🥀 11 Plants 🥀
That Repel Mosquitoes 🦟
That Repel Mosquitoes 🦟
The days are finally getting longer, the snow is (slowly!) beginning
to melt, and spring officially arrives in just a few days! While the
prospect of warmer weather has us all a bit giddy, we can’t forget the
unwelcome intruders that tag along with the sunny summer weather.
Yes, we are talking about mosquitoes, and everybody knows that they
can be a huge nuisance. However, using chemical products to keep them
away is not on the top of everyone’s wish list.
Read on for Some Ideas of Plants
That Repel Mosquitoes 🦟 Naturally!
That Repel Mosquitoes 🦟 Naturally!
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Citronella
Chances
are, you’ve heard of this one before- it’s one of the most common
ingredients in most mosquito repellents. Strange enough though, many
people don’t even know that citronella is actually a plant! Citronella
is a beautiful perennial clumping grass that emits a strong aroma. That
aroma masks other scents, and keeps mosquitoes from being attracted to
things located around it. The citronella plant has a much stronger aroma
than other mosquito repellents that contain citronella, so it is a
great choice. Citronella is very easy to grow, and can get to be a very
tall 5 or 6 feet high! You can grow citronella in pots and place it
around a porch or patio, or you can plant it directly in a yard or
garden bed. It’s a great choice for repelling mosquitoes naturally.
Lemon Balm
Another
great choice for a mosquito repelling plant is lemon balm. A member of
the mint family, the plant also known as horsemint and beebalm is a very
easy plant for beginning gardeners to grow- even if you don’t have a
green thumb! Lemon Balm is a very hardy plant, it resists drought, and
it grows well even in shade. It is a very fast growing and sometimes
aggressive plant, so you might want to contain it to a pot, where you
can move it to wherever you like to ensure that it doesn’t take over
your garden! An added bonus? You can dry the leaves and use them to make
a delicious herbal tea!
Catnip
Your
feline friends will be happy to know that catnip is a great mosquito
deterrent! In fact, in a 2010 study, researchers found that catnip is 10
times more effective than DEET, the ingredient commonly found in bug
repellents. It is a very easy plant to grow, and if you have cats in the
house, they will surely be happy to have it around. However, be careful
not to plant catnip in with other flowers, veggies, or herbs if you
have cats around your garden. They will surely roll around in the catnip
and smash everything nearby!
Marigolds
A
bright, hardy annual plant, marigolds are a great choice for repelling
mosquitoes. Marigolds contain Pyrethrum, an ingredient found in many
insect repellents, and they have a unique aroma which bugs find
repulsive. The flowers themselves are beautiful and can make a great
border or addition to any flower bed! Try placing them around borders of
your home, and mosquitoes might not want to cross over!
Basil
Calling
all cooks! Want a double whammy when it comes to mosquito protection?
Plant some basil! Not only will you have a quick and easy mosquito
repellent, you will also have a delicious fresh herb on hand to add to
all of your favorite recipes! There are many different varieties of
basil around, so feel free to experiment and find the ones that you like
best. Many expert gardeners recommend trying lemon basil or cinnamon
basil to deter insects.
Lavender
You
probably know that lavender is a gorgeous purple flowering plant with a
soothing, calming scent. But, did you know that it is also a natural
mosquito repellent? Grow it indoors near a sunny window, or outside in
your garden or flower bed to keep the bugs away. While you’re at it,
make a delicious herbal tea, or use lavender to fill your home with a
wonderful calming aroma.
Peppermint
Most
bugs despise the smell and taste of peppermint, so planting it around
your home is a great way to keep them from dropping by uninvited! Plus,
if you do happen to get bitten, peppermint leaves rubbed directly onto
the skin make a great itch relief treatment! Added bonus for the
wonderful minty smell that makes a delicious addition to food and
beverages!
Garlic
Unfortunately
for all of us who love Italian food, studies have shown that EATING
garlic does not repel mosquitoes. (Unless, however, you were to eat a
HUGE amount!) However, having garlic around DOES! Make sure to add some
garlic to your flower bed or vegetable garden for added protection!
Pennyroyal
The
adorable pennyroyal flower is a natural deterrent for mosquitoes! Make
sure to plant some around your flowerbeds! Pennyroyal plants also make
great groundcovers, and they attract a plethora of beautiful
butterflies. Some people even use pennyroyal to flavor certain fish
dishes. As you can see, this plant has plenty of benefits!
Rosemary
Rosemary
is a beautiful flowering plant that is often used to flavor lamb or
fish dishes, but did you know that it is also a natural mosquito
repellent? It’s perfect to add to your herb garden or flowerbed to keep
bugs away, and it even attracts butterflies!
Plus you can simply snip a few springs off every time you need to add extra flavor to your lamb or steak!
Geranium
This
beautiful flowering plant is a great choice for mosquito repellent.
When planted in a hanging container, the colorful blooms will cascade
over the side of the pot, providing a beautiful visual piece as well as a
very useful bug repellent!
As you can see, there are many different plants out there that can
help to keep bugs away! Next time you reach for the chemical bug spray,
take a minute and think again, and choose something more natural!
March 13, 2014
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