Many vegetables, flowers, and herbs have potent smells that make them excellent companion plants for pest control that is done naturally.
- 1.Basil: This simple-to-grow culinary plant also works as a mosquito and housefly repellant. To create a barrier of protection surrounding patios, grow basil in pots and arrange them there.
- 2. Bay leaf: A slow-growing plant that serves as an insect repellant and is frequently used in soups and stews. Moreover, cockroaches, ants, and flies are deterred by bay leaves. You can buy bay leaves at the grocery store and scatter the leaves’ fragments about sections of your garden that are prone to pest infestation as an alternative to planting your own bay leaf plant.
- 3.Chives: This allium plant keeps rabbits, Japanese beetles, carrot flies, aphids, mites, and other pests away from your garden.
- 4. Chrysanthemums: Chrysanthemums are an efficient way to ward off bothersome insects like fleas, bedbugs, roaches, ants, silverfish, and spider mites because they naturally contain pyrethrum, a substance that is present in many synthetic insect repellents.
- 5.Dill: Growing dill in your vegetable garden will keep pests like aphids, squash bugs, and spider mites away. A word of caution: Keep dill away from your tomato plants as it is known to attract tomato hornworms.
- 6.Garlic: This aromatic allium plant serves as a deterrent to aphids, cabbage worms, carrot flies, and slugs.
- 7.Geraniums: Popular for flower beds and hanging baskets, geraniums are an iconic flower that keep many insects away, such as mosquitoes and leafhoppers.
- 8.Lemongrass: Herbal teas frequently contain this lovely, tall-growing ornamental grass. It has citronella oil, which has a pleasant scent and deters mosquitoes.
- 9.Lemon thyme: This herb, which is frequently planted for culinary purposes, discourages insects. Additionally, its tiny flowers draw bees, which aid in the fertilization of nearby plants.
- 10.Marigolds: The scent of marigolds keeps bunnies, aphids, and insects at bay.
- 11.Mint: Other plants in the mint family, such as sage, peppermint, hyssop, lemon balm, oregano, and catnip, also contain essential oils that are effective insect repellents. According to studies, catnip essential oils are more efficient than the chemical DEET, which is present in the majority of synthetic insect repellents, at keeping mosquitoes away. Find out here how to plant mint in your backyard garden.
- Nasturtiums are referred to as “trap crops” because they draw bugs to their own leaves rather than repelling them. As a result, pests like cabbage moths and aphids will target nasturtiums rather than crops like beans, tomatoes, and cabbage. Because of this, nasturtiums are a common flower to grow as a border for vegetable gardens.
- 13.Parsley: This vibrantly green biennial herb is used as a favorite culinary garnish and also works well to ward off asparagus pests. Here is information on growing parsley in your garden.
- 14.Petunias: These colorful flowers can brighten up any flower area and are useful for preventing aphids, tomato hornworms, and asparagus bugs. Petunias don’t deter these pests; instead, they capture them in their sticky stamens, where they eventually die without doing any damage to your plants.
- 15. Thyme: Thyme is occasionally used medicinally, and its essential oils are an excellent all-natural approach to ward off pests like maize earworms, tomato hornworms, whiteflies, and cabbage loopers.
Is geranium a reliable insect deterrent?
Numerous insects are deterred by geranium. They can be enjoyed in your yard in the mornings and nights because they can be grown in a garden and are mosquito-repellent. In many natural over-the-counter insect repellent products, geranium extract is a common ingredient because it is said to repel mosquitoes as well. According to Golden Harvest Organics’ companion plants guide, geranium plants are frequently used as companion plants for many fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes and cabbage, as well as next to roses. When planted in flower beds, geranium plants also repel common pests that can harm plants, such as beetles.
Are all geraniums mosquito-repellent?
Like all living things, mosquitoes are drawn to surroundings with the resources they require to survive. And certain plants fall into this category. Unbelievably, mosquitoes don’t survive on sucking animal blood (only the females bite, and they feed the blood to their eggs). Mosquitoes consume the nectar of a variety of plants as adults, including taro, papyrus, water lilies, and water hyacinths. So clearing such plants out of your yard can be beneficial.
The presence of standing water or other environmental factors, such as these, has a much greater impact on whether you have a mosquito problem. Here are 28 strategies for reducing mosquito populations, including advice on how to make your yard less of a home for the pesky insects.
And it’s true that some plants have a way of deterring mosquitoes. Mosquitoes locate humans and other animals to bite in part by detecting their body heat and motion, but they do so mostly by “smelling” the carbon dioxide that is released from our pores. Some plants actually smell strongly enough to be able to hide your fragrance and/or confuse the mosquitoes, as opposed to typical sprays that include DEET and other mosquito repellants, which operate by making your skin uncomfortable for them to settle on.
However, these plants don’t only spread that odor around the yard! You usually need to take a few of the leaves, smash them up a little, and massage them on your arms and legs to get the mosquito-repelling effect. This is a bit of a non-starter for anyone who might be sensitive or have skin sensitivities. Additionally, this might not be effective enough to make a difference for some people who are very attractive to bites. But these plants really make a difference and leave you smelling wonderful for many people who are looking for more natural mosquito cures and don’t have allergies. What could be disliked about that?
Here are a dozen plants that are not only attractive but also beneficial in the ongoing battle against insect attacks.
Although this specific variety of geranium (formerly known as Pelargonium citrosum), which produces and has a citronella-like scent, can deter insects, not all geraniums do.
