Plants to Help Repel Mosquitoes

Your garden and landscape may be lovely, but it can be hard to enjoy your outdoor living spaces or even do the necessary chores to keep them looking their best if you are plagued by mosquitoes every time you step outside. You can make your landscape itself fight these itchy pests, however, when you add mosquito-repelling plants to your yard.

Top Plants That Help Repel Mosquitoes

A wide variety of plants have mosquito-repellent properties, typically through strong aromas or essential oils that discourage these irritating bugs. The top plants that can help discourage mosquitoes include…

• Basil
• Catnip
• Cedar
• Chives
• Citronella grass
• Eucalyptus
• Garlic
• Geraniums (lemon scented)
• Lavender
• Lemon balm
• Lemon grass
• Lemon thyme
• Lemon verbena
• Marigold
• Pennyroyal
• Peppermint
• Pitcher plant
• Rosemary
• Sage

Exactly which of these plants will be best for your landscaping will vary based on your growing region, soil quality, moisture levels and sun exposure. Using several different plants in layers can create a more effective mosquito barrier, but take care to avoid plants that may be invasive or difficult to control in your area. If poorly chosen plants take over your garden, you may wish you had the mosquitoes back instead!

More Tips for Mosquito-Repellant Landscaping

Regardless of which plants you choose to help repel mosquitoes in your yard, there are different landscaping tactics you can use to ensure those plants are as effective as possible.

• Nurture your mosquito-repelling plants properly. The more robust and healthier the plants are, the more effective they will be to deter unwanted pests.
• Position plants that repel mosquitoes near active areas, such as around a patio or deck, adjacent to a pool and near pathways, doorways and windows.
• In addition to landscape plants, use containers for even more plants that repel mosquitoes, and move those containers around as needed for maximum protection.
• When pruning mosquito-repellant plants, crush the leaves and stems and scatter them in the yard so any remaining aromas and oils will still help keep mosquitoes away.
• Minimize any standing, stagnant water around the yard, as it will be a breeding ground for bugs. This includes dirty bird baths, improperly aligned gutters, plant saucers and pet bowls.
• Leave cobwebs intact around the yard and take steps to attract insect-loving birds and bats for natural pest control.
• Keep grass trimmed short so the top of the soil will dry out more quickly, making it less hospitable for mosquitoes.
• Use proper irrigation for your lawn and garden so it is not overwatered. Moist soil and excess puddles will only encourage more mosquitoes.

By using plants to help repel mosquitoes, you not only enjoy a lush, beautiful yard and garden, but also one free of irritating pests that make time outdoors less pleasurable.