Do plants repel mosquitoes? Yes. Let’s dig into some species that ward them off.
Mosquitoes pose a lot of health risks to people and are attracted by certain conditions. These are favorable conditions such as stagnant water, marshes, tall grasses, etc.
Popular Plants That Deter Mosquitoes
To tackle the potential problems posed by mosquito presence, it’s best to find ways to deter them from your surroundings.
There are several ways to exterminate them; however, we’re more concerned with natural strategies for deterring mosquitoes.
One such involves the use of plants for mosquito control. This is what we’ll be focusing on.
Mosquito Repellent Plants That Ward Them Off
There are lots of plants that have been proven to have mosquito repellent properties. Just growing these around your home goes a long way to keep mosquitoes at bay.
So, what are they? Such plants include Chrysanthemum, Citronella Grass, Lavender, Marigolds, Rosemary, Catnip, and Basil.
Others include Bee Balm, Scented Geraniums, Sage, Mint, Floss Flower, and Alliums among others.
We’ll be looking at each of these plants with a focus on providing a brief introduction, how they repel, how to use, and side effects (if any) associated with their use.
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Citronella Grass
This plant gives off a lemon scent which has a repelling effect for several types of pests including mosquitoes. It is also widely used as one of the main ingredients in mosquito torches and repellent sprays.
- How it Works
To successfully repel mosquitoes using citronella grass, it’s necessary to know how it works.
In addition to the lemon scent it gives off, this plant also contains oils. These oils are the primary mosquito repellents.
- How to Use Citronella Grass
The oils contained in this plant won’t be released automatically. Extraction is necessary.
Another effective way to get these oils out is by crushing the grass blades and rubbing them onto the skin or clothing. This will harm mosquitoes, thus keeping them at bay.
- Side Effects
There are likely risks attached to the use of citronella grass as a mosquito repellent. When the grass blades are crushed to release the oils, applying to the skin may result in allergies or skin irritations.
When this happens, you’ll need to discontinue its use immediately and find better alternatives.
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Lavender
Lavender is a drought-resistant plant with pest repelling properties. This plant releases a pleasant scent that originates from the oils found on the leaves.
Not only are mosquitoes repelled by this plant, but other insect pests are also deterred by it.
- How it Works
How does lavender work to repel mosquitoes?
It’s easy! The pleasing scent given off by lavender, though enjoyed by humans is disliked by mosquitoes. Growing this plant in your yard or having them potted should suffice.
- How to Use
Lavender can be used in several ways to repel mosquitoes. One of them involves growing them around your home. This plant can be potted and placed indoors where some sunlight comes in.
Additionally, the oils contained in lavender plants can be extracted and applied to skin or clothing. This helps significantly in keeping mosquitoes at bay.
- Side Effects
Lavender plants or oils may sometimes cause skin irritations when applied directly to the skin. However, it’s important to note that such doesn’t happen often.
When it does, you must seek medical advice and attention and discontinue its use.
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Marigolds
With marigolds around your garden and yard, mosquitoes are easily repelled without much problem. This plant has a sweet scent which, when released is pleasant. However, mosquitoes and other pests dislike this scent.
These plants can be grown to serve as a barrier in addition to making your surroundings as unwelcoming to mosquitoes as possible.
- How it Works
Bugs and insects (including mosquitoes) find the aroma from marigolds repulsive due to a chemical compound is known as pyrethrum. This is used in lots of mosquito repellent products.
When the scent is released, it permeates your surroundings, thus forming an invincible barrier.
- How to Use Marigolds
The level of relief from mosquitoes obtained from the use of marigolds depends on how well it’s used.
So, how do you use marigolds to repel mosquitoes? Having as many marigolds planted around your property should make your home less inviting to mosquitoes.
These plants can be grown as ornamental border plants to not only repel pests but also beautify your surroundings.
- Side Effects
There may be allergic reactions resulting in dizziness, breathing difficulty, itchiness, swelling, and rash among others. It’s important to discontinue its use immediately when any of these signs are noticed.
