Bugs Be Gone! Send Mosquitos Packing With These Plants
Mosquitos—everyone’s least favourite summer party guest. They’re rude, they overstay their welcome, they have no personal boundaries, and they certainly don’t do social distancing of any kind. While it’s hard to revoke a party invitation since they never got one in the first place—you can repel those bugs! Strategic container planting will help make your yard and patio space less appealing for mosquitos.
Many common plants and herbs that we use in our gardens will repel mosquitos and other bugs. If you combine these into a few planters around your outdoor seating areas, the mosquitos will be less inclined to invite themselves to dinner.
The key with these pest repelling plants is placement. Sitting on their own, these plants don’t give off a ton of scent. But if they’re placed in locations where you’ll brush your hand through them or slightly jostle them as you walk by, they’ll release their mosquito-repelling fragrances. So, pot up your patio planters with these choices, and keep them near your outdoor seating areas.
Plants to Repel Mosquitos & Other Bugs
The most common plants that naturally repel mosquitos, and some other pests, have strong herb-like scents. They include:
Marigolds are really an underrated hero in the garden. They’re pretty, they’re easy, they’re drought-tolerant, and they grow fast. Plus, their mild scent repels all sorts of creatures, from mosquitos to cats, and even aphids, thrips, whiteflies, and tomato hornworms. Marigolds are a great way to add gorgeous bright colour and discourage mosquitos. There are many varieties and sizes of marigolds, but generally, they make a great filler for planters.
Besides being a tasty herb for your cooking, basil has a scent that many pesky bugs don’t like. There are plenty of varieties of basil, including some gorgeous purple ones, so try a few different varieties. Spicy globe basil has a particularly strong scent and looks beautiful as a small topiary.
Lavender herb is one that many humans like, but bugs don’t appreciate it. Lavender adds a unique icy-green foliage and beautiful texture to planters. Lavender does need excellent drainage and lots of heat, so it’s best in a full sun location.
Rosemary has a similar texture to lavender but with a slightly more savoury and spicy scent. It’s another one that mosquitos don’t love. Cabbage moths and carrot flies also don’t like rosemary. Rosemary can be pruned like a topiary or grown as a shrub, like lavender.
Lemongrass is the herb that citronella oil comes from, so it’s great to add to your anti-mosquito patio planters. It adds a delightfully tall grassy aesthetic to planters, so it’s an excellent thriller or backdrop for more colourful pest-repelling plants.
Bugs also don’t love thyme, and the creeping varieties make excellent spillers in patio planters. Thyme is also an excellent choice as a lawn alternative as it can take quite a bit of foot traffic, never needs to be mowed, and looks stunning when it flowers in the spring.
Tasty and refreshing mint repels all sorts of pests, not just mosquitos. Fire ants and many flies are also not big fans of it. There are many different types of mint, so pick your favourite flavour for mojitos, juleps, or refreshing mint water. Spearmint will also work to repel them.
Remember, when we brush past these plants or a wind rustles through them, their scents are released to keep the bugs away. Ideally, you’ll want to have several of these planters around, perhaps one in each corner of your deck or to flank your seating areas. It’s also good to note that while these plants will help reduce mosquitos, they may attract cute buzzy pollinator insects—it’s a win-win! We’ve got all sorts of choices for anti-mosquito planters at Mother Nature, so stop and get started on your mosquito prevention plan.