19 Anti-Insect Plants That Naturally Protect Your Home & Garden.
Every time I step outside, I attract insects.
It's simple. Me, I am a real insect magnet!
Are you the same? I'm glad I'm not the only one then!
The good news is, you don't need to wage chemical warfare using commercial sprays stuffed with toxic chemicals.
Fortunately, there are natural solutions to fight mosquitoes, midges or flies.
To enjoy your evenings outdoors without being hassle, the trick is to use plants that naturally repel insects.
Once placed in strategic places on your terrace or vegetable garden, you are at peace!
Indeed, some plants naturally contain essential oils that act as an insect repellent.
Besides, you can even use these plants to make 100% natural insect repellent sprays as explained here.
So, without further ado, here is the list of 19 plants that repel insects from your home and garden. Look :
AROMATIC HERBS
1. Basil
Basil is a natural repellent against flies and mosquitoes.
Plant your basil in flower pots and place them in strategic places.
For example, on window sills, near doors, but also outside, in places where you like to relax.
The little extra is that basil is a perfect flavoring for salads, pork recipes and even in soups.
Basil can also be used to enhance the flavors of vegetables, especially tomatoes, peppers and asparagus.
Another advantage, you can also use fresh basil to make your own bug spray ! Here is the recipe:
Ingredients
- 125 to 175 g of fresh basil leaves (with the stems)
- 12 cl of inexpensive vodka
- spray bottle
How to use it
- Put the fresh basil leaves in a large jar and pour 12 cl of boiling water over them.
- Let the basil steep for several hours.
- Remove the leaves, and squeeze them over the jar to catch excess infused water.
- Add the 12 cl of vodka to the basil-water solution and mix well.
- Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and store in the refrigerator.
- Spray your bug spray on the skin when you go outside. Avoid applying it to the areas around the eyes, nose and mouth.
2. Lavender
Lavender is a natural repellent against moths, fleas, flies and mosquitoes.
Used for centuries for its anti-insect properties, lavender gives off a sweet and pleasant scent in the home, especially in drawers and closets of clothes.
Most people love the scent of lavender. But mosquitoes, flies and other unwanted insects hate it!
How to use it
- To keep flies away from your home, make wreaths with dried lavender stems, and place them near doors and on window sills.
- Likewise, plant lavender in sunny areas of the garden and near the entrances to your house.
- You can also use this lavender oil. Applied to the skin, it protects you from mosquitoes when you are gardening or spending time on your patio.
- The other benefit is that lavender oil is known for its nourishing properties on the skin, as well as its calming effect to make it easier to fall asleep.
To discover : The 6 Amazing Uses of Lavender.
3. Lemongrass
Lemongrass is a natural mosquito repellant.
Lemongrass essential oil consists of citral, geraniol, myrcene, limonene and especially citronellal - natural compounds used in commercial mosquito repellent candles.
Indeed, the anti-mosquito properties of citronella are widely recognized. Besides, I'm sure you've heard of it before. During summer, citronella candles are easily found in stores.
Lemongrass is a fast growing herbaceous plant, easily reaching four feet in height and three feet in width, all in one season!
Realize lemongrass isn't just the name of a single plant. It is the generic name of the plants of the family Cymbopogon, which includes several types of lemongrass.
How to use it
- In most climates, lemongrass is a annual plant, that is, its life cycle lasts only one year. It is grown in pots or in sunny, well-drained soil. Click here for our article on how to grow lemongrass and enjoy its benefits.
- Aromatic plant with a sweet lemony scent, its narrow leaves work wonders in cooking. Use lemongrass in chicken and pork recipes, or to flavor soups and dressings. Many Asian recipes also use lemongrass.
4. Lemon thyme
Lemon thyme is a natural mosquito repellant.
Undemanding, lemon thyme is a perennial plant, that is, it can live for several years and bear fruit several times in its existence.
It grows easily in dry, rocky and shallow soils.
Lemon thyme thrives in your herb garden as well as in a pebble bed or garden border, as long as these areas get plenty of sunlight.
How to use it
Note that the plant itself does not repel mosquitoes! This is because to release the repellant oils from lemon thyme, you must first crush its leaves.
Don't worry, it's not too complicated. To do this, simply cut a few stems of lemon thyme and rub them between your hands.
But before that, it is recommended to take a test to be 100% sure that this plant does not irritate your skin.
To determine your tolerance, rub crushed lemon thyme leaves on a small area of your forearm for several days.
5. Mint
Mint is a natural mosquito repellant.
