Repel Mosquitoes with Garden Plants
While many of us enjoyed the warm winter this year, reports show that we can expect a swarm of repercussions from pesky mosquitoes this summer. So what can you do to protect yourself from those annoying insects?
Consider planting in your garden. Chemical insect repellants can be smelly, harmful and ineffective. You can do less harm to yourself, the environment and your garden by repelling biting, stinging insects with the right plants.
Catnip
Catnip is a great choice for repelling mosquitoes. Scientists from Iowa State University discovered catnip’s repellant properties. They aren’t sure why catnip affects mosquitoes the way it does, but they say that the plant “is 10 times more effective at repelling mosquitoes as DEET, which is used in most commercial insect repellants,” according to sciencedaily.com.
But before you plant catnip, here’s a caveat – catnip can self-seed, meaning it can take over an area if not maintained. It can also grow to about 4 feet tall, so plant it where you can control it.
Marigolds
Gomestic.com recommends adding a splash of warm tones of yellow and orange to your garden by planting marigold. It’s beautiful to look at, and the scent is known to repel mosquitoes. The marigold is particularly useful when planted as a companion to crops like tomatoes, cucumbers and squash, says ehow.com, because they also repel parasitic aphids and nematodes.
Lavender
Another favorite of gardeners (and a personal favorite of mine) is lavender, which is among the most versatile and useful of all garden plants. Not only does it discourage fleas and mosquitoes, it protects your clothing from moths. Lavender flowers beautifully and smells divine, but it takes a little bit more dedication to get it established, says gardenguides.com. A good lavender plant takes about three years to root, but once it does, it’s virtually drought resistant.
Basil and Lemon Balm
There are many more plants that help deter stinging, biting bugs. Basil is a good companion to plant with tomatoes. It improves the flavor of the tomatoes with the added benefit of repelling both flies and mosquitoes, according to www.homeandgardensite.com.
From the mint family is lemon balm. Sprinkle lemon balm around squash plants to deter squash bugs, and you can also rub the leaves on your skin for a natural mosquito repellant.
By planting any of these, you’ll be taking huge steps to make your time spent outdoors this summer much more enjoyable.
Do you have any tips for keeping bugs at bay?
by Tisha Gay