While developing the Gardenerd Hand Care Kit, I met Sue Dwiggins. She’s a blender – an aromatherapy specialist with a company called Essential Three. She and her sister happened to be in town and were helping out at Soaptopia when the owners of the shop and I were working out the details of the new product. They helped create the signature scent that is in the Gardenerd Hand Care Kit.
We got to talking, and Sue asked me if I’d ever used essential oils in the garden. I had to confess that outside of dabbing a bit of lavender or eucalyptus on my pulse points on occasion, essential oils had never left the house. She asked if she could send me some information about how to use essential oils in the garden. I figured that since I know next to nothing about it, others might feel the same as well. So, here is the first of many garden and home tips for using essential oils from Sue (she found this story posted on the website listed below):
Lemongrass Essential Oil Works
Fruit flies are a real pain when they appear for the summer and fall. We used to have problems with them until I began spraying the house with a dilution of Lemongrass Essential Oil. I take a clean spray bottle that has not been used for other chemically laden products and place 10drops per 2 ounces of hot water in it. Shake it well and spray those little pests. Not only does it work on fruit flies, but it will also rid your home of spiders, ants, house flies and most unwanted creepy crawlers. Not only does it work, but it also smells great! Leaves a pleasant scent in the home. I use it outside around the sidewalk, the doors, windows, and anywhere I see creepy crawlers gathering.
Not long ago, as the winter gave way to spring, we had an infestation of little tiny ants in the bathroom. We are on the ground level of an apartment complex, so we get whatever crawls upon the earth. I sprayed heavily and we have not had any more problems. Only a week prior, the office sent out a word that they were spraying for spiders and ants. They did, but we still had ants and spiders in our home. However, we are now virtually bug-less! I was almost disappointed I only had to use the solution a couple of times to rid us of them! It works very well. Just make sure you get the real stuff.
Do you have a special essential oil that you use to combat garden or household pests? Share it with us here?
