Repel Pests Naturally

Repel Pests Naturally

This winter in our area has been pretty mild.  Because of that, the mice have been a little active for those of us living in the country.  My daughter recently found evidence of a mouse in her car...AGAIN!  Last time, last year, she spent a lot of money in the shop because her wires were chewed up.  This time she went into action with a mousetrap in her vehicle, and within hours she caught the little culprit.  But now she was nervous.  She called us, what was she to do if there were more, she asked?

Well, here's where peppermint essential oil can come to the rescue.  Mice have a strong sense of smell, and any overwhelming scents will scare them off.  So not only peppermint, but eucalyptus and other strong scents will keep them from moving into a place.  Now here's the rub.  If they have already moved in, you have to get rid of them in some manner.  The smell is only going to deter newcomers from making your space their own.  So, move out the tenants and clean thoroughly getting rid of any nesting spots.  Once you have reclaimed your space, soak a few cotton balls with the peppermint essential oil and in my daughter's case, I told her to place it on the floor of the vehicle front and back.  If you have a problem in your home, place the cotton balls anywhere you found the little furry buggers; kitchen drawers, behind the trash can, etc.  Once the smell begins to dissipate, you will need to be vigilant and reapply newly soaked cotton balls.  It will be either weekly or monthly but make sure you stay on top of it.  

Actually, I find peppermint scent pleasing.  it can also do a lot of amazing things to help us while scaring off the rodents.  For one, the scent can relax your nasal passages, clearing out stuffiness and is helpful for allergies.  It is also useful in helping keep nausea at bay, as well as getting rid of headaches.  The leaf of the plant makes a wonderful tea, delicious as well as for helping digestive ills.

Can we grow it indoors so we can experiment with it in the winter?  A big yes! Peppermint is a great herb to grow indoors. There are only a few tips to follow to make sure your plant is healthy and happy.  First, choose a pot that is wider than it is tall and one that has a drainage hole. The reason is that peppermint will send out runners and will spread horizontally fairly quickly. As the runners grow, the mint spreads and you will have more to harvest. And another tip is to place your peppermint plant right in front of a window and give it as much direct sunshine indoors that you can. It will need at least four to six hours of direct sun for best results. Southern exposure windows are ideal. It is safe to say you’ll need to turn the pot frequently so that the plant grows straight; otherwise, it will be leaning all to one side towards the window. And if you lack a sunny windowsill, you can easily grow these plants under a grow light or fluorescent light.  If you are serious about growing an indoor peppermint garden, here's a link for more detailed information.  https://indoorhomegarden.com/a-comprehensive-guide-to-growing-peppermint-plants-indoors/

Herbs are so awesome in all their different ways we can use them. I actually believe that there is an answer to every problem we can experience through the various plants.  That's why I am into researching it to help me with my autoimmune issues.  I know some day I will find some herb or a mixture, that can actually help calm my immune system down.  Meantime, I think I might venture out to a garden center to find a peppermint plant to grow indoors.