11 Powerful Plants That Naturally Keep Fleas Away

Fleas are not only annoying, but they can also be very bad for your dogs’ health and comfort. A lot of people use chemical treatments, but more and more people are looking to natural ones to protect their families and pets from harsh chemicals. Luckily, there are a number of plants that are known to effectively keep fleas away.

Not only do these plants naturally keep pests away, but their pretty colors and nice smells will also make your yard or home look better. There are many plants in nature, like marigolds, mint, lavender, and rosemary, that can help keep fleas away. This piece will talk about 11 plants that are good at keeping fleas away, how they work, and easy ways to use them around the house. These natural methods are a safe and eco-friendly way to get rid of fleas, whether you want to do it inside or outside.

1. Lavender

The smell of lavender is known to calm people down, and it also works well as a natural bug control. The strong smell that this plant gives off is nice to people but very unpleasant to fleas and many other insects. Compounds in lavender, such as linalool and eucalyptol, are poisonous to fleas and can mess up their sense of smell, making it harder for them to find hosts.

You can make a barrier to keep pests out by planting lavender in your yard or putting growing lavender near your doors and windows. You can also dry lavender flowers and put them in bags to put around your house or pet areas. Lavender oil can be used to keep bugs away as a spray or by adding it to baths for pets. Always make sure the oil is dampened enough so that it doesn’t irritate the skin, especially of pets.

2. Mint

Because it smells so strong, mint, especially spearmint and peppermint, is another strong flea repellent. For fleas, the menthol in mint is unpleasant, so it naturally kills them. Fleas use their sense of smell to find hosts, and the strong smell of mint makes them confused and turns them away. Planting mint around the outside of your house or in places where your pets like to roam can help keep fleas away.

To keep fleas out of your home, you can also crush mint leaves and sprinkle them around floors and beds. When mixed with water, mint essential oil works well as a bug spray. However, mint can grow quickly, so it’s best to keep it in pots so it doesn’t take over your yard.

3. Rosemary

Rosemary is a tasty plant that can also keep fleas away very effectively. The woodsy smell and essential oils in it kill fleas naturally by messing up their nervous systems. You can plant rosemary in your yard, use dried rosemary as a powder for pet beds, or even boil rosemary in water to make a rinse for pets that keeps fleas away.

When used properly, the chemicals cineole and camphor in rosemary can keep fleas away. To make a rosemary dip for dogs, boil rosemary leaves in water, strain the liquid, and let it cool down before putting it on the dog’s fur. But you shouldn’t put rosemary on your cat directly because some of its chemicals can be harmful to them.

4. Lemongrass

Citronella, a natural oil found in lemongrass, keeps fleas, mosquitoes, and other pests away. The fruity smell covers up the smell of hosts, making it hard for fleas to find food. Grow lemongrass in pots or a yard. You can use fresh lemongrass or oil made from it. There are two ways to get rid of fleas: crush lemongrass leaves and put them in places where fleas like to live, or use lemongrass oil mixed with a carrier oil to make a spray.

This plant grows best in warm places with dirt that drains well and lots of sunshine. A lot of natural flea repellents for pets contain lemongrass oil. But always check to see if you are allergic to it, and never use essential oils on cats without first getting permission from a vet.

5. Basil

While basil is commonly used in cooking, it can also be used to keep insects away, including fleas. Fleas are scared off by the strong smell of basil. Some types, like sweet basil and cinnamon basil, work better than others. Basil leaves give off smelly oils, like estragole and linalool, that fleas can’t stand.

Basil can be grown in pots near the front door, or the leaves can be used to make a DIY spray that keeps fleas away. Fresh basil leaves can also be put near pet beds or rubbed on a dog’s fur (as long as it doesn’t itch) to keep fleas away. Basil, like mint, grows best where it is warm and sunny, and it needs to be watered often.

6. Catnip

Catnip is known for making cats happy, but it also keeps fleas away very well. It has nepetalactone in it, which is an insecticide that some tests show works better than DEET at keeping fleas and mosquitoes away. Catnip is easy to grow in most areas, and it does best in dirt that drains well and gets lots of sun.

You can use fresh catnip leaves inside, or you can crush them up and put the oily leaves around where your pet sleeps. Cats may like rolling around in it, but this helps the oils that keep bugs away get all over their fur. Catnip oil can also be sprayed on things, but be careful when using it on cats so they don’t get too excited.

7. Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums have pyrethrin in them, which is a natural poison that fleas and other bugs can’t handle. Because pyrethrin targets fleas’ nerve systems, chrysanthemums are one of the best natural ways to get rid of fleas. There are many bright flowers that can be grown around the house to keep fleas away.

But because pyrethrin is so strong, you should be careful using chrysanthemums around pets. The plant itself is generally not poisonous, but taking too much of it or using extracts in the wrong way can be. Synthetic versions of pyrethrin are often used in flea products, but the natural substance in chrysanthemums can work just as well in a yard.

8. Sage

Sage has a strong, earthy smell that, when used correctly, can help keep fleas away. The essential oils in sage leaves have chemicals in them that are poisonous to fleas, such as camphor and thujone. Like incense, burning dried sage can help get rid of fleas and other pests in a room while also making it smell nice.

To keep bugs away, you can also put fresh sage leaves near windows and pet beds. Sage can be spread on rugs and then cleaned up after a few hours after it has dried and been broken up. When burning sage, keep an eye on your pets to make sure they don’t get lung problems. Other than that, sage is a natural and safe way to keep pests away.

9. Marigolds

Not only are marigolds pretty, but they are also very good at keeping fleas away because they contain pyrethrum, a natural chemical that is similar to pyrethrin. They have a strong smell that keeps fleas, mosquitoes, aphids, and ticks away. Putting marigolds around the outside of your house or in flower beds can help keep fleas away.

These flowers do best in open places and are simple to take care of. You can also dry marigold flowers and spread them around the house in places where fleas like to live. Marigolds are usually safe, but don’t let your pet eat them because it might make them sick.

10. Eucalyptus

Eucalyptus is another plant that is very good at keeping fleas away because it has a strong, menthol-like smell and an active ingredient called eucalyptol. Fleas stay away from places with eucalyptus because it smells so bad. Some yards aren’t big enough for eucalyptus trees, but smaller types of eucalyptus plants in pots are fine.

Cedar oil or leaves can also be used around the house. But eucalyptus oil is very dangerous for pets, especially cats and dogs, so it should only be used very carefully. Do not put eucalyptus oil directly on pets, and do not use it in small areas that do not have enough airflow.

11. Pennyroyal

Pennyroyal comes from the mint family and has been used for a long time to keep fleas away. The plant gives off a strong smell that keeps fleas away. But pennyroyal also has a chemical in it called pulegone that is harmful to both people and animals in big amounts.

So, even though it works as a defense, it needs to be used very carefully. Fleas can be kept down in the yard by planting pennyroyal in places that pets can’t get to. Do not put pennyroyal oil or crushed leaves on your pet directly. Before using any flea control product with pennyroyal, you should always talk to a doctor.

In the End

Instead of using poisons, it’s easy, cheap, and good for the environment to use plants to keep fleas away. A lot of these plants not only keep fleas away, but they also make your home smell better and look better. Putting flea-repelling plants like mint, rosemary, and lavender in your yard or indoors will protect your family from pests naturally while also being good for their health. Some plants should not be near pets, but the right placement and use can make a big difference in keeping fleas away. You can get rid of fleas in an eco-friendly way, and it’s also a good idea.

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