There’s nothing worse than sitting outside enjoying the nice weather and the view of your stunning backyard only to be devoured by mosquitoes.
These pesky bugs have a way of ruining perfect weather. Not only do they buzz in your ear and fly around you, they actually suck you. Once you have had a mosquito bite, you are left to scratch the area and look like a crazy person because of all the itching.
6 beautiful plants that keep mosquitoes away:
Of course, there are plenty of sprays and repellents you can use to help keep these bugs away. However, most of these aerosols just don’t smell the best and who really wants to spray these chemicals on their body anyway?
The good news is that with simple landscape planning, you can keep mosquitoes away. There are several beautiful plants that you can put in your garden in order to keep mosquitoes away.
1. Basil
Not only is basil excellent for keeping mosquitoes and flies away. You can keep it in your window, on your deck, or anywhere you have room. It is an easy plant to grow and smells good. One of the best things about growing basil is not only its mosquito repellent effect, it’s also great for adding many dishes to your kitchen.
2. Lemongrass
You’ve probably heard of this one, as it’s one of the most common ingredients in many insect repellents. There are even candles made from it. However, you may not know that lemongrass is actually a plant. It is a perennial plant that looks like grass.
This plant has a strong smell. This smell is stronger than any product containing citronella, making it a great choice for your garden. The plant is easy to grow and can reach heights of up to five or six feet.
3. Lemon Balm
Lemon balm, which is also part of the mint family, is another natural mosquito repellent. However, lemon balm can be planted in the ground, unlike mint, it does not spread. One of the properties of lemon balm is that it reseeds every year, which can make it quite prolific, but it’s handy in case you want it to come back.
4. Lemon Thyme
Lemon thyme is another great plant to grow to keep mosquitoes away. Like basil, you can use this herb in many dishes in the kitchen, making it an extremely useful addition to any garden. The plant is beautiful and can be used to cover the soil.
5. Mint
What is amazing is that all kinds of mint perform this beneficial function. Rub the mint leaves on the skin which will give wonderful results, as it is a fragrant mosquito repellent. Mint is an easy plant to grow, but it should not be planted in the ground, but rather in pots. If mint is planted in the ground, it will spread and take over everything. You can rub the leaves on your skin for a fragrant mosquito repellent.
6. Catnip
If you have cats, chances are you already have catnip growing around your house. Catnip is actually a very pretty plant that blooms during the summer months. If your cat gets in, catnip becomes even more effective because they will have the smell on them and spread it around your yard and home.
These are just a few of the plants that can be used in your garden to deter mosquitoes. There are several others that you may also want to consider, including mint, lemon balm, marigolds, lavender, garlic, royal penny, geraniums, and lilac.
If you find that you are more prone to feeding mosquitoes than your friends, there may be a reason for this. Learn more about why mosquitoes bite some people more than others here.
