic water into a spray bottle - or for your yard, invest in a large sprayer you can find in Walmart (holds a gallon or more) or hardware stores. You will then spray it around your yard, porch and even inside your home to rid yourself of mosquitoes and gnats. If you can get ahold of some citronella, add a few drops of this to the mix as well--and spray it around to deter even more pests.
Supposedly, one application of the spray should hold pests away for a full 30 days.
If you want to make a fresh spray, rather then using the garlic powder, which could be old in the store--and not so potent, you would need about 1/4 pound of garlic (no need to peel the paper off the garlic bulbs, and put this into a blender. Then, mix with water, and drain it to get rid of any particles of garlic, and put this into the sprayer.
Also, if you use fresh garlic in your meals, save the paper around the garlic, and put this in your garden around some plants--to keep ants and such away from the plants, and thus yard/home.
If you love garlic--increase your garlic intake. Soon enough, your body will smell like garlic to these bugs and they will avoid you as well! It is suppose to also keep black flies away as well.
Another thing to do when you go to grill some food is to first throw some sage leaves and rosemary onto the grill fire--to burn and smoke. Bugs apparently don't like that aroma either.
Also, plant marigolds. the smell of marigolds deter not only insects but some animals too-such as rabbits. Basil, anise and coriander also will repel insects, so include these herbs in your garden as well.
If you are getting ready to paint your home outside, add a few drops of citronella to each gallon of paint--and it will help to keep the flying insects such as mosquitoes and others away from your home as well. Or so I read recently on a website. Worth a try anyway, eh?
Now...I would really love a natural remedy for ridding ones home and yard of stink bugs! Anyone know of one? We have these nasty little bugs at the new home. Still better then those God awful Wolf Spiders that we get at the farmhouse--but I still don't want stink bugs either!