10 Plants You Should Have In Your Garden To Avoid Mosquitoes In Your Home

Mosquitoes are nuisance blood-sucking insects that can cause and spread bacteria, virus, and other types of germs. Once they start breeding in standing water, female Mosquitoes can lay hundreds of eggs and continue laying eggs in their lifetime. So, it’s important to keep mosquitoes away from your home.

One of the best ways to deter them from entering your property is by planting mosquito-repellent plants. These plants are natural, highly beneficial, safe, and effective in driving away disease-causing mosquitoes. In this article, you’ll learn the best plants you should have in your garden to avoid attracting mosquitoes from entering and inhabiting your home.

Important Reminders For Plants to Repel Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes won’t repel on their own having mosquito-repellent plants around. Aside from planting these plants in your garden, you also need to follow other measures to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your home totally.

Check out these effective measures along with having mosquito-repellent plants in your garden to avoid mosquitoes in your home:

• Get rid of standing water in your yard to avoid mosquitoes from hovering around. Birdbaths, pools, and standing water in your plant pots could be ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes.
• Apply a mosquito repellent lotion to your skin, most especially if your area is prone to have mosquitoes around or infection cases arise transmitted by these nuisance insects.
• Call a professional Mosquito Control company to eliminate a large number of mosquitoes in your property.

Mosquito-repellent Plants You Should Have in Your Garden

1. Citronella

You probably heard or seen the term “citronella” in candles and mosquito repellents. Citronella plants low maintenance plant and looks like large, spiky ferns that belong to the geranium family. It is actually a type of mosquito-repellent plant possessing a strong scent, which masks the smell of carbon dioxide and other attractants. Other citronella variations include citrosum and citronella grass.

2. Peppermint

Peppermint is a popular herbal plant with calming effects and used in treating flatulence, diarrhea, nausea, menstrual pains, indigestion, common cold, and muscle and nerve pain. It’s also a mosquito-repellent plant toxic to mosquito larvae and can even repel spiders. This plant grows one to three feet tall, thrives well in sunny areas, and needs damp soil.

3. Marigold

Marigolds are beautiful, ornamental border, hardy plants with a distinctive scent that human love but mosquitoes find particularly offensive. This plant contains a compound called Pyrethrum, used in insect repellents. Here are some tips when using marigolds to ward off mosquitoes in your home:

• Position potted marigolds near entrances, open windows, and other possible entry points. The scent of marigolds deters mosquitoes from entering your home.
• Avoid placing potted marigolds on the table because bright blooms tend to attract wasps.
• For healthy marigolds, plant them on fertile soil with full sunlight as much as possible.

4. Catnip

Catnip is a perennial herb related to mind, which is easy to grow. Mosquitoes find the scent unpleasant, keeping them away from your home. Catnip is also used in commercially prepared mosquito repellent products.

According to a study presented by the American Chemical Society, catnip is effective in repelling mosquitoes, even more, effective than DEET. DEET or N, N-diethyl-meta-toluamide is an active ingredient found in many mosquito repellent products. Catnip contains nepetalactone, which is a chemical found to be ten times more effective in repelling mosquitoes than DEET.

5. Garlic

Human beings have long been using garlic in deterring mosquitoes. Also, you can eat garlic leaves, making these nuisance insects avoid you due to the garlic scent. Planting garlic in your yard provides a strong smell for the lingering mosquitoes, and it will be driving them away from your property.

6. Lavender

This sweet-smelling plant is a common garden favorite, but not for mosquitoes. It’s a good thing that mosquitoes dislike what humans find as pleasant scents, which includes the lavender plants. Aside from planting lavender plants to avoid mosquitoes hovering around your home, you can use it as a natural mosquito repellent. Placing a few drops of oil in your wrists and ankles help prevent mosquito bites.

7. Pennyroyal

This plant is a potent mint specie, and too much oil can be toxic to both humans and animals when consumed or absorbed by the skin. However, you can grow pennyroyal carefully to benefit from its mosquito-repellent property. It’s actually one of the most effective plants that can drive away mosquitoes.

8. Basil

Basil is a popular kitchen ingredient that adds amazing flavor to favorite food recipes. Aside from being a famous spice herb, basil plants can repel pesky mosquitoes because of its strong scent. You can make a natural DIY mosquito repellent by boiling fresh basil leaves with a half-cup vodka, and pour the cooled mixture to a spray bottle. Spray it to your outdoor living space to repel mosquitoes.

9. Lemon Balm

Lemon balm is a versatile herb, effectively used in calming the nerves, promoting restful sleep, and reducing digestive stress. Also, it’s every homeowner’s best friend because the compounds found in lemon balm can be one of the best repel mosquitoes plants. Here are the good things that you should know about lemon balm:

• The leaves of lemon balm have a rich, lemon smell and contain citronellal, resembling citronella oil, a well-known herbal repellent.
• Make a lemon balm mosquito repellent by crushing a handful of lemon balm leaves and then rub them on the skin.
• Growing lemon balm plants near the backdoor or in the garden is a good idea. You’ll have fresh lemon balm leaves handy whenever you need them.

10. Floss Flower

Garden lovers love floss flowers because they come in beautiful, different colors, such as pink, blue, purple, and white. Aside from the excellent visual addition to your garden’s flower bed, their scent is unpleasant to mosquitoes. This beautiful plant contains coumarin, a chemical also used in mosquito repellent products.

Conclusion

There are many mosquito-repellent plants you can choose from to plant in your garden to avoid mosquitoes. Citronella, peppermint, marigold, garlic, lavender, pennyroyal, basil, and catnip are just a few examples. Their scent is strong and unpleasant to mosquitoes, warding them off from your home.

Planting these mosquito-repellent plants is a good idea, along with other measures, to completely eradicate your problems with mosquitoes. Keep your home clean and remove stagnant water, which are potential breeding and laying grounds for mosquitoes.

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