Yes, we are talking about that pest everyone battles in the back yard.........the mosquito. As dealing with this intruder with chemical sprays is not high on everyone's list, here are some plantings that you can incorporate into your yard and gardens that will naturally repel mosquitoes.
The most common one is Citronella but most people don't realize that its a plant.Citronella is a beautiful perennial clumping grass that emits a strong aroma and masks other scents mosquitoes are attracted to. Citronella is easy to grow and can be planted in pots or garden beds.
Lemon Balm is another strong choice to ward off these insects, it is a member of the mint family and also goes by horse mint and bee balm. It is very hardy, drought resistant and grows well in shaded areas. It is a fast grower and can be aggressive so you may want to grow it in a pot so that you can control it. Another bonus of this plant is that you can use the dried leaves to make tea.
Catnip is a great repellent of mosquitoes and has been found to be 10 times more effective than deet. Just watch out as you may have all the neighborhood cats over......
Marigolds are are bright annual that many people plant but did you know they contain pyrethrum, an ingredient found in many insect repellents. They have an aroma that bugs find repulsive so you can use them as a border planting and keep pests from crossing.
We all love Basil and planting it in the garden will not only lead to delicious recipes in the kitchen but will also give you protection from these airborne pests. Many experts recommend planting lemon basil or cinnamon basil as insect repellents.
Lavender is a beautiful purple flowering plant with a calming scent which acts as a mosquito repellent. Grow it indoors in pots or out in the garden, make herbal tea with it.
Peppermint is a plant that most bugs despise the smell and taste of. Plus if you get bitten you can rub the leaves on the bite to sooth the itch. Also you can use this plant in cooking and fresh summer drinks.
Garlic in the garden ads an extra amount of protection although eating large amounts does not repel insects it makes for delicious Italian cooking and who can argue with that.....
Pennyroyal not only makes a great ground cover but its delicate flowers will attract a wide variety of butterflies as it repels mosquitoes.
Rosemary has so many good uses that it just makes good sense to ad to the garden, not only is it a beautiful flowering plant but it is one of my favorite herbs for cooking.
Geranium is another beautiful flowering plant that you can keep in pots to repels pests, and make any area of your home or garden look great. So remember that there are many plants that will repel insects and next time you reach for a can of bug spray take a minute to think about nature and our environment.
