{"id":20450,"date":"2024-06-03T12:46:14","date_gmt":"2024-06-03T16:46:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.meadowsfarms.com\/great-big-greenhouse-gardening-blog\/?p=20450"},"modified":"2025-05-19T12:50:47","modified_gmt":"2025-05-19T16:50:47","slug":"natural-mosquito-repellents-plants-that-protect-and-beautify","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.meadowsfarms.com\/great-big-greenhouse-gardening-blog\/natural-mosquito-repellents-plants-that-protect-and-beautify\/","title":{"rendered":"Mosquito Repellent Plants Every Garden Needs This Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

As <\/span>the <\/span>days <\/span>get <\/span>warmer here in Central Virginia, <\/span>fireflies <\/span>come <\/span>out <\/span>to <\/span>play, <\/span>and <\/span>mosquitoes <\/span>come <\/span>out <\/span>to <\/span>feast. <\/span>While <\/span>you <\/span>can\u2019t <\/span>entirely <\/span>eliminate <\/span>these <\/span>pesky <\/span>critters, <\/span>there <\/span>are <\/span>some <\/span>great <\/span>natural <\/span>ways <\/span>to <\/span>keep <\/span>them <\/span>at <\/span>bay, <\/span>starting <\/span>with <\/span>plants <\/span>that <\/span>can <\/span>help <\/span>repel <\/span>them <\/span>or <\/span>disguise <\/span>your <\/span>scent. <\/span>And <\/span>the <\/span>best <\/span>part? <\/span>Many <\/span>of <\/span>these <\/span>plants <\/span>also <\/span>support <\/span>local <\/span>pollinators <\/span>and <\/span>enhance <\/span>the <\/span>beauty <\/span>of <\/span>your <\/span>garden.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mosquito-<\/span>Repelling <\/span>Plants <\/span>You <\/span>Need <\/span>to <\/span>Know <\/span>About<\/span><\/h2>\n

Lemon <\/span>Grass<\/span><\/h3>\n

Lemon <\/span>Grass, <\/span>with <\/span>its <\/span>vibrant <\/span>lemon-<\/span>lime <\/span>foliage, <\/span>contains <\/span>citronella <\/span>oil\u2014<\/span>something <\/span>mosquitoes <\/span>just <\/span>can\u2019t <\/span>stand. <\/span>When <\/span>purchasing <\/span>it, <\/span>look <\/span>for <\/span>varieties <\/span>labeled <\/span>Cybopogon<\/span><\/em> or <\/span>Citronella <\/span>winterianus<\/span><\/em>, <\/span>as <\/span>these <\/span>are <\/span>the <\/span>ones <\/span>that <\/span>pack <\/span>the <\/span>most <\/span>mosquito-<\/span>repelling <\/span>power. <\/span>Just <\/span>be <\/span>cautious\u2014<\/span>while <\/span>the <\/span>scent <\/span>is <\/span>great, <\/span>it\u2019s <\/span>best <\/span>not <\/span>to <\/span>rub <\/span>the <\/span>plant <\/span>directly <\/span>on <\/span>your <\/span>skin, <\/span>as <\/span>some <\/span>may <\/span>find <\/span>it <\/span>irritating.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lemon <\/span>Balm<\/span><\/h3>\n

A <\/span>fast-<\/span>growing, <\/span>drought-<\/span>tolerant, <\/span>and <\/span>perennial <\/span>herb, <\/span>Lemon <\/span>Balm <\/span>is <\/span>a <\/span>fantastic <\/span>addition <\/span>to <\/span>any <\/span>garden. <\/span>Like <\/span>Lemon <\/span>Grass, <\/span>it <\/span>contains <\/span>citronella <\/span>oil. <\/span>It\u2019s <\/span>a <\/span>great <\/span>option <\/span>if <\/span>you <\/span>live <\/span>in <\/span>zones <\/span>where <\/span>Lemon <\/span>Grass <\/span>isn\u2019t <\/span>winter-<\/span>hardy, <\/span>like <\/span>Zone <\/span>7. <\/span>Plus, <\/span>you <\/span>can <\/span>make <\/span>a <\/span>soothing <\/span>tea <\/span>by <\/span>steeping <\/span>a <\/span>few <\/span>sprigs <\/span>in <\/span>boiling <\/span>water.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lemon <\/span>Thyme<\/span><\/h3>\n

This <\/span>herb <\/span>does <\/span>double <\/span>duty\u2014<\/span>it <\/span>not <\/span>only <\/span>repels <\/span>mosquitoes, <\/span>but <\/span>it <\/span>also <\/span>makes <\/span>an <\/span>attractive <\/span>ground <\/span>cover <\/span>for <\/span>sunny, <\/span>low-<\/span>traffic <\/span>areas. <\/span>The <\/span>tiny <\/span>flowers <\/span>are <\/span>also <\/span>a <\/span>favorite <\/span>of <\/span>pollinators, <\/span>so <\/span>you\u2019ll <\/span>help <\/span>out <\/span>the <\/span>local <\/span>bee <\/span>population <\/span>while <\/span>keeping <\/span>the <\/span>mosquitoes <\/span>at <\/span>bay.<\/span><\/p>\n

Catnip<\/span><\/h3>\n

Yes, <\/span>your <\/span>cats <\/span>will <\/span>love <\/span>it, <\/span>but <\/span>mosquitoes <\/span>won\u2019t! <\/span>A <\/span>2010 <\/span>study <\/span>from <\/span>Iowa <\/span>State <\/span>University <\/span>found <\/span>that <\/span>catnip <\/span>oil <\/span>is <\/span>even <\/span>more <\/span>effective <\/span>than <\/span>DEET <\/span>at <\/span>repelling <\/span>mosquitoes. <\/span>Plus, <\/span>it’s <\/span>a <\/span>perennial <\/span>that <\/span>thrives <\/span>in <\/span>most <\/span>gardens, <\/span>and <\/span>its <\/span>flowers <\/span>attract <\/span>pollinators.<\/span><\/p>\n

