Insects are beneficial to the environment in a multitude of ways—especially when they're outside where they belong. Ants, flies, mosquitoes, cockroaches and moths aren't so welcome when they're in your house.
There are some piratical things you can do, beginning in the garden, to keep that balance and minimise that awful mozzie singing near your ears at midnight. Mosquitoes need water to breed so if you have a pond, fountain or birdbath the first thing you should do each Summer is make sure there is fresh water or a flow of water in these to stop them becoming your own home ground mozzie breeding place.
If you don't have flyscreens on your windows and doors, or those you do have have tears in them, replacing that mesh will also keep the biters at bay indoors and restore sleep.
How to Make or Fix Fly-screens
Tools
Tape measure
Mitre box
Hacksaw with fine tooth blade
Spline roller and Stanley knife
Aluminium framing
Frame corners
Screen mesh
Spline
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Make The Frame
Measure your existing window or door and cut the aluminium frame to fit. A good tip is to use a mitre box. Once you have the lengths for the frame, you need to cut the corners at a 45 degree angle so the pieces fit together. It's also best to use a fine tooth blade with the hacksaw when sawing the corners. Insert the frame corners into the aluminium pieces and push the pieces together.
Fit The Mesh
Once the frame is together, it's time to fit the mesh to the frame. Lay the mesh over the frame and start with a short length. Tack the spline into the frame at the ends and the middle using the spline roller, before running it along the entire length. This will stop the mesh from bunching up. Repeat this step for the longer length, and then work your way around the frame until all the mesh is in place. A second pair of hands to keep the mesh taut while you are fixing it to the frame will make things easier here. Cut off the excess spline and trim the mesh with a Stanley knife.
Fix a Torn Flyscreen
To fix the mesh on an existing fly screen, simply remove the spline and mesh, replace the mesh, and follow the step as above.
All you need to make or repair your flyscreens are available from Johnson Bros. Mitre 10 at Mona Vale and Avalon stores from the frame pieces to the clips and mesh.
Install Some Herbs in Your Garden
Another practical way to keep the outdoors insects and spiders where they belong also relates to the garden and means becoming a herb gardener. There are a multitude of herbs that are known insect repellents, and herbs are one of the easiest plants to grow. Most need little maintenance, and many of them don't mind a little shade. Known as 'Companion Gardening' adding some herbs can keep a number of insects at bay as well as look after other plants in your garden that are susceptible to insects. The bonus here is, of course, you can then use these herbs in recipes, refreshing Summer drinks and Summer salads!
Many of these plants can be used as on-skin natural repellents as well. Before you do that, though, it’s advisable to make sure the plant’s natural properties will not adversely affect you. Determine your tolerance by rubbing crushed leaves on a small area on your forearm for several days prior to using on a larger scale.If you're craving a mosquito-free evening on your verandah or deck, think lemon. Lemongrass, lemon-scented Pelargoniums and lemon balm are some of the ones you can keep in pots or in the garden. Lemon balm is a mint and like all mints, you never have to think about it again after planting—except maybe to cut it back to keep it under control. Speaking of mint, rubbing it on your skin is also an effective way to repel biting bugs. Lemongrass also makes a great tea.
Another plant with outstanding mosquito-repellent properties that's effective against cockroaches as well is catnip.
Basil is one of the many herbs you can use to make a natural insect repellent so your summer fun isn't bothered by pesky insects. Basil insect repellent not only works well to keep stinging bugs away, but it has a pleasant aroma and can be grown easily and inexpensively. Basil is great to place near your outdoor grill or picnic tables, where flies like to gather.Remember basil needs to be watered at the roots and not the leaves and a good crop will ensue. You can also add a pot of basil on either side of doorways.
Mint pretty much repels anything, and that includes flies. Place a few sprigs around your home or when entertaining outdoors rub some on your skin.
Lemon thyme repels mosquitoes. This hardy herb can adapt to dry or rocky, shallow soil and will thrive in your herb garden, a rock garden or a front border as long as these are in sunny locations. The plant itself will not repel pesky mosquitoes; to release its chemicals, you must first bruise the leaves. To do this, simply cut off a few stems and rub them between your hands.
In fact lavender, tansy, rosemary and even cloves will keep them at bay. Lavender is especially useful at keeping moths our of clothes - Keep lavender growing in your deck planters or garden to keep the bugs away. You can also hang dried lavender in your wardrobe, and you will never have to worry about moths eating your clothes.
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Citronella, used in all sort of candles, torches, and insect repellents has proven its insect repelling value, but using the live plant is much more effective. Citronella is a large clumping grass that looks great in flower beds and verandah planters. Try to place your citronella plants near places where people gather for the best effect.
Some of these herbs can also be used to keep pests in the garden off favourite plants: Dill repels aphids, spider mites, cabbage moths and tomato hornworms. Oregano: Repels many pests and will provide ground cover and humidity for capsicums.
Adding a few or all of the above will add fragrance, beauty and edible plants to your garden. Planting them side by side in either your garden or in planter boxes that can be moved to where you want to use them; around the barbecue area or next to entrance doors, will provide year round insect repellents that are attractive - especially when flowering.
Johnson Brothers Mitre 10 have a wide range of herbs and seeds as well as planter boxes of all shapes and sizes to get your herb garden started. Pop into the Green Life Garden Centre at Mona Vale and get inspired.
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Wall of herb planter boxes. Monterrey Cafe in Auckland, New Zealand
Using Herbs Indoors to Repel Insects
There are other things in your kitchen that act as insect repellents as well.
Ants are one of the most frequent home invaders and one of the easiest to deal with in a sweet-smelling, natural way. Spraying lemon juice or vinegar along the path where they're entering the house works as well as insecticides. Mint and tansy are two herbs that are especially effective in keeping ants away. Crumble some leaves around trouble spots, place a few plants on a windowsill or even plant some just outside your door. Both are care-free hardy perennials that will come back year after year, and mint's purple flowers and tansy's yellow buttons will add color to your doorway. Hot pepper flakes are a bit messier and less aromatic and can get the job done as well, but not good if you have pets that may decide to 'clean them up' or little children who may be equally drawn to the bright red flakes.
In the kitchen, seal all your food in containers— especially attractive nuisances like sugar and flour. Bay Leaves, used for it's fragrance in cooking, is a scent moths, flies, mice, earwigs and cockroaches do not like. If you don't have fresh bay leaf plants, you can use dried bay leaves to get the same results and put some anywhere these insects have been spoiling food or an area - even in the flour or pasta container itself.
The most seen spider coming indoors during Summer is the huntsman which will seek out a dry corner prior to rain. These are harmless if left alone and will get rid of those mosquitoes who do sneak through.
Click on logo to visit Johnson Brothers Mitre 10 website
Johnson Bros Mitre 10 - Avalon (02) 9918 3315
Johnson Bros Mitre 10 - Mona Vale (02) 9999 3340
JBH Timber & Building Supplies (02) 9999 0333
JBH Fencing & Landscape Supplies (02) 9970 6333
www.johnsonbros.com.au Online store: jbhmv.com.au