Also, seek medical attention.
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Rosemary
Rosemary plants come with a distinct woody scent which helps repel mosquitoes and other insect pests.
These herbs can easily be grown as border plants or serve as decorations. Rosemary also has nutritional value with its scent making your surroundings appealing.
- How it Works
Rosemary can either be used in its fresh form by growing it around your home or potting it for indoor purposes.
Although the aroma released by this plant is pleasing to humans, the opposite is true for insect pests.
Mosquitoes are irritated and overwhelmed by this scent and keep away.
- How to Use
The effective use of rosemary as a mosquito repellent depends on knowing just how to use it.
When potted, these plants can be placed on window sills and around entrances to achieve the desired repelling effect. When dried, burning releases an aromatic smoke that permeates your surroundings thus drives them off.
- Side Effects
There may be side effects associated with rosemary used as a mosquito repellent. However, such isn’t common.
Allergic reactions may result in rashes and itchy skin among others. When any unusual reaction is noticed, it’s necessary to seek medical help and discontinue its use immediately.
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Catnip
Catnips belong to the mint family and serve as one of several plants with a repelling effect on mosquitoes. A great thing about catnips is that they can be grown easily as they are less demanding.
However, you’ll need to maintain or regulate its growth to ensure it doesn’t invade other areas of your garden, especially where companion planting is involved.
- How it Works
Catnip plants contain essential oils known as nepetalactone which is highly effective in repelling mosquitoes.
This essential oil gives catnip plants their characteristic odor which helps keep mosquitoes at bay.
- How to Use Catnip Plants to Repel Mosquitoes
To successfully repel mosquitoes using catnip plants, have them planted around your home.
These can also be introduced indoors by potting such plants. The scent released gets the job done by permeating your surroundings thus creating unfavorable conditions for mosquitoes.
- Side Effects
When you use catnip as your preferred mosquito repellent, you must be wary of possible symptoms associated with allergies that may appear.
Noticing anything out of the ordinary should be enough reason to discontinue its use immediately and seek medical help.
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Basil
Basil herbs are among plants that help repel mosquitoes. These plants give off a pungent smell that unsettles a variety of pests. Wherever they are, basil plants will easily drive off mosquitoes.
All you need is to have them planted in the right spots. These can also be grown in containers and placed around entryways, porches, and window sills for desired effects.
- How it Works
Apart from the nutritional value, it brings, basil releases a strong aroma that deters mosquitoes from hanging around. You can have this planted around areas of your home having the most mosquito presence.
- How to Use Basil
While the presence of basil plants in your yard or garden is sufficient to drive away mosquitoes, there are additional ways to use this plant. One of such includes crushing its leaves and rubbing them on your skin.
Doing so will make mosquitoes keep their distance.
- Side Effects of Basil Use
Using basil plants for mosquito control may lead to adverse reactions due to allergies.
In such cases, it’s best to discontinue its use and find other alternatives such as those listed in this article. Also, seek medical attention.
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Bee Balm
Bee balm plants add beauty to your surroundings with their colorful flowers. Colors range from shades of red, white, pink, lavender, and purple.
More importantly, bee balm will keep mosquitoes off your property.
- How it Works
Bee balms perform a great job of masking the smell of the usual hosts for mosquitoes through the pungent incense-like scent it releases. This increasingly makes it difficult for mosquitoes to feed and creates an unwelcoming environment.
- How to Use Bee Balm for Mosquito Control
Using bee balm for mosquito control is easy! Simply grow a sufficient number of these plants around your home or property. This should serve the purpose of making your home inhabitable.
Mosquitoes will need to find a more suitable location to feed, thus creating an environment free of them.
- Side Effects
Whether you’re using bee balm ointment or plants for mosquito control, possible side effects may emerge.
Such may include dry skin, stinging sensation, or other forms of skin irritations. When this happens, it’s best to discontinue its use and seek alternative measures.
There are several plants with mosquito repelling properties. However, we’ve only considered a few of them. Trying any of these plants should give you the results you seek.