Lemongrass is a popular ingredient in Thai cooking.
Lemongrass is a type of herb widely used in Asian cuisine for its subtle citrus flavor. This herb contains an essential oil called citronella, which also makes it popular for use in natural and homemade insect repellent sprays. Not only can the essential oil from lemongrass be used to repel pests, but the plant itself can be used as an insect and rodent repellent if you use it strategically in your home or garden. Does this Spark an idea?
How Lemongrass Repels Pests
Like many herbs, lemongrass contains a pungent essential oil that acts as a natural pest repellent. The name of this essential oil is citronella. Many pests are attracted to sweet smells, such as those emitted by nectar-producing flowers and by certain types of food, but the sharp odor produced by lemongrass has the opposite effect. While lemongrass may not bring any actual harm to insect and rodent pests, if it is used in the home or garden its scent can be enough to deter them.
What Pests Does Lemongrass Repel?
The essential oil derived from lemongrass is most effective for repelling mosquitoes, but it could be used against other pests. This essential oil is also effective against flies, gnats, ticks and ants. Though the repellent properties of lemongrass and lemongrass oil are most proven against insects, it may also be effective against rodent pests, such as mice and rats. Simply bringing lemongrass plants into the home may not repel rodents, but sprinkling clippings of the plant or spraying the oil along baseboards and other areas mice are known to travel may help repel these pests.
Use Lemongrass to Repel Pests
Lemongrass is popular as a natural insect repellent because it is effective and much safer than chemical-laden commercial repellents and insecticides. In order to use lemongrass to repel pests from your garden, plant it as a companion plant near the plants that are most affected by insect pests or use it as a border around your entire garden. Bringing small, potted lemongrass plants into your home may help repel insect and rodent pests indoors, though this plant's repellent properties are proven more toward insects than rodents.
Homemade Lemongrass Insect Repellent
Citronella, the essential oil derived from lemongrass, is a common ingredient in many natural insect repellent spray recipes. In order to create your own insect repellent spray, simply combine one pint of water with a few drops of several essential oils, such as citronella, eucalyptus, tea tree oil and citrus. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and apply it directly to your skin or clothing or spray it on your plants to help protect them from insect pests.
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