Affordable Lawn Sprinklers and Lighting

Plants that beautifully tell mosquitos to BUZZ OFF!

 

At Affordable, we believe in making the most of outdoor living in the summer months.  But, sometimes buzzing pests can spoil our fun. We’ve turned to our friends at Angie’s List for a great list of plants that naturally keep mosquitos and other insects at bay.

1. Marigolds

Not only do they make your landscape more attractive, but marigolds also have a distinct smell that repels mosquitoes.

Plant from seed or get a starter plant from a nursery or floral department.

Place potted marigolds near mosquito entry-points, such as doors and windows, or on a deck or balcony where you spend a lot of time outdoors. They also deter insects that prey on tomato plants — an added bonus for gardeners.

2. Citronella

Citronella is found in bug sprays and insect-repelling candles, but for maximum effectiveness, consider planting it.

Citronella is one of the most common ingredients in insect repellents, due to its strong smell, which masks mosquito attractants.

The perennial clumping grass grows 5 to 6 feet, and can be planted in the ground or kept in large pots.

Citronella plants thrive best in full sun and areas with good drainage.

3. Catnip

Catnip grows best in full sun.

Warning: Your catnip might bring all the cats to the yard. The perennial herb, related to mint, is easy to grow.

While it repels mosquitoes in close proximity, some people apply crushed leaves for more protection.

4. Lavender

Dried lavender can be placed in wardrobes to dissuade moths.

In addition to smelling lovely, aiding in relaxation and promoting restful sleep, lavender dissuades mosquitoes and gnats from invading your outdoor dinner party when planted in the garden or in pots placed by windows, doors and entertainment areas.

The dried flowers can also be placed in wardrobes to repel moths.

5. Basil

Basil leaves don’t have to be crushed to prevent mosquito invasions.

Enjoy delicious pesto dishes, and keep mosquitoes at bay, with this insect-repelling herb. Basil is one of the few herbs in which you don’t have to crush the leaves to reap its benefits.

Lemon basil and cinnamon basil are the best varieties to prevent unwanted pests.

6. Lemon balm

Lemon balm keeps mosquitoes away, but attracts pollinators, such as bees and butterflies.

Also known as horsemint, lemon balm’s aroma wards off mosquitoes, but attracts pollinators like bees and butterflies.

It’s fast growing, drought resistant and reseeds itself, so consider planting in a pot rather than in your yard to avoid a lemon balm takeover.

This is an updated, adapted version of an article originally posted on July 15, 2014 on Angie’s List.

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