Preventing Zika's Spread Without Chemicals
Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Health officials are asking everyone to be proactive against mosquitoes because of the potential spread of the Zika virus.
It's been a wet spring in some parts of the United States, so you may already be noticing more mosquitoes around your home.
For many, the first line of defense is lathering up with bug spray or calling an exterminator. But there is a way to fight the bugs without all the chemicals.
"Instead of spraying chemical treatment like DEET on yourself, on your skin, a lot of people are going to more natural remedies, and that includes a lot of herbs," said Carla Grogg with Grogg's Green Farm.
Herbs like lemongrass, lavender and rosemary release a scent that repels mosquitos. So does bee balm, a pretty purple flower native to Oklahoma. Simply planting them close to your patio can do the trick.
"Yes you can have some wonderful annual color, but interplant some rosemary and some lemongrass in there with them," said Grogg.
You can also use a plant called catmint by ripping the leaf off the plant, crushing it between your fingers and rubbing it directly on your skin. And if gardening isn't really your thing, don't worry.
"All of the plants that we mentioned are very easy to grow, and a lot of them don't like a whole lot of attention. So you can just kind of let them go and do their own thing," said Grogg.
Proving it may be easier than you think to keep your family bug-bite free.
If parts of your yard tend to get kind of swampy, your local plant nursery professional may be able to recommend certain plants that are good for soaking up all that extra water.
Click here for more tips on Zika prevention by the Florida Department of Health.
