Since it's used to keep insects away, homeowners often wonder if lime can be used to keep larger pests away, including rodents and snakes. Some people believed that the strong smell would deter these animals. No evidence has been found, however, to indicate that lime is effective to keep certain types of wildlife away.
First Saturday Lime can be used on any insects with an exoskeleton, including ants, fleas, ticks, mites, lice, aphids, beetles, spiders, cockroaches, etc.. It can also repel slugs, snails, and mosquitoes.
The citrus scent of lemons and limes not only refreshes the home but can be used to repel rats. Rats dislike any strong citrus smells and tastes. This includes the refreshing smell of lemons, grapefruit, and oranges in an essential oil form. Rats will try to avoid entering areas with an overpowering citrus smell.
At the Fifth Annual Virginia Sustainable Agriculture conference, several noted producers and writers told how hydrated lime applied to the foliage of vegetable crops repelled a wide variety of insects including aphids, flea beetles, Colorado potato beetles, squash bugs and cucumber beetles.
Lime powder, whether in calcium hydroxide (Lime-sulfur) form or calcium carbonate (garden lime) is a very useful gardening product for killing small insects, fungi and pest plants. There is however no evidence to suggest that lime powder actually works for exterminating rats.
Some people believed that the strong smell would deter these animals. No evidence has been found, however, to indicate that lime is effective to keep certain types of wildlife away. The risks of lime to these animals are similar to the dangers of putting lime on your yard and having pets.
Crawlspace odors are usually caused by a leaky sewer pipe, damp fiberglass insulation, dead animals, mold, cardboard and debris, to name a few possibilities. Lime powder, found at home stores, garden centers and some pet stores, can be used to absorb strong odors that might be coming from a crawlspace.
Non-caustic powdered lime will likely cause some mild irritation should it come into contact with the skin. Hydrated lime, on the other hand, may cause pets to develop dermatitis — itching, rash and dehydrated skin. Paw pads are at risk, too.
Limes are not safe for canine consumption. All parts of these green sour citrus fruits are toxic to dogs and can cause lime poisoning. The high amounts of citric acid and the essential oils in limes can irritate your dog's digestive system.
Garden lime: ants hate lime, but don't over do this in your garden. Always check the pH of your soil before adding lime. Cinnamon: Ants hate cinnamon. Sprinkle it around your plants to deter them.
Fresh fruit can be used as a treat. Rats often enjoy apples, bananas, blueberries, cherries (pitted), cranberries, grapes, kiwi, melon, papaya, peaches, pears, pineapple, plums and strawberries. Please note that male rats should not have citrus (lemon, lime, orange, and grapefruit).
Due to their highly developed smell, mice and rats are highly susceptible to certain smells. Cotton balls soaked with peppermint oil, beaver oil, and citronella oil, could migrate them outside the home or less pungent environments around the property.
Anyway, roof rats are not exactly picky eaters. And they have plenty of taste buds and a highly developed sense of aversion to things they don't like. Roof rats prefer citrus and avocados, but they also eat pomegranates, peaches and who knows what else.
Lime: Create a mixture of snake-repellent lime and hot pepper or peppermint and pour it around the perimeter of your home or property. Snakes don't like the smell of the mixture, and the fumes are also itchy on their skin.
According to Virginia State University, calcitic and dolomitic lime are nontoxic to humans, wildlife and pets. However, because all types of lime dust can irritate the lungs, eyes and skin, you should wait until the application of lime has been incorporated into the soil before using your yard.
Vinegar. The pungent smell of vinegar is also a natural way to repel mice and rats. These pests cannot stand the sharp scent of vinegar, which means it can be used as an effective rodent repellent. You can use white vinegar or apple cider vinegar for this purpose.
When to Add Lime to a Lawn. Lime can take several months after application to break down and change your soil pH. A good time to test your lawn's pH and adjust it (if needed) is when your soil begins to warm in the spring. Lime can also be applied in the fall.
Dogs are highly unlikely to eat limes voluntarily as they tend to dislike the bitter and sharp flavour that comes from citrus fruits, but you should still take steps to keep limes out of reach of curious canines.
When it comes to proper lawn care, lime is critically important. Lime will ensure that your lawn has an adequate supply of calcium, and it will also ensure your soil has a balanced pH. If you have highly acidic soil, the best and also a cost-effective solution for neutralizing is liming.
Lime does not deter snakes, and it is not a suitable snake repellent. It may also harm your lawn, killing all insects, including beneficial ones. If lime pellets are combined with peppermint or hot peppers, they can also be effective. It can be very caustic to humans and other animals, especially if it becomes wet.
Sprinkle 1 cup of lime powder (calcium hydroxide) at the bottom of the hole and 1 cup on top. Lime can be purchased at most hardware or livestock feed stores. This step aids in the process of absorption back into the earth, and it helps to prevent other animals from detecting the burial site.
Lime (calcium oxide) is a white solid with strongly basic properties. Lime reacts readily with water to produce slaked lime, which is the chemical compound calcium hydroxide. A considerable amount of heat energy is released during this reaction.
While oranges, grapefruit, lemons, and limes are loaded with vitamin C and antioxidants, citrus contains a mosquito-repelling compound called nootkatone that can be used in multiple ways to ward off biting insects.
Lime Can Help Control Odors
In addition to high pH, lime provides free calcium ions, which react and form complexes with odorous sulfur species such as hydrogen sulfide and organic mercaptans. Thus, the biological waste odors are not “covered over” with lime, but actually destroyed.