Fleas and ticks are prevalent parasites that produce itchy bites and can transmit diseases to your pets. They feed on your pet’s blood, causing various health issues like allergic reactions, anemia, and fatal tick-borne diseases. Indications that your pet might have a flea and tick infestation are flea droppings in the fur, extreme licking, and scratching leading to hair loss, flea eggs on the fur, hot spots on the skin, and small dark spots on the belly that move.
Fleas and ticks are more frequent in the summer, and it is essential to protect your family and pets against them. There are many natural tick remedies for pets and pet flea treatments you can use. One of them is incorporating plants that repel and fight ticks and fleas into your garden, especially where your pets play:
1. Lavender
Lavender is a plant that belongs in the mint family and gets its name from the purple color of its blooms. It is indigenous to Mediterranean weather and thrives best when exposed to sunlight. It also prefers limited moisture. The plant is decorative in the garden, but it is mainly grown for its essential oil. The plant has a strong fragrance that many insects dislike, including ticks and fleas, making it an effective repellent. It is a perennial plant that will reach full bloom in the summer if planted in the spring.
2. Catnip
Catnip is a herb native to Europe, the Middle East, Central, and East Asia. It can grow to a height of around three feet and produces tiny green-brown leaves with serrated edges. Its flowers bloom from late spring to late fall. The plant is a garden favorite because it is hardy and deer resistant. A study carried by the American Chemical Society suggests that nepetalactone, the essential oil in the herb that gives it its distinctive smell, is ten times more effective than DEET, the chemical found in most commercial insect repellents at repelling mosquitoes. Cats love this herb because the nepetalactone stimulates their pheromones, making them euphoric.
3. Chamomile
Chamomile is a plant that belongs to the Asteraceae family and produces fragrant flowers which look like daisies. The plant grows fast and can bloom in just ten weeks. The ideal time to plant it is in spring. It is primarily famous for its therapeutic benefits, but gardeners also grow it because it repels fleas.
4. Fleawort or plantain
Fleawort, also known as plantain, is a herbaceous plant that can grow up to 60cm tall. It originated from Europe and Asia but has become naturalized to most regions with well-drained soils. Fleawort contains psyllium which has been used for centuries as a herbal laxative. Its leaves are also edible. However, it is a powerful insect repellent, especially for fleas.
5. Rosemary
Rosemary is a perennial herb indigenous to the Mediterranean region. It thrives in warm, humid climates and in direct sunshine. The plant also requires well-drained soil. It is, however, a resilient plant that can thrive in various environments with a bit of care. If you live in a cold and wet climate, put it in a big planter. This way, you can move it when necessary. Its leaves are needle-like, and the blooms are blue, white, or pink. It will grow into a big shrub that attracts bees and butterflies while repelling biting insects when planted in the ground. The plant has a lovely, earthy scent, indicating that it generates a lot of essential oils. These oils are repellent to ticks and fleas.