Mosquitoes in Your Garden? Try Planting These
If you are passionate about gardening, you probably spend a lot of time working outside. You would much prefer to be caring for your plants than swatting away mosquitoes, I’m sure of that. There are a lot of things you can do to keep mosquitoes away, but there are also certain plants that can both make your yard more attractive and help keep mosquitoes away.
Consider growing these alluring plants in your yard as an additional measure to keep mosquitoes away from you and your property.
HORSEMINT
Horsemint has a fragrance comparable to citronella. Horsemint may be found growing wild over a large portion of the Eastern United States, the way from Mexico and Texas all the way up to Minnesota and Vermont. It thrives in USDA Zones 5-10 and prefers sandy soils over other types of ground.
It was a therapy for respiratory illnesses among the Native Americans who utilised it. Because it contains a high concentration of thymol in its essential oils, it naturally inhibits the growth of bacteria as well as fungus.
ROSEMARY
This lovely herb that we use for flavour is also an excellent and natural mosquito repellent, and you may put it to use right away. Since ancient times, people have relied on it to ward off the nuisance caused by mosquitoes.
Rosemary is a plant that originated in the Mediterranean, and as a result, it thrives in warm, dry climates and on soil that has good drainage. It may be grown outside in USDA zones 8–10, but in colder locations, it must be planted in a container instead. In the event that you happen to reside in an area of the nation where rosemary does not naturally grow, you can still get rosemary essential oil of high quality; combine four drops of the oil with one-fourth of a cup of olive oil.
Keep in a cold, dry location until ready to use. If the plant can thrive in your region, then there is no reason not to put it in your yard if you want to take advantage of the fresh plant oils that it produces as a natural mosquito repellent. Enhancing the look of the environment in this manner may be done affordably and aesthetically, and it also has the added benefit of providing natural insect repellants.
MARIGOLDS
Marigolds have been utilised as companion plants in organic gardening for the purpose of warding off pests. The aroma does not appeal to mosquitoes nearly as much as others do (and some humans feel the same way). Marigolds are annuals that thrive in the sun and come in a wide range of forms and sizes, making them a versatile addition to practically any garden. Growing them from seed is a very simple process.
AGERATUM
This sweet little bedding plant has coumarin in it, and mosquitoes really despise the fragrance of coumarin. The perfume industry makes advantage of it, and you may even find it in certain over-the-counter insect repellents. However, you shouldn’t use ageratum directly on your skin.
It also contains certain additional components that are less desirable and that you do not want to maintain in large quantities on your skin. Ageratums are annuals that come in a subtle blue and white colour combination that goes well with a wide variety of other plants.
MOSQUITO PLANTS
There are two distinct kinds of plants that are together referred to as mosquito plants. One of them is a citronella-like plant that is a member of the geranium family and has been genetically modified to include citronella’s qualities. Citronella may only be found in the tropics, yet it has a long history of use as an effective mosquito deterrent.
This plant was developed in order to incorporate the insect-repellent qualities of citronella into a more robust plant. It will grow in any environment where geraniums do well. Although its efficacy as a mosquito repellent has been called into doubt by a number of people, the plant is lovely enough that it might be grown for its decorative value.
Agastache Cana is the name of the other species of mosquito plant. The Texas hummingbird mint, bubblegum mint, big hyssop, and enormous hummingbird mint are some of the more frequent names for this plant. Hummingbirds, as you would have guessed, are drawn to it in a significant way.
Native to New Mexico, it may also be found in some regions of Texas. It is, in reality, a member of the mint family, and when crushed, the leaves of this plant do emit a strong and distinctive odour. It is perennial in its natural environment and can survive winters in USDA Zones 5a-9a, where it may be found. It blooms late in the summer and into the early autumn, which coincides with the migration of hummingbirds each year. Additionally, butterflies are attracted to long, medium-pink blossoms.
CATNIP
The common catnip plant is one of the most effective mosquito-repellent plants there is. Recent research has shown that it is far more efficient in warding off mosquitoes than the chemical DEET. In the majority of the United States, this plant is perennial but has a very limited lifespan. Growing it from seed is simple, and once established, it swiftly self-seeds. The leaves may be used to produce a tea that is extremely calming, in addition to the intoxicating effects it has on cats.
Crushing the leaves of any of these plants is necessary in order to unleash their distinctive scent. In such a case, mosquitoes won’t be able to detect their scent. And in the case of rosemary and catnip, all you need to do to boost the impact is smash a few leaves and massage them into your skin and your clothes.
Therefore, the next time you are reworking your plantings, give some thought to employing some of these lovely plants for purposes other than just making the landscape seem better. You may decorate your yard with lovely plants that will help keep mosquitoes at bay.
