Termite Repellent Plants

Termites are one of the most destructive insects in the world and they make a complete mess of your property. They begin with mere small hollow tubes, which grow through the surface of ground and can penetrate even concrete floors. The emergence hole is covered with a cap and almost invisible unless detected. Termite colonies are also an important habitat for ants, beetles, and other wildlife – including birds who build their nests in dead wood that has been penetrated by termite colonies. With over 2,000 species of termites in the world it’s no easy task to select a repellent, but this article will point you toward a few strong candidates. Pest control companies charge a fortune to get rid of them, but you can easily repel termites yourself with plants.  Termites are social insects that live in colonies and often damage wood. Termites are eating machines and if they aren’t stopped, they can quickly destroy your home or business. If you want to learn about some plants that repel termites naturally and cost effectively, read this article. Termite repellent plants keep termites away from your home by using a bio-cultural approach. Depending on the species, some plants are known to emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which termites find offensive and will avoid. A few scientific studies have been done showing that some repellent plants can be successful with repelling termites and other wood-destroying insects.

 

Termite Repellent Plants

Introduction

Termite control is one of the many things you need to do to make your home pest-free. But using chemical pesticides could be a little too much for Mother Nature and might have harmful effects on your family too. For a natural way of getting rid of termites, use these plants that essentially repel termites:

• Sage
• Mint
• Neem
• Eucalyptus
• Lemon grass
• Cloves

Sage

Sage is a perennial herb that grows to about 3 feet tall. It’s known for its medicinal properties and also has insect-repelling properties, making it a great choice for repelling termites. Sage can be planted in garden beds or containers. If you are growing sage in a container, make sure to keep it moist until established. You can also try growing sage indoors if you don’t have enough space outdoors or want something more manageable than an herb garden.

Mint

Mint is a perennial herb that grows in most parts of the world. It is a member of the family Lamiaceae and is one of the most popular herbs in use today. Mint has been used since ancient times as a medicinal plant, culinary herb, and fragrance component in perfume making.

Mint has many different varieties including peppermint (Mentha x piperita) spearmint (Mentha spicata), apple mint (Mentha suaveolens), pineapple mint (Mentha suaveolens ‘Variegata’), chocolate mint (Mentha x villosa cv), orange balsamic mint (Mentha citrata cv), apple flavored sage lavender basil thyme rosemary clary sage oregano marjoram lemon balm lemon verbena hyssop thyme rose geranium lavender chamomile geranium forsythia sweet woodruff eucalyptus salvia

Neem

Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a tropical tree that is known to repel termites and ants. The leaves, twigs, flowers and seeds of the neem can be used to make oil or powder. Neem oil is a natural pesticide that works as a repellent for termites and ants. You can also use neem oil to repel mosquitoes because it contains chemical compounds called azadirachtins that are harmful to insects but not humans.

Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is a native Australian tree that has powerful insect repellent properties. The Eucalyptus tree has a very strong scent, and can be planted near your home or used as an indoor air freshener to repel insects.

Lemon grass

Lemon grass is a perennial grass that can reach a height of 3–4 feet (1–1.2 m) in warm climates and requires full sun to grow properly. Lemon grass is native to Southeast Asia, but is also grown as an ornamental plant throughout the world.

In addition to being a great repellent for termites, lemon grass is also high in vitamin C and iron—making it an excellent food source for humans as well as insects! It’s also rich in calcium and vitamin A, making it good for your bones, skin health, immune system, vision and more!

Cloves

Cloves, the dried flower buds of an evergreen tree, are used to make a spice. They are very strong, so you only need a few cloves per cup of water. Cloves are also used to make medicine.

Cloves act as repellents and may be effective in keeping termites away from homes and buildings. The volatile oils in cloves repel insects such as ants and termites by acting as irritants on the insect’s sense organs (olfactory system) or skin receptors that react with the oils’ chemical composition.

Camphor

Camphor is a natural repellent that can be used to help protect your home from termites. Camphor trees have strong, pungent and aromatic leaves. When the leaves are dried, they release the oils that comprise camphor oil. This oil is toxic to termites, making it an effective way to keep these pests away from your home.

Camphor has been used for centuries as an insecticide and repellent against mosquitoes, ticks and other insects because of its toxicity against bugs; however, it can also kill humans if ingested in large quantities or over time.

Sesame Seeds

Sesame seeds are an excellent source of calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc and B vitamins. They are also rich in protein and fiber. Sesame seeds can be added to salads or sprinkled on top of yogurt or oatmeal for a healthy boost.

Cardamom

Cardamom is a perennial herb native to India, but is now cultivated in tropical regions worldwide. It’s related to ginger and turmeric and has been used for thousands of years, both as medicine and as a spice. Cardamom is a good source of iron, vitamins C and B6, magnesium, potassium and manganese.

Cardamom has a strong sweet flavor that’s both bitter and pungent at the same time. Its aroma brings back memories of my grandmother’s kitchen where she would use it liberally in her cooking (along with cinnamon sticks) when we visited her home in Odisha every summer during winter vacations from school. I distinctly remember how she would serve us brewed cardamom tea with milk after dinner every night – something that was considered special treat back then!

Plant them to keep termites away.

It’s important to know that termites are attracted to wood, so if you have wooden deck furniture or outdoor furniture on your patio, you may want to consider covering them with pillows or cushions. You can also use repellent sprays to keep them away.

If you do have termites in your home and yard, it would be best for you not only as a homeowner but also as a concerned citizen of Earth and its inhabitants—including humans—to get rid of them ASAP!

You can either call an exterminator or try some natural remedies first by following these steps:

Conclusion

These are some of the plants that can be used as an insect repellent. This list is by no means exhaustive, but it will give you a good idea of what type of plants work well against termites and how they can benefit your garden.