Plants That Repel Mosquitos
As summer is rapidly approaching we are also going to enter peak mosquito season. We have put together this list of plants that help keep mosquitos away naturally. These plants have strong scents that bugs do not like. Consider rubbing a crushed leaf on your skin for a chemical-free repellent. It is great to put these plants in containers near your front door, patio, or decks, so they can be touched often to emit scents.
If you live in an area with mosquito problems, consider adding one or more of these plants in your garden plan:
Basil – Try growing Basil near the entrance of your home to repel house flies and mosquitos. You can also use fresh basil to make a mosquito repellant spray that you can use on your skin. Try putting 6 ounces of Basil in a container and pour 4 ounces of boiling water on the leaves. Let this mixture stand for 3 to 4 hours. Take the liquid and mix it with 4 ounces of cheap vodka. Place the elixir in a spray bottle and spray yourself before you go outdoors. Make sure to not spray this repellant in your mouth, eyes or nose as it can be irritating to these areas of your body. You can store the excess spray in your refrigerator.
Catmint - Catmint is a plant that thrives in conditions that most other plants can’t tolerate including flower beds next to hot sidewalks and driveways. Its heat and drought tolerance also makes it a popular choice for planting underneath roses; a plant that you want to avoid watering to prevent diseases. I’ve even grown catmint in containers on a deck with southern exposure and possibly the hottest conditions in my entire garden. Flowers come in shades of blue, purple, pink and white sitting on top of foliage with a greenish gray shade. When you rub up against the foliage there is pleasant fragrance released which as you might expect smells like mint. It is hardy in USDA garden zones 3 through 9 and once it is established it is amongst the easiest plants to grow.
Lemon Balm – This fast-growing herb has many beneficial health benefits. The most useful part of the plant is its leaves. The leaves are serrated and pretty. Lemon Balm’s botanical name is Melissa, which is Greek for bees, so it comes as no surprise that bees love this plant. It is sometimes referred to as Bee Balm. While it is not the most popular herb on the market it exudes a gentle lemon fragrance which is much nicer than citronella.
Lemongrass – This versatile herb has a wonder refreshing, lemony flavor and scent and has a host of medically beneficial properties. This easy to grow plant, which can be grown from bulbs is tasty and healthful, as well as a natural mosquito repellant. It is a tropical plant that is native to South and Southeast Asia, growing 3 – 8 feet tall. Lemongrass’ lemony scent is closely related to citronella. Just growing the plant in your garden will cause mosquitos to avoid the plant, and an effective insect spray can be made at home using the lemongrass with a few essential oils.
Lemon Thyme - This lemon-scented, sun-loving, drought-tolerant perennial thrives in well-drained soil. Drought conditions enhance the essential oils in thyme; the drier the growing conditions the better the flavor. Thyme flowers attract honeybees, so add thyme near your vegetable garden to attract a large supply of pollinators. Lemon Thyme is a culinary and medicinal herb. The plants are often used as groundcovers or planting beds between stepping stones and in containers.
Marigold - Marigolds are bright, cheerful annual flowers that bring bees and butterflies as well as a lot of beneficial insects. It also repels aphids and mosquitos above the ground and nematodes below the ground. Try using them in the vegetable garden as well as the flower border since they also improve soil quality. Marigolds are also heat and drought tolerant.
Rosemary – Rosemary is an evergreen, fragrant, woody, perennial herb that has needle-like foliage and small flowers that is native to the Mediterranean region. It is a member of the Mint family. The herb is known for its medicinal properties. In the garden, rosemary prefers a full sun location with a rich, nutritious well-drained soil. You’ll also want to fertilize Rosemary regularly throughout the season with a plant food that feeds both the plant and the soil.
Lavender - People love the scent of lavender but insects absolutely hate it! Plant it in sunny areas or near your doors and windows to keep the insects away. You can also use lavender indoors to shoo away houseflies and other indoor pests. Lavender’s antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial and anti-fungal properties have been used to aid in bug bites, burns and skin abrasions. If you like to make your own honey, bees LOVE Lavender flowers or if you prefer to buy honey, you can make a Lavender honey infusion using dried Lavender buds (organic preferably). Lavender likes to be dry, so only water it when the soil is dry.
If you have any other plants, you want to add to our list, let us know.
A final tip for keeping the mosquitoes away from your garden, get rid of standing water. Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so anything that holds the smallest amount of water needs to be removed or turned over.
