Plants that Repel Mosquitos

I don't know about you, but I hate mosquitos. They annoy me, bite me, and make me super itchy! I thoroughly enjoy spending time outside, but mosquitos often ruin that for me. I recently discovered that there are a variety of beautiful plants that can help repel mosquitos and other creatures such as flies and spiders.

Although planting these plants won't deter all mosquitos it is one step in the right direction. You can also increase the insect-repelling power by releasing the plant's essential oils, chopping the stems and leaves of the plants, and adding them throughout your yard and around the outdoor living areas. Here are some of the beautiful plants that can help you if you have a mosquito problem:

Basil: This key ingredient in many dishes not only tastes and smells great, but can reduce the presence of mosquitos, thrips, house flies, and spiders. It is an easy and inexpensive plant to grow. You can make an easy natural insect repellent with basil by mixing 4 to 6 ounces of basil leaves, 4 ounces of boiling water, and 4 ounces of vodka. Pour the boiling water over the leaves and let them steep for a few hours, then remove the leaves, squeeze out the moisture and add the vodka. Put in a spray bottle and voila! a natural insect repellent.

Lavender: Lavender smells amazing and is calming, but mosquitos and flies would disagree. This beautiful pop of color will look great in your flowerbeds, but will also be helpful if you place lavender bouquets in your home to ward off house flies. An added benefit is finely chopping the plants and mixing with sweet almond oil as a skin preparation. Lavender is also great for burns while cooking or sunburns when you have had a lot of fun in the sun!

Marigolds are a beautiful fall flower and living in the south means that mosquitos hang around longer than normal. Mosquitos, flies, and spiders are not fans of marigolds. If you plant your marigolds near your tomatoes, you will find that the marigolds help deter whiteflies from your tomatoes. While repelling pests marigolds do attract bees and butterflies. Please do not kill bees! They are wonderful and pollenate everything and are very much needed. If you do decide to plant marigolds, note that they like full, direct sunlight and well-drained soil.

Eucalyptus has a strong scent that repels a variety of species of spiders and mosquitos. It is recommended that you plant eucalyptus as a potted plant as they are a tender plant and will most likely not survive a hard freeze.

Geraniums can help add color to your flowerbeds much like lavender. Geraniums have a similar scent as lemons as they have a high concentration of citronella oil and also repel slugs, beetles, and other common insects that damage garden plants.

These are just a few of many mosquito repelent plants. You can take additional steps to ward off mosquitos by avoiding stagnant water. This is a breeding ground for mosquitos so make sure you clean your bird baths, unclog any gutters, and empty old flowerpots. In addition to that, keeping your lawn mowed will help ward of unwanted pests.