Mosquitoes and insects are annoying pests to deal with, especially when you are an avid gardener. These pests can suck the fun right out of any outdoor activity! What’s worse, mosquito-borne diseases are becoming more and more prominent. Viruses like the Zika, West Nile, Dengue, and Eastern Equine Encephalitis, are slowly spreading.
There’s no better time to learn how to repel these annoying pests from your backyard and garden.
First, we need an understanding of how mosquitoes and other insects work. These insects target us based on the odors and gases we emit. This includes sweat, carbon dioxide and body odor. The natural solution is to grow plants that will block the insects’ receptors and overwhelm them with a different odor and gas.
For example, fruit, mint, and chocolate are great scents that can block a mosquito’s receptors.
Here’s a list of plants that repel mosquitoes and other insects.
Lemon Grass
Plant lemon grass in a pot and bring it indoors when temperatures drop during the winter. Lemon grass is commonly used to make citronella oil, which has been scientifically proven to repel mosquitoes. Scattering lemongrass around your garden will repel these pesky bugs.
Garlic
Studies have shown that eating garlic does not repel mosquitoes, but it turns out, growing garlic DOES! Add garlic to your flower bed or vegetable garden to keep these irritable pests at bay.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a beautiful flower that is the perfect way to help season and flavor lamb and potatoes. It’s also a natural repellent. Add it to your herb garden to keep bugs and insects away. There’s no reason not to plant it, especially if you enjoy cooking!
Marigold
Marigold is another plant that can fend off mosquitoes. Many gardeners plant marigold to keep squash bugs, tomato hornworms, and other bugs at bay, but they also will help with mosquitoes. Marigold contains pyrethrum, an ingredient used in many insect repellents. It’s an aroma that many bugs and insects find repulsive.
Peppermint
Peppermint emits a strong fragrance that overwhelms ants, mosquitoes, and mice. Be sure to grow it in a pot to contain it’s rampant growth.
Lavender
Lavender is a gorgeous purple flower that is a natural mosquito repellent. It has a soothing scent to humans, but to mosquitoes, it’s a sign to stay away. You can even hang lavender around the house to keep mosquitoes out of your home!
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