instead of citronella

[gavilan]

partner doesn't like the smelll of citronella ... has anyone any ideas for what might deter flies around patio table ... home remedies welcome!

[spanish_lad]

Do you mean the candles or the plant ? We have the plant all the time and candles while we are eating there. Or oil burners with citronella, which isn't as strong

[gavilan]

hadnt thought of growing the plant ... will find some and do that ... originally was thinking of something to wipe on wooden surface of patio table ... thanks for that info s_l ... good thought

[chrissiehope]

I have a feeling either lavender or rosemary ? Maybe google it ?

[gavilan]

rosemary oil sounds worth a try ... and in this heat, fresh cut roaemary should dry quickly! ... then boil ... vanos a ver

[El Cid]

Basil is a centuries old fly repellant. Also sage. Basil plants are cheap to buy and grow strongly.

Sid

[gavilan]

el cid ... ?do yu just put Basil plants on the table ..or rub in crushed leaves?

[El Cid]

Just put the pot on the table. Rubbing the leaves on the table is worth a try.

Sid

[gavilan]

thanks for that Sid ... will try both!

[spanish_lad]

It's not basil that we have, I will look for the name

[El Cid]

Its Albahaca in Spanish. Most viveros sell it in small pots.

Sid

[ashtondav]

Basil definitely for flies. But the damned mozzies ain’t scared of it

[spanish_lad]

It's not basil that we have, I will look for the name

On the side of the pot it says 'geranio citrobella'. They cost €2.45 each from the garden centre. It has a cute little picture of a fly with the fly crossed out on it.

[spanish_lad]

This one, but $%#&£€ hell don't get it on amazon, it's a fortune !

Planta Repelente Mosquitos Geranio Aroma Limón Planta Natural para Terraza y Jardín https://amzn.eu/d/1cfTuQn

[gavilan]

update: first I cut off some rosemary branches, dried in sun and boiled 1 cup of said needles in 2 quarts of water ... when cool, put in spray bottle and used on wooden tabletop ... also bought 2 basil plants ... now also on table ... havent yet found the lemon geranium which s_l mentioned ... but is on my list ... many thanks for all your suggestions ... much appreciated ... will report on progress of a fly-free zone in due course

[spanish_lad]

bottom corner of page 10, in the lidl catalog / pamphlet for this week. The plants are in stock, reduced to 1,99 each.

im not sure the link will work, but here it is : https://www.lidl-flyer.com/folleto-de-a ... er/page/10

[gavilan]

thanks for that info s_l ... have just ordered from amazon 3 different types of oil ... eucalyptus, clove and lavender ... am hoping one of them wiped over table top will keep those pesky flies away!

[gavilan]

meanwhile ... we have found a crude but effective alternative ... stretch out a sticky fly paper and attach, with masking tape, to a long piece of wood and leave on table ... not pretty but, as I said, most effective!!!