While I love the outdoors, I could totally do without mosquitoes. Those little suckers are my absolute bane. I’m not sure if I just taste sweeter to them or something, but whatever the case may be, I always end up with a ton of bites if I stay out too late in the afternoon or venture in the woods. Turns out some people are just genetically lucky like that.
So, naturally, I looked to see what I could to in order to try and reduce some of the bugs around my house. While nothing really beats OFF bug repellent spray, I am not a huge fan of dousing myself with chemicals every time I step outside. Fortunately, Mother Earth saw to giving us natural ways to deter some pests. Enter bug-repelling plants!
The following plants can be planted around your garden or, well, any area in order to deter mosquitoes and other similar bugs:
- Citronella
- Catnip
- Marigolds
- Lavender
- Peppermint (or any mint, really)
- Lemon Balm
- Basil
- Savory
- Horseradish
- lemongrass
- Lemon Thyme
- Rosemary
As a note, the “mosquito plants” you see at the nursery are actually NOT going to help repel mosquitoes! Who would think? Personally, marigolds and lavender are my go-to as they look pretty AND help keep bugs away. What more could you ask for?
Of course, those are just the plants that repel mosquitoes and similar annoying pests. If you have other bugs in your garden like aphids, japanese beetles or anything else, then you still have many options. Check out this article from the Mother Nature Network with more ideas on flowers and herbs that repel insects!
Personally, I am a huge fan of companion planting, and that includes growing herbs and flowers in with my veggies to protect and help the veggies. After all, I figure that Mother Nature does it, so why shouldn’t we?
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