Bugs, mosquitoes, and wasps are the most irritating creatures that you will in your gardens and backyards during most of the seasons. Using insect and pest repellents may solve the problem temporarily, but they contain hazardous chemicals and toxins that result in a lot of health risks for you and your family.
Are you looking at natural ways to keep these wasps and bugs at bay? Plant more plants!
Yes, you read that right. Some plants have a very strong smell that suffocates or irritates these bugs. In this article, we are going to tell you about 5 such plants that act as natural repellents and shoo wasps away. Additionally, your garden or backyard looks beautiful when you plant these. Now that’s a double bonanza offer that you wouldn’t want to miss out on, would you?
- Lavender
You may love the pleasant smell that emanates from the lavender herb, but pests hate it. This is exactly why you need to plant lavender plants in sunny areas in your garden or the porch area in front of your house. The smell of the natural lavender essential oil in these plants is too strong to intake for insects such as mosquitoes, moths, fleas, and flies. Therefore, bugs and wasps don’t enter your home (through the front or the back), if you plant lavender plants in appropriate places.
- Mint
Mint is a multi-purpose plant that comes handy for you on several occasions. Apart from using the mint leaves for cooking tasty dishes, you can also use them to repel pests. The stems, leaves, and flowers of the mint plant contain a strong aromatic character. Mosquitoes and other insects get turned off by this strong smell. However, when you decide to grow mint plants in your garden, ensure that you grow them in pots because they grow very quickly and spread all over the ground, if you don’t use pots.
- Marigolds
The beautiful marigold plants not only increase the visual appeal of your garden but also keep insects at bay. While the aroma from the lovely flowers instantly repel insects such as mosquitoes, bugs, aphids and more, the roots of the marigold plants repel nematodes quite efficiently. Marigold plants grow very easily during the summers, and they don’t require much of maintenance from you.
- Basil
Basil not only makes for a tasty herb while seasoning your dishes, but it also helps you repel insects naturally. If you want to prevent wasps, bugs, houseflies, and mosquitoes from entering your home or garden, all you need to do is to keep a basil plant at the appropriate locations. You can also make an effective and natural insect repellent with this plant by mixing equal amounts of basil leaves, boiling water and vodka.
- Lemongrass
This is yet another herb, which is not only used for cooking, but also as a natural insect repellent. Lemongrass plants have natural essential oil in them called citronella. The strong aroma of this oil repels mosquitoes and other wasps effectively. The lemongrass is also an ornamental plant which adds beauty to your garden and backyards.