It’s a warm, summer evening, and the sun is going down.
You and your family are on the patio, sipping a glass of wine and enjoying some BBQ meal.
The next morning, you all wake up with itchy, sore bumps, and your skin feels not only irritated, but also hot. There can only be one answer to this problem… A mosquito.
These annoying flying creatures are known the world over for their annoying bite. Some people can suffer extreme allergic reactions to the bite of a mosquito and develop a pretty bad fever.
So it is understandable that we want to do everything we can to eliminate these pests.
There are sprays and candles and plenty of products available on the market, but what if you could just have the greenery in your garden while not attracting the mosquitoes at the same time?
Good news – you can. There are some plants that mosquitoes would choose to stay away from, and keeping those plants in your gardens may alleviate some of what comes with trying to spend time in your garden.
Top Plants For Naturally Repelling Mosquitoes
No matter where you live, you’re very likely to deal with mosquitoes at some point.
There are around 110 trillion mosquitos on the planet, and they can basically be found everywhere.
Unless, of course, you happen to be on Antarctica, where you might just be able to avoid one.
Otherwise, it’s time to battle it out and these plants should help, each being a natural repellent!
Lemongrass
Lemongrass is frequently referred to as citronella grass and is a very aromatic plant that is used in several insect repellents.
It also makes for a useful cooking ingredient but that is for another day!
A number of experts recommend using lemongrass in the battle against mosquitoes and other flying insects.
Out of all of the plants on the list, we can confidently say that lemongrass is the most effective and to make things better, it does not require a lot of maintenance.
Just know that lemongrass does not hold up to frost very well and therefore should be planted in a container.
If the climate is warmer where you live, you can plant it in the ground, assuming it gets lots of sun.
Geraniums
When stating geraniums are useful in repelling mosquitoes, it is referencing the scented geranium.
It is the scent of the geranium that is repellent, and because it has a similar smell to lemon, you can see how it is effective, almost as good as lemongrass mentioned earlier.
The great thing about scented geraniums is that they also repel mosquitoes and other garden pests.
Consider your climate, as future geraniums generally prefer dry sunny conditions.
They may be stored in cold conditions, but should be kept in a container.
Lavender
Lavender is undeniably one of the most intensely scented plants you can find, and the lovely purple flowers give it gorgeous visual appeal too.
If you add lavender to your garden not only will you see a in flying insect visitors, but you will also find that other animals, like rabbits, will also be repelled.
It seems the attractive scent of lavender is not shared by many in the animal kingdom as it is with humans.
When it comes to mosquitoes, this plant is undoubtedly one of the more effective plants, and even if you are not the greenest of thumbs, this not a problem.
The truth is, lavender is one of the most easiest plants to grow and it is extremely hardy.
It does require good drainage and it loves full sun.
It grows best in a warm climate, but with this hardiness, it is not uncommon to see lavender bloom time and again, year after year, in cooler climates.
Bee Balm
One of the pleasures of having a garden is seeing wildlife from the comfort of your own home.
While all wildlife is not good, there are some creatures that are beneficial to our gardens so if you can find a plant that can both repel the nasties while attracting things like bees and butterflies; they why wouldn’t you?
Bee balm is one of the best plants for this, and it’s array of colorful flowers will really brighten up your outdoor space.
If you are shopping for bee balm you may also find it be called horsemint or Monarda but it’s all one of the same.
The leaves give off very beautiful fragrant oils when crushed and this is what will do the work for you in your fight against insects.
Basil
Herbs are a necessary part of any keen chef’s garden.
And there are other herbs that could do double duty for you and basil is the perfect example of one that you should be planting.
Basil is a heavily scented herb and the fragrance will repel mosquitoes as well as many other pests from your garden.
The best part of basil is that there are so many varieties of basil you can choose from.
In addition, the basil can be planted in a small garden or interspersed with other plantings throughout your garden.
Quick tip: The only thing to remember is that basil likes to be moist when it is growing but with good drainage. So if you plan to plant it in combination with other plants, be sure the other plants have the same preferences for moisture and drainage – that is key to a successful herb garden.
Marigolds
Marigold is yet another of the best plants for a beginner.
Marigolds will give off a very strong fragrance that mosquitoes would rather avoid.
Because marigolds can grow easily in pots, you can move them around when you feel like sitting outside, which is tremendously helpful.
That said, marigolds can also do very well when planted in borders; in fact, a lot of people will even plant a few in their veggie patches as well to deter pests.
Marigolds will not only deter mosquitoes, but they will also repel other pests, such as whiteflies, aphids, and some types of beetles.
Sage
If you decide to create your own homemade bug spray, sage is a great herb to use.
You can dry out the leaves as a primary ingredient, and the potent odor is very effective against mosquitoes.
Another way to utilize sage is to pull off a few leaves and toss them into your burning fire pit.
The leaves emit an earthy pungent smell that will be delightful to you and your guests, but will ward off those annoying mosquitoes.
Rosemary
If you’re interested in growing your own cooking herbs, consider growing rosemary.
A beautiful, fragrant herb that pairs nicely with roast lamb, we enjoy the smell, and mosquitoes do not.
Although rosemary is native to a hot, dry climate, with proper care, it can thrive in cooler climates when grown in a pot.
Best part: Rosemary will combat other pests, because it also repels carrot flies and cabbage moths!
Catnip
Catnip is of the mint family and is one of the most universally common plants.
It can grow as a weed, or as a cultivated plant, it’s a very simple plant to grow in either case making it an easy-to-grow plant for novice gardeners.
The one caveat to be aware of with catnip is that it is a very aggressive plant that will soon take a part of your garden where you don’t want it to.
That said, its effectiveness of repelling mosquitoes is not matched so it’s an option to consider.
Mint
The last plant I want to mention is mint; it’s great for foodies but is also very effective in the battle against bugs and creepy crawlies.
Mint contains menthol which is specifically irritating to mosquitoes, but inspects such as ants and jumping flying insects will also be deterred just the same.
Mint can be planted in the ground, but it does espically well in pots, makes a great addition to your patio, and consider having fresh mint for tea or various culinary consumptions.
If you have a bug problem in the house, you can dry the mint leaves out and use them indoors as well!
Conclusion
For many people mosquitoes are a huge nuisance, but they don’t have to be.
There are a number of very effective plants you can use to naturally repel pests.