Spearmint belongs to the mint family and greatly resembles peppermint. Spearmint has several uses. It is used to make products like toothpaste and sweets. It is also used as a herb to add flavor to different dishes.
5 Best-Selling Spearmint Tea
Spearmint has a strong scent too, which makes it ideal for repelling some harmful insects. Some of the pests that spearmint repels include:
1. Rodents
Rodents like mice and rats may cause severe damages in your home. They destroy crops and other items in your house. They are also annoying and may transmit harmful diseases. Mice and rats depend on their sense of smell for survival. The scent of spearmint will drive away from the irritating rodents from your home. Place fresh spearmint leaves on areas where the rodents love.
You can use paper towels to place the leaves and replace them after they dry out. Spearmint oil is also useful in keeping rodents away. Soak the oil in cotton balls, and spread them across entry points of the rodents.
2. Fleas
Fleas are tiny and may bite humans and pets. If you have pets, you are at a higher risk of a flea infestation in your home. They also live in fabrics. Fleas reproduce at a very high rate and may become a nuisance within a concise period. Apart from their irritating bites, fleas may also cause dangerous diseases.
If you identify fleas at a particular spot in your home, it is highly likely that they have already spread to other areas too. Another method of getting rid of fleas is by spreading fine salt all over your floors if they have gotten into your house.
Grow spearmint in your yard, to keep fleas away, and keep your pets safe. Grow them indoors too in containers, to keep away the pests from your house.
3. Moths
Moths may contaminate food by excreting on them. The powdery substance they produce can also cause contamination and cause allergic reactions when they get into the fabric, and then someone wears it.
Moths hide in cracks, crevices and other areas where they cannot be spotted easily. They also reproduce very fast. Harvest spearmint leaves and wrap them in loose leaf tea bags, and hang them in areas where moths love.
Growing spearmint indoors will also keep the insects away.
4. Cabbage looper
Cabbage loopers may attack broccoli, melons, cauliflower, cabbages, and other vegetables. They chew on the leaves of vegetables, and leave excretes, which greatly affects their appearance.
There are chemical pesticides that effectively get rid of these pests.
There are also natural remedies to protect your plants from harmful insects. Growing spearmint around your vegetable garden will keep cabbage loopers away.
Garlic water is also effective in repelling insects. Mix garlic juice and fish oil. Add water to the mixture and put the mixture in a spray bottle. Spray on the areas where moths love to stay and repeat the procedure frequently, to get rid of them completely.
5. Squash Bugs
Squash bugs attack melons, pumpkins, and other plants in the squash family. Adult bugs hide under rocks and other debris in the garden. They feed on the leaves and suck sap from them. They also lay eggs on leaf surfaces that hatch into larvae. The larvae are very agile and will feed on the plants too.
The insects hate the scent of spearmint, and won’t stay in a garden where the herb is growing.
Using trellises for your squash plants will also reduce the risk of the infestation since the bugs love attacking plants spreading on the ground.
If your garden is already infested, you can spray the affected plants using insecticidal soaps before your spearmint matures.
6. Aphids
Aphids are one of the most common garden pests and can cause significant damage to your crops. They may cause stunted growth, wilting, and death in extreme cases. Fortunately, it is easy to control these pests. They suck sap from the leaves and may cause leaf loss too. They also leave secretions on the leaf surfaces, which makes them susceptible to disease-causing fungus. Aphids may also transmit diseases from affected plants to healthy ones.
The aroma of spearmint will keep the pests away from your garden. You can also compliment this pest control method by using water and air traps.
7. Flies
Flies may contaminate food products and cause diseases like dysentery and cholera. Some fly species, may also bite and cause pains to humans and animals. They also lay multiple eggs and reproduce at a very high rate.
Grow spearmint around your house, or indoors to keep away these irritating pests away. Sanitation also helps prevent the infestation of flies in your home.
Put trash in sealed containers, since they may attract flies when left open. You can also supplement the control method by placing fly traps in your house.
How Does Spearmint Repel Pests?
Spearmint repels pests in its original form. Just like other mint species, spearmint is hardy and easy to grow. You can grow it from seeds or plants. The herb can be grown directly into the soil or in containers. When growing in containers, apply liquid fertilizer every month.
Spearmint prefers well-drained and fertile soil. Add compost to the soil to make it more fertile. Since it can be invasive, control its spread by uprooting plants that have spread to other areas.
Spearmint Essential Oil
Spearmint oil is derived from the spearmint plant. It is a multipurpose oil that has other uses apart from repelling insects. Some of the uses include:
• It is used to relieve various stomach problems like indigestion and nausea.
• It contains antioxidants that protect the body from free radicals that may cause cancer.
• It relieves hormonal imbalances in women.
• It prevents the growth of unwanted hair in women.
• The oil aids in memory improvement too.
• It lowers blood sugar levels in individuals suffering from diabetes.
Benefits of Spearmint
Spearmint has several uses. Growing it in your easy on both indoors and outdoors, and does not require special maintenance. Having them in your home means you will be repelling pests and have a supply of fresh herbs for your kitchen. Also, many health benefits have been attributed to spearmint, and here are some of those:
1. Good for Digestive Upsets
Spearmint is often used for relieving people that are experiencing indigestion, nausea, vomiting, and gas. It has a natural compound called carvone that can strongly inhibit muscle contractions that makes them relieve digestive upsets.
2. High in Antioxidants
Spearmint has a large amount of natural chemical compound called antioxidants which shows excellent protection against free radicals and repair damage caused by it.
3. Aid Women With Hormone Imbalances
For some women who are experiencing hormone imbalances, drinking spearmint tea provides relief. Study shows that spearmint tea can decrease male hormones and increases female hormones necessary for ovulation.
4. Reduce Facial Hair
Drinking spearmint tea can help reduce the growth of unwanted hair like in your face, chest or abdomen.
5. Help Reduce Stress
Study shows that spearmint extract can decrease anxiety and improve sleep. In addition, spearmint leaves contain menthol that can help promote relaxation and sedative effect on our body.
Frequently Asked Questions
Water spearmint frequently and do not let the soil dry. Mulch your plants to conserve moisture and avoid the need for frequent watering.
Just like several species of mint, spearmint is not toxic to pests. It will not cause any harm to them if they ingest it or come into contact with it.
Mint does not require a lot of light and will grow well with natural light from a windowsill. However, if you place your plant in a completely dark room, add a grow light to ensure it has the proper growing conditions.
Mint will attract beneficial insects like predatory wasps in a garden and repels harmful ones. Predatory wasps are beneficial since they eat harmful garden pests.
Spearmint allergic reactions are very rare. However, some people may experience the reactions if they consume it or come into contact with it. Some of the allergy symptoms include itchy throat, abdominal pains, and mouth tingling. Seek medical help if you experience the symptoms.