Despite not being the most effective deterrent, these purple beauties (Ageratum houstounianum) emit a smell that repels insects, according to SFGate. However, hummingbirds and butterflies adore their aromatic blossoms.
Essential oils and extracts from Cintronella plants, which were once used as a perfume, have proven to be so successful at repelling mosquitoes that they are now a common component in many commercial repellents.
This member of the mint family has a pleasant scent, is good for you, and its oils can get rid of any bugs that may be hiding.
High concentrations of the bug-repelling substance are present in this plant’s potent lemon fragrance, but in a more palatable form. (However, because it is an invasive species, it is preferable to cultivate it in containers.)
Although it may be difficult to believe given how divine the perfume is to us humans, mosquitoes absolutely detest the aroma of this herb. Plant the lavandin variety, which contains a lot of camphor, to keep insects at bay. In addition, it deters insects and moths.
Catnip may be beloved by cats, but it repels mosquitoes. It includes a substance called nepetalactone, which is related to mint and is both a cat attractant and an insect repellent.
In addition to providing your food a flavor boost, putting a pot of basil on your picnic table will help keep the bugs away because it’s one of the few plants that has a strong enough aroma to deter insects without the need for crushing the leaves. Basil essential oil is hazardous to mosquito larvae, according to a 2009 study.
Mosquitoes can be deterred with the use of mint leaves. Bonus: Mint essential oils can relieve itching caused by insect bites.
This perennial, also called “Mosquito Repellant Plant,” is highly promoted as an effective insect deterrent. It can’t hurt to plant some near your porch, even though some studies indicates that this plant may not be the best at warding off biting insects.
S’mores being roasted around the bonfire? Perhaps you should add some sage to the fire. Those annoying animals will stay away thanks to the fragrant smoke. (Rosemary also functions.)
These vibrant and aromatic blooms not only look lovely, but they also keep insects away. Since they contain pyrethrum, a component of many insect repellents, they also deter other insects.
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Are geraniums a bug magnet?
Your geraniums will typically recover on their own if they become infested with outside insects. Predatory insects like lady bugs and lacewings move on or eliminate aphids, mites, and whiteflies. Populations of caterpillars vary according to their life cycle as well. In order to get rid of aphids, mites, and whiteflies, try spraying the plants with a constant stream of water if the infestation is bad. Caterpillars can be handled and placed in hot, soapy water. A safe remedy for aphids and other leaf-sucking insects is insecticidal soaps and oils. On a cloudy, windless day, spray the leaves’ upper and lower surfaces. Bacillus thuringiensis, which is frequently also sprayed on plants, can be used to cure caterpillars. Indoor plants can be treated with insecticidal soaps or oils or with water sprays.
Basil
Although we all enjoy the scent of basil, flies, moths, and mosquitoes do not. Use basil to keep flies and moths away from your garden, and crush some leaves to rub on your skin to keep mosquitoes away as you work in the garden.
Mint
Another effective repellant for mosquitoes is mint, but you should use it with caution because it spreads quickly and might take over a planting. Place it close to doorways and plant it in pots.
Lemongrass
Citronella, one of the most well-known natural repellents and an alternative to synthetic repellents like DEET, is abundant in this lovely grassy plant. Rub the skin after crushing the leaves (test a small area first). Will they naturally ward off insects?
Alliums
This onion family member is recognized for its long spikes that produce enormous balls of purple blooms (although there are also smaller varieties). Due to their unpleasant smell, alliums are one of the best barriers against a variety of pests, such as cabbage worms, aphids, carrot flies, and slugs.
Chrysanthemums
To deter bedbugs, fleas, lice, roaches, ants, and other pests from entering your home, grow these flowers along the perimeter. These plants naturally contain the pesticide pyrethrin. Ticks, spider mites, Japanese beetles, and other garden pests are repelled by them. Try making this homemade pesticide!
Petunias
Simply place petunias close to brassicas (cruciferous vegetables), beans, basil, tomatoes, grapes, corn, and peppers to help them ward off leafhoppers, squash bugs, tomato hornworms, and aphids. When this organic insect repellent is planted close by, roses benefit as well.
Marigolds
The marigold is one of the best-known plants for repelling insects, and for good reason—it has a smell that deters pests like mosquitoes and nematodes like cabbage worms. To draw beneficial insects that attack and eliminate aphids, use marigolds. Aphids are a favorite food of ladybugs.
Mosquito Plant
As a member of the geranium family, the mosquito plant (also known as citrosa geraniums or Pelargonium citrosum) is a lovely tropical plant with lacy green foliage and lovely flowers. It is renowned for the citrus scent that emanates from the leaf oils. Although these are attractive plants to grow in the backyard, if you want to use them to keep pests out of your yard, you’ll need to crush the leaves in order to get any bug-repelling characteristics. The effects only persist for approximately 30 minutes, which is unfortunate.
Plants that deter pests can be fragrant and attractive. To control the number of bugs in your garden, try planting a handful of these.
Are geraniums a mosquito magnet?
Another well-liked plant for repelling mosquitoes is scented geraniums. The preferred aroma appears to be lemon-scented, which is reminiscent of citronella grass, and is recommended by PlantShed, BBG, and NYBG. Numerous pests are deterred by the potent scent. These quickly expanding plants prefer warm, sunny, dry environments, but if you live in a region with a chilly temperature, you can grow them in planters with regular pruning. Learn more about geranium cultivation.