Garlic

[DianneC]

I've used fly predators and fly traps but was curious what people's experience with garlic is for flies, and especially for mosquitoes. We've had such a mild spring and typically go from mud to flies anyway that I'm thinking it would be a good idea. Any brands make a difference?

[Michelle Clarke]

I have known lots and lots of people to use powdered or granules and not have much, if any, benefit with the flies. It is my understanding, from a holisitic view, that in that form, your benefit is only the for the anti-bacterial properties. In order to get "repelling" properties, you must feed it raw.

I have found that my horses HATE it raw (well, they even hate it in dry form!), but I do keep a jar of garlic cloves soaked in raw honey. Soaking for three weeks releases all the oil into the honey and it is available to the horse for both anti-bacterial and repellent properties. At that point I usually just use the honey, but I have gotten some of the horses to take the cloves to. You can also use back strap molasses to soak them in, but dealing with the sugar issue and also the fact of getting all the added benefits of the honey, I just stick to that.

I have not really focused on mosquitoes and that is something we'll need to work on this year being so wet. I'll let you know if I come up with anything and keep me updated if you find something that works! I have a natural spray with essential oils that I use that works, but hard to keep everyone sprayed enough and all the time!

[dunbnwild]

I used a powdered form two summers ago and didn't notice any difference. Haven't noticed anything drastic with my fly predators either, but am keeping it up. The biting fly trap from Epps does an awesome job of getting all sorts of flies, especially the evil biting ones. It does require some cleanup a few days a week, but well worth both the time and the expense of the unit IMO.

[lilnagy]

I fed garlic one whole spring and summer season, and didn't see any difference in biting bugs. I don't remember the brand, but it was sold as specifically for horses. The horses smelled like Italian food :-)