Mint spreads very aggressively in the garden. So it's best to grow it in a pot, unless you want it to take over the entire garden!
Indeed, once well established in a garden, it is very difficult to get rid of it.
Mint leaves are commonly used to flavor iced tea and other cold drinks.
It is often forgotten, but know that the aromatic properties of mint leaves are also present in its stems and flowers.
How to use it
- With little effort, the aromatic oils of mint are easily extracted. Mix these oils with apple cider vinegar and a little inexpensive vodka (or witch hazel floral water) to make an insect spray.
- To keep insects away from surrounding plants, plant mint in pots and arrange them in strategic places in your garden or patio.
- To stimulate the growth of broccoli, cabbage and turnips, just add a few sprigs of mint to their mulch.
To discover : The 3 Virtues of Mint You Don't Know About.
6. Rosemary
Rosemary is a natural repellant against mosquitoes and many other insects that are harmful to vegetable plants.
Know first that there are many varieties of rosemary.
Rosemary can be grown in pots on your patio as well as in your herb garden.
But it can also be planted in flower beds, since some varieties are quite massive.
Very aromatic, chefs love to use rosemary in cooking… as much as insects hate it!
How to use it
The plant itself and its cuttings are effective repellants. You can use them to make a homemade bug spray. The recipe is simple:
- Boil a quarter of dried rosemary in 1 liter of water for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Filter the liquid into a large container of at least 2 liters.
- Add 1 liter of cold water.
- Put a lid on your container and store it in the refrigerator.
- When you go outside, put the bug remedy in small spray bottles.
- When the liquid stored in the refrigerator no longer gives off a strong rosemary odor, discard it.
7. Bay leaves
Bay leaves are a natural fly repellent.
And if you grow this plant in your garden, you'll never have to buy dried bay leaf to spice up soups and roasts again.
Just pick fresh leaves from the garden when you need them in the kitchen.
How to use it
- Put bay leaves and rosemary in a bowl and place it on the counter, next to the trash can and wherever there are flies.
- Mix 30 drops of mint essential oil in 25 cl of water and spray in the house. Check out the trick here.
8. Chives
Chives are a natural repellant against vegetable garden pests.
What insects?
Especially the carrot fly (Psila rosae), the Japanese beetle (Popillia japonica) and aphids.
9. Dill
Dill is a natural repellant against many insect pests.
In particular aphids, the squash bug (Anasa tristis), red spider mites (mites of the family of Tetranychidae), cabbage looper (Trichoplusia ni) and the tomato hornworm (Manduca quinquemaculata).
10. Lemon balm
Lemon balm is a natural mosquito repellant.
If like me, you keep getting bitten by these insects, consider planting lemon balm in your garden.
Also pot in strategic places in your house, namely around windows and doors.
11. Thyme
Thyme is a natural repellent against many insects.
This is the case of white flies (whiteflies), cabbage looper, cabbage maggot (Delia radicum), the tomato moth (Helicoverpa armigera), the tomato hornworm and the rootworm (Pieris rapae).
It is therefore essential to plant thyme if you have a vegetable patch in your garden.
ORNAMENTAL FLOWERS
12. Ornamental garlic
Ornamental garlic (genus Allium) is a natural repellant against slugs, aphids, carrot flies and tomato moths.
Family plants Allium, such as the spectacular Allium giganteum, form giant balls of star flowers perched on long stems.
These plants, also called ornamental garlic, are known for their powerful repellant properties.
How to use it
- Planting beautiful, tall alliums in your home garden is an easy way to repel many insect pests, including aphids, carrot flies and tomato moths.
- Plants in your vegetable garden can benefit from the insect-fighting properties of alliums planted nearby, including: tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, cabbage, broccoli, kohlrabi and carrots.
- Alliums are also known to repel aphids from rose bushes.
13. Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums are a natural repellant against many varieties of insect pests.
The scent of chrysanthemums is known to ward off cockroaches, ants, Japanese beetles, ticks, silverfish (Lepisma saccharina), lice, fleas, bedbugs, red spiders and root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne).
How to use them
- Chrysanthemums make an ideal companion plant to protect your vegetable garden from pest insects.
- Its secret ingredient is pyrethrin. The effectiveness of pyrethrin in killing insect pests is formidable. Moreover, it is one of the main ingredients of commercial garden insecticides. It is also found in insect sprays, pet shampoos and spray cans.
