Its that time of year….warmer weather….longer days….and being outside! If you are like me though, you don’t appreciate the mosquitoes and flies joining you.
I am not a fan of spraying my yard with chemicals to keep these pesky bbq visitors at bay and have found that certain plants can help serve as a replacement for those synthetic insecticides, as long as you know how to use them to your advantage. Plants have unique natural abilities to emit different chemical substances with them they repel or attract specific insects. Flowers bring a pretty sight and a pleasant fragrance for us, however, for pests they often pose a life threat.
Herbs That Repel Insects
Lavender
Apart from mosquitoes, lavender oil can chase other bugs, such as fleas, flies and moths.
Mint
Although a domesticated plant, the mint still spreads like weeds if left in the ground,
therefore it’s best to grow it in pots. Placing mint pots around your patio and garden will also help you keep mosquitoes away.
Basil
Mosquitoes are repulsed by the basil scent. A pot of basil, or a stalk hung is a natural
repellent. There’s an oil in basil that kills mosquito eggs too.
Rosemary
Rosemary is one of the herbs that are multifunctional. It’s extremely resistant to outer conditions, however, it needs a lot of sunlight. Repels mosquitoes and a variety of insects harmful to vegetable plants.
Lemon Balm Having lemon balm in your garden will repel mosquitoes, thanks to the natural essential oils and strong smell of the plant.
Lemongrass
The lemongrass is a perennial tropical grass plant (so sadly only an annually up here in the cold states) Citronella is a natural oil found in lemongrass so its the perfect repellent not only for mosquitoes but flies and other unwanted bugs!
Lemon thyme
The lemon thyme is a bush, with yellow-green small leaves that smell like lemon. The
fully-grown plants blossom during the summer with pink, lavender-like flowers.
In order to infuse its qualities and repel the nasty mosquitoes, you must first release the chemicals in the plant by crushing the leaves. Make sure that, at first, you are not allergic to those chemicals by smearing a piece of crushed leaf on your arm for a few days.
Oregano
Oregano is one of those universal spices used throughout the world and is well-known to everyone who’s spent at least some time in the kitchen. Not many knows, on the other hand, that oregano belongs to the family of natural insect repellents. Mosquitos, cabbage butterfly, and cucumber beetle don’t stand a chance, amongst others, however, some insects won’t bother, such as spider mites, leafhoppers and aphids. Therefore, you can plant the oregano near garlic and onions.
Flowers That Repel Insects
Marigolds
In the wild marigolds are agile and also happen to grow out of dumping-grounds. The
marigold is a peculiar barometer – if the blossoms remain closed after 7 in the morning, then it means it will rain during the day.
There are different kinds of marigolds – lighter and darker, with larger and smaller blossoms, but they all carry the same health benefits. Plus, marigolds’ smell chases off not only aphids and mosquitoes but also big animals such as rabbits.
Ageratum
This seasonal flower effectively repels mosquitoes with its fragrance. During production of some repellents, one of the important ingredients comes from the plant. However, it’s not recommended to rub your skin with ageratum leaves . That might cause unwanted and very unpleasant allergic reactions. The ageratum is extremely easy to grow – undemanding to the soil and light-loving.
Chrysanthemums
A special chemical in the chrysanthemums, called pyrethrum, is the thing that keeps
bugs away. Roaches, ticks, fleas, bed bugs, spider mites, Japanese beetles and ants – be gone. The ingredient is part of different insecticides in the USA and is used in sprays and flea pet shampoos. Be careful with the spray bottles, if you happen to have one, since pyrethrum is poisonous to people in certain amounts.
So get out there and plant and enjoy your backyard and beautiful weather!
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