Homeowners choose plants for their properties based on a number of variables. Some may be into growing their own foods, while others desire their gardens to be an awe-inspiring mélange of bright colors and alluring scents. There’s no wrong reason to plant a fresh garden, but some plants offer extra benefits, such as repelling insects.
The good news for avid gardeners is that certain plants can help repel insects and provide the additional benefits like fresh food and aesthetic appeal that so many people love.
- Basil: repels mosquitoes and moths.
- Lavender: repels fleas, flies, mosquitoes, and moths. (Note: bees tend to be drawn to lavender.)
- Mint: repels ants and mosquitoes. (Gardeners with no experience planting mint should plant it in pots. That’s because mint is an especially aggressive spreader that can quickly take over a garden.)
- Lemongrass: Lemongrass is a tropical grass that’s so fragrant it’s often used in perfumes. Lemongrass contains citronella, which repels mosquitoes keeping them away from decks, porches and/or patios. Chrysanthemums: repel a range of insects from bedbugs to fleas to ants. They contain the natural insecticide pyrethrin. These easy-to-grow plants serve as an eco-friendly alternative to insecticides each spring-fall.
