Can mothballs be used in a vegetable garden?

A: The chemicals in mothballs are not translocated into edible plants. Some gardeners use mothballs to keep out rabbits and squirrels but the results are questionable. Mothballs can kill the vegetables by touching them.

Can I put moth balls in my garden?

Mothballs should not be used inside attics, crawl spaces, gardens, trash cans or vehicles. Nor used to control skunks, mice or other pests. Mothballs should not be used inside attics, crawl spaces, gardens, trash cans or vehicles.

Is it safe to put mothballs around tomato plants?

Do not place mothballs at the plant’s base because the pests may not encounter the mothball fumes before munching on the tomato plant. Replace mothballs around your tomato plants every month, as the fumes from mothballs left out in the open become reduced and rendered less effective due to sun and water exposure.

Are mothballs harmful to vegetation?

Mothballs will kill potted plants because they contain naphthalene and paradichlorobenzene. These chemicals will seep into the soil and damage the roots and stems of the plant. To keep pests away, you can use safe, organic alternatives such as rosemary, lavender, thyme, mint, or cedarwood.

Why don’t we use mothballs anymore?

Not only are artificial fabrics totally lacking in nutritional value, they can disrupt moths’ reproductive cycle and sometimes even impede their ability to lay and fertilize eggs.

How long do mothballs last outside?

One mothball in open air takes 3-6 months to dissipate entirely. If you place the mothball underneath clothing or otherwise not in open air, it will take up to 12 months to completely dissipate. The mothball smell stays in your home for months or years after dissipating.

What happens if mothballs get wet?

Wet mothballs are even more potent than dry ones. And the wetness can be profound, like exposure to water from a flood or leaky pipe, or mild, in the form of high humidity. Either will cause the odor to be more potent and sublimation to be more rapid.

What if mothballs get wet?

What animals will mothballs repel?

Mothballs sometimes are used illegally to repel pests not listed on labels. Some of these “off-label pests” include: squirrels, skunks, deer, mice, rats, and snakes, among others animals.