Basil<\/span><\/h3>\n

Basil <\/span>isn\u2019t <\/span>just <\/span>for <\/span>cooking\u2014<\/span>its <\/span>strong <\/span>scent <\/span>also <\/span>repels <\/span>mosquitoes. <\/span>You <\/span>can <\/span>even <\/span>make <\/span>a <\/span>homemade <\/span>insect <\/span>repellent <\/span>by <\/span>boiling <\/span>basil <\/span>leaves, <\/span>steeping <\/span>them <\/span>for <\/span>a <\/span>few <\/span>hours, <\/span>and <\/span>then <\/span>mixing <\/span>with <\/span>vodka <\/span>in <\/span>a <\/span>spray <\/span>bottle. <\/span>Keep <\/span>this <\/span>handy <\/span>for <\/span>those <\/span>times <\/span>when <\/span>you\u2019re <\/span>out <\/span>in <\/span>the <\/span>garden!<\/span><\/p>\n

Marigolds<\/span><\/h3>\n

Marigolds <\/span>are <\/span>a <\/span>garden <\/span>favorite <\/span>for <\/span>many <\/span>reasons: <\/span>their <\/span>vibrant <\/span>flowers, <\/span>ability <\/span>to <\/span>repel <\/span>aphids, <\/span>and <\/span>even <\/span>their <\/span>mosquito-<\/span>repelling <\/span>properties. <\/span>The <\/span>flowers\u2019 <\/span>spicy <\/span>fragrance <\/span>is <\/span>what <\/span>keeps <\/span>mosquitoes <\/span>away, <\/span>so <\/span>plant <\/span>them <\/span>in <\/span>pots <\/span>around <\/span>your <\/span>deck <\/span>or <\/span>garden <\/span>to <\/span>enjoy <\/span>their <\/span>beauty <\/span>while <\/span>keeping <\/span>pests <\/span>at <\/span>bay.<\/span><\/p>\n

Other <\/span>Strong-<\/span>Smelling <\/span>Herbs<\/span><\/h3>\n

Herbs <\/span>like <\/span>Rosemary, <\/span>Lavender, <\/span>Oregano, <\/span>Sage, <\/span>Mint, <\/span>and <\/span>regular <\/span>Thyme <\/span>are <\/span>all <\/span>great <\/span>at <\/span>camouflaging <\/span>your <\/span>scent, <\/span>making <\/span>it <\/span>harder <\/span>for <\/span>mosquitoes <\/span>to <\/span>find <\/span>you. <\/span>So <\/span>go <\/span>ahead, <\/span>plant <\/span>them <\/span>around <\/span>your <\/span>outdoor <\/span>spaces <\/span>and <\/span>enjoy <\/span>their <\/span>pleasant <\/span>fragrance <\/span>while <\/span>keeping <\/span>mosquitoes <\/span>at <\/span>a <\/span>distance.<\/span><\/p>\n

How <\/span>to <\/span>Make <\/span>the <\/span>Most <\/span>of <\/span>Mosquito-<\/span>Repellent <\/span>Plants<\/span><\/h2>\n

While <\/span>planting <\/span>these <\/span>mosquito-<\/span>repelling <\/span>plants <\/span>is <\/span>a <\/span>great <\/span>start, <\/span>you <\/span>can <\/span>maximize <\/span>their <\/span>effectiveness <\/span>by <\/span>bruising <\/span>or <\/span>crushing <\/span>their <\/span>leaves <\/span>to <\/span>release <\/span>the <\/span>essential <\/span>oils. <\/span>A <\/span>quick <\/span>rub <\/span>of <\/span>basil, <\/span>lemon <\/span>balm, <\/span>or <\/span>catnip <\/span>leaves <\/span>with <\/span>your <\/span>hands <\/span>will <\/span>do <\/span>the <\/span>trick. <\/span>You <\/span>can <\/span>even <\/span>crush <\/span>a <\/span>few <\/span>sprigs <\/span>and <\/span>leave <\/span>them <\/span>in <\/span>bowls <\/span>around <\/span>your <\/span>outdoor <\/span>areas. <\/span>Just <\/span>be <\/span>sure <\/span>to <\/span>check <\/span>for <\/span>any <\/span>skin <\/span>reactions <\/span>before <\/span>applying <\/span>directly <\/span>to <\/span>your <\/span>skin.<\/span><\/p>\n

Eliminate <\/span>Mosquito <\/span>Breeding <\/span>Grounds<\/span><\/h2>\n

It\u2019s <\/span>not <\/span>all <\/span>about <\/span>the <\/span>plants\u2014<\/span>controlling <\/span>mosquitoes <\/span>also <\/span>requires <\/span>eliminating <\/span>their <\/span>breeding <\/span>grounds. <\/span>Mosquitoes <\/span>only <\/span>need <\/span>a <\/span>small <\/span>amount <\/span>of <\/span>standing <\/span>water <\/span>to <\/span>lay <\/span>their <\/span>eggs, <\/span>so <\/span>it\u2019s <\/span>crucial <\/span>to <\/span>keep <\/span>your <\/span>yard <\/span>free <\/span>of <\/span>stagnant <\/span>water. <\/span>Be <\/span>sure <\/span>to:<\/span><\/p>\n