- You can make your own insecticide spray (i.e. one that kills insects, not just repels them) from the chrysanthemum flowers. However, be aware that the pyrethrin that is extracted can be carcinogenic to humans. So, be especially careful if you are using it in this form, and be sure you are aware of the risks.
14. Concerns
Marigolds are a natural repellent against aphids, mosquitoes… and even rabbits!
Because they repel nematodes, marigold roots are well known to farmers and gardening professionals.
Note, however, that this quality of the roots takes a year to take effect.
How to use them
- Marigold is an easy-to-grow annual plant that adapts to all soils.
- Plant marigold either at the edge of your flower beds or strewn in your vegetable garden, because it is known for stimulate the growth of many plants, especially roses.
- Although it is easy to grow marigolds in sunny places, be aware that marigolds are susceptible to gray rot (Botrytis cinerea), several varieties of leaf spots, powdery mildew (powdery mildew), humidity and also root rot.
15. Nasturtiums
Nasturtiums are a natural repellant against white flies, squash bugs, aphids, many beetles and cabbage looper.
Nasturtiums are the perfect example of a companion plant.
If you don't know yet companionship of plants, know that it is an easy technique known to gardeners to ensure the health and vitality of your vegetables and aromatic plants.
It consists of growing complementary plants next to each other. We explain everything in this article.
How to use them
- Nasturtiums naturally release a chemical compound suspended in the air that repels predatory insects. As a result, it not only protects the nasturtium, but also the surrounding plants.
- Because they repel a large number of insect pests, nasturtiums are ideal to plant at the edge of your vegetable garden to protect your vegetables, especially tomatoes, cucumbers, kale, kohlrabi, cabbage rider (Brassica oleracea), broccoli, cabbage and radish.
- But rest assured, because nasturtiums do not repel the most effective pollinator: the bumblebee.
16. Petunias
Petunias are a natural repellant against aphids, tomato hornworms, asparagus beetles, leafhoppers and squash bugs.
In the kitchen garden, petunias make excellent companion plants. In fact, some people consider them to be Mother Nature's most effective pesticide.
Petunias are extremely widespread. This is mainly because of their wide variety of vibrant colors, their ease of maintenance and because they can be grown in borders, in planters or hanging.
How to use them
Plant them in a sunny spot, near home vegetables and herbs, including beans, tomatoes, peppers, and basil.
17. Lantanas
Lantanas are a natural mosquito repellant.
Consider planting it in your garden or in pots around the windows of the house to repel mosquitoes.
Not only are they beautiful flowers, but they also keep insects away from you.
CARNIVORA PLANTS
18. Pitcher plants
Pitcher plants attract insects, drown them and digest them.
They are part of the largest family of carnivorous plants, the Sarracenia.
Its tube-shaped leaves, called "urns", contain a liquid that attracts and drugs insects.
The inner walls of the urns are covered with downward sloping hairs, which prevents insects from climbing up.
So, once inside, the insects drown and are digested by the plant.
The preferred prey of pitcher plants are ants, flies, wasps, bees, beetles, slugs and snails.
How to do
- In the wild, pitcher plants grow in peatlands. So, plant them in a sunny spot but in moist soil, a difficult combination for home gardeners.
- The easiest is to grow them in a pot, and put the pot in a saucer filled with water. But be careful not to overwater the substrate, which should just stay moist.
19. Venus flytrap
The flycatcher eats flies, but also other insects such as ants.
Results
And there you have it, you now know the plants that naturally repel insects from your home and garden :-)
Be aware that the mere fact of having insect-repellent plants in your garden will not guarantee that this space will be totally rid of pests.
"There has not yet been enough research in this area to confirm this," says Dr Bodie Pennisi, senior lecturer and landscaping specialist at the University of Georgia in the United States.
"The essential oil content of plants is not sufficient to offer 100% protection, of course."
But what is certain is that you will have much less insects using these plants says Dr Pennisi.
But no one has done scientific research to find out exactly how many plants to plant, and how far apart, to repel insects most effectively.
Bonus tip
The best trick against insects, especially mosquitoes, is to first take care not to attract them.
"One of the best things you can do to reduce mosquito populations, it's eliminate areas of standing water"advises Dr Pennisi.
Why ? Because that's where mosquitoes breed en masse. Check out our tip here.
Your turn...
Have you tried these plants to repel insects in your home and garden? Tell us in the comments if it was effective. We can't wait to hear from you!
Do you like this trick ? Share it with your friends on Facebook.
Also to discover:
8 Plants That Hunt Insects and Mosquitoes Naturally.
11 Mosquito Repellent Plants You Should Have In Your Home.
