Five Plants that Repel Mosquitoes (article from aha modern living)
Lemongrass This plant has a fresh lemony smell that is quite nice to people, but that mosquitoes hate. Lemongrass may be grown from seeds, but it is a rather lengthy process. It is actually easier to grow lemongrass from the mature plant, which you can buy at your preferred produce spot, Asian market or grocery store. Purchase a bundle of lemongrass, and when you get it home, trim the tops of the plant, and remove any dead parts. Place the trimmed grass in a clear jar or glass of water, then place this on a sunny windowsill. Within a few weeks, this will develop roots and can be transplanted into a spot with full sun.
Rosemary This herb is awesome for cooking, but did you know that it’s great for repelling mosquitoes, too? Rosemary likes a Mediterranean climate, so it thrives in well draining soil and full sunlight. It’s easy to grow and doesn’t require much water. If you live in a warm climate, your rosemary will even survive the winter. If you live in a climate where the winter dips below 30 degrees F, plant your rosemary in pots so that you can bring it indoors during the winter. Rosemary is technically a shrub and can get quite large, so trim it frequently.
Marigolds Marigolds are awesome companion plants that make a beneficial garden border for many reasons. And something about their slightly pungent smell is just hated by mosquitoes. You can find many different varieties of marigolds and select your favorite to fit the look you want: tall or short, red, orange, gold, or yellow. They don’t need much maintenance, but do benefit from deadheading. While most plants can be rubbed on your skin to help repel mosquitoes, you should avoid this with marigolds.
 Mint Why it is mosquitoes don’t like the refreshing, delicious scent of mint? We don’t know, but the fact is that they don’t! Mint is a very hardy plant that grows rapidly in the ground or in pots. You can pick mint leaves and rub them on your skin as a mosquito repellent, or just include the plants in your landscape. As a bonus, mint also is an easysummer cocktail and snack ingredient. |
Catnip Loved by kitties, but loathed by mosquitoes, catnip is a great plant to help keep pests away. Catnip should be trimmed back frequently, otherwise it tends to get a bit invasive. A good way to keep it from spreading too much is to simply plant it in containers. It also grows well and looks pretty in hanging baskets. Amazingly, catnip has proved to be 10 times more effective than DEET, a chemical commonly found in insect repellents, at keeping mosquitoes away. Catnip is totally safe to rub on your skin, just crush the leaves up a little bit first.
Lemongrass This plant has a fresh lemony smell that is quite nice to people, but that mosquitoes hate. Lemongrass may be grown from seeds, but it is a rather lengthy process. It is actually easier to grow lemongrass from the mature plant, which you can buy at your preferred produce spot, Asian market or grocery store. Purchase a bundle of lemongrass, and when you get it home, trim the tops of the plant, and remove any dead parts. Place the trimmed grass in a clear jar or glass of water, then place this on a sunny windowsill. Within a few weeks, this will develop roots and can be transplanted into a spot with full sun.
Rosemary This herb is awesome for cooking, but did you know that it’s great for repelling mosquitoes, too? Rosemary likes a Mediterranean climate, so it thrives in well draining soil and full sunlight. It’s easy to grow and doesn’t require much water. If you live in a warm climate, your rosemary will even survive the winter. If you live in a climate where the winter dips below 30 degrees F, plant your rosemary in pots so that you can bring it indoors during the winter. Rosemary is technically a shrub and can get quite large, so trim it frequently.
Marigolds Marigolds are awesome companion plants that make a beneficial garden border for many reasons. And something about their slightly pungent smell is just hated by mosquitoes. You can find many different varieties of marigolds and select your favorite to fit the look you want: tall or short, red, orange, gold, or yellow. They don’t need much maintenance, but do benefit from deadheading. While most plants can be rubbed on your skin to help repel mosquitoes, you should avoid this with marigolds.
Catnip Loved by kitties, but loathed by mosquitoes, catnip is a great plant to help keep pests away. Catnip should be trimmed back frequently, otherwise it tends to get a bit invasive. A good way to keep it from spreading too much is to simply plant it in containers. It also grows well and looks pretty in hanging baskets. Amazingly, catnip has proved to be 10 times more effective than DEET, a chemical commonly found in insect repellents, at keeping mosquitoes away. Catnip is totally safe to rub on your skin, just crush the leaves up a little bit first.
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