View Single Post
  #4   Report Post  
Old 29-06-2009, 12:30 PM posted to uk.rec.gardening
Stewart Robert Hinsley Stewart Robert Hinsley is offline
external usenet poster
 
First recorded activity by GardenBanter: Jul 2006
Posts: 1,811
Default Herb or plant that repels flies?

In message , David in Normandy
writes
Does anyone know of a herb or plant that can be rubbed onto the skin
that repels biting flies? I swatted four horse flies yesterday while
working in the garden. Luckily they seem fairly slow and clumsy and are
generally easy to swat before they take a bite. However, I still
managed to get a bite on my leg. I dislike having to wear jeans in the
garden on hot days rather than shorts just because of the biting insects.

The wife has a terrible reaction when bit - the last bite made her
whole forearm swell up and go red, it was touch and go whether she
needed anti-biotics, but on this occasion the swelling went down after
a few days.


Not anti-histamines? or corticosterioids?

On other occasions she hasn't been so lucky.

Anyone recommend any leaves that can be rubbed on the skin that really
work as a fly deterrent? It doesn't matter if they smell horrible
because it is only for use at home in the garden. If such a plant
exists it will be well worth buying and growing.

Bog myrtle (Myrica gale) is rumoured to repel midges.
--
Stewart Robert Hinsley