My Garden

Large black flies

Last post 27-04-2008 3:49 PM by Ariadne. 7 replies.

• 26/04/2008 09:13 AM
  reddyreddy Location: Joined on: 06 Jan 2007 Posts: 29	Reply | Contact Hello, does anyone know of a natural deterant to large black flies? I'm thinking along the lines of citronella and mossies? For some reason we get a lot of big black flies in the summer so many I have to put nets on all the wondows and a fly curtain on the back door, they are outside and only come in when the doors/windows are open which in hot weather is a must. Help!

• 26/04/2008 07:27 PM

  In reply to

  Bog Myrtle Location: Southern Turkey Joined on: 07 Feb 2007 Posts: 346

  Reply | Contact Hallo reddyteddy, I can sympathise with you - we live in a farming village in Turkey, and there are maybe 3 weeks of the summer when black flies can be a real nuisance in the house, and I confess that they are the one thing I really, really cannot stand ! I grow basil in pots (any basil, the type doesn't matter), and put one pot on each windowsill,  and several on the kitchen windowsill, and that keeps all but the odd one from coming in. And also a couple of pots on the table if we're eating outside, (which we do most of the time in summer), and that keeps the blighters away when we're eating, too.

• 26/04/2008 08:52 PM	In reply to
  Phot's-Moll Location: The sunny South coast. Joined on: 06 Jan 2007 Posts: 1,817	Reply | Contact Tansy and lemon balm are also supposed to help repel them. Maybe any strong smelling herb would work? Could be just coincidence, but my garden is full of herbs (front and back) and we don't get trouble with flies.  Whether you think you can do a thing, or think you cannot, you are right.

• 26/04/2008 09:44 PM

  In reply to

  Bog Myrtle Location: Southern Turkey Joined on: 07 Feb 2007 Posts: 346

  Reply | Contact Hi Phot's - lemon balm, aaarrgghhhh! I don't know if it would stop flies in the house  or not, but a word of warning to anybody considering growing it, this plant is a thug, the herbal equivalent of a football hooligan.  I grew some from seed some years ago, and whilst it behaved reasonably well for a time, the past couple of years it has decided to seed everywhere - I must have howked literally hundreds of seedlings from the herb garden, the paths, the borders this past couple of weeks alone. Sad really, because it makes a nice compact bushy plant, but still, it's one to wish on your enemies...(and if you gave some to your friends, they'd become your enemies!)

• 26/04/2008 09:53 PM	In reply to
  Phot's-Moll Location: The sunny South coast. Joined on: 06 Jan 2007 Posts: 1,817	Reply | Contact I cut mine to the ground every few weeks. That gives me fresh leaves, stops it growing too big and doesn't allow it to flower. I don't waste the bits I cut off - I stuff them in a chicken before roasting.  Whether you think you can do a thing, or think you cannot, you are right.

• 27/04/2008 07:55 AM	In reply to
  Bog Myrtle Location: Southern Turkey Joined on: 07 Feb 2007 Posts: 346	Reply | Contact Aahhhh Phot's, so that's the secret, obvious really when you think about it, but then all the best ideas usually are! Thank you, But can I be ruthless enough to do it, that's the next question?  Maybe a compromise, and just cut them all back before they flower, that would solve it. (Don't suppose you'd like to bring your secateurs to Turkey?)

• 27/04/2008 08:13 AM

  In reply to

  Phot's-Moll Location: The sunny South coast. Joined on: 06 Jan 2007 Posts: 1,817

  Reply | Contact I'd love to - just ring my boss and explain will you? It's not ruthless, honest. It's more like a hair cut. Lemon balm is the kind of plant that likes to look really different after a hair cut rather than just going for a light trim. As you've got lots of the stuff, you could try cutting some hard back on a regular basis and being more gentle with the rest, to see which method you prefer.  Whether you think you can do a thing, or think you cannot, you are right.

• 27/04/2008 03:49 PM	In reply to
  Ariadne Location: Contemplating on the compost heap Joined on: 05 Apr 2008 Posts: 75	Reply | Contact Use hedging shears on the lemon balm, its a lot quicker than snipping & the plant doesn't seem to mind! Sitting, spinning threads of stories & weaving the colourful strands of life.