August is the time when some summer bugs are still at their worst – or best - as the case may be. Marigolds, petunia and herbs can be used for control of “the good, the bad and the ugly.” Dried wormwood, yarrow, santolina, tansy, mint, and lavender are traditional moth repellents.
- If you find unwanted creatures in your kitchen, don’t reach for the ant and roach spray! (It will set off the environazis into the stratosphere.)
For example, discourage ants trailing in and out with sprigs of pennyroyal or wipe your counters with vinegar. It might make your kitchen smell like a pickle for a while, but it will wear off.
If your pet is bothered with fleas, try putting a drop of lemon oil, or oil of rosemary on its collar for flea control.
Moths in the closet? Hang a sachet bag in the closet with lavender and potpourri. It smells better than mothballs, and your clothes won’t smell like your great-great-grandfather’s Civil War uniform.
Bugs in your garden? Well, if the above remedies don’t seem to work in your area, then try hanging mothballs in a sachet bag, tied to a stake away from the plants. It won’t kill bugs, but sometimes the pungent odor of Grampa Jeremiah’s old Civil War uniform (and moth balls) is enough to ward off the most evil of bugs…
…and a few varmints.
