What Plants Repel Mosquitoes?
Instructions
1. Mosquitoes are common pests in the summer months that do much more than simply damage a garden. They can spread dangerous diseases and make it less desirable to spend time outdoors. Common mosquito repellents involve poisonous chemicals that can have undesirable odors or other side effects. Most gardeners are unaware, however, that a few easy to manage plants can do much of the hard work of repelling the mosquito nuisance. If the plants themselves don't do the trick, try crunching some of the leaves to release the natural oils. If mosquitoes are still a problem, harvest the leaves and make a concentrated mixture for the spray bottle.
2. Citronella candles are already a common mosquito repellent because they don't usually involve dangerous chemicals. Citronella, also known as lemongrass, is the source of the repellent oil in mosquito resistant candles, so why not get it from the natural source? Well, for one reason, citronella grass grows to be 6 feet tall so it might not be practical in the average suburban backyard, and needs a tropic environment to thrive. Horsemint has a scent similar to citronella and grows wild in most of the Eastern United States, from Texas to Minnesota and Vermont. In addition to its mosquito repellent scent, horsemint oil is a natural fungicidal and bacterial retardant.
3. Rosemary is an attractive choice for many gardeners because it has such wonderful applications in the kitchen. Most do not suspect this popular herb is also a natural mosquito repellent. Rosemary needs hot, dry weather and well-drained soil, so may not be easy to grow in colder climates. If this is an issue, rosemary can easily be grown in a pot and moved indoors when necessary. If nothing else, rosemary oil in water can make a potent mosquito repellent mixture for a spray bottle.
4. Biodynamic farmers who not only forego chemical pesticides, but rely only on natural ecosystem relationships to manage pests, use marigolds to keep away aphids and other destructive pests. The scent of marigolds is also effective at repelling mosquitoes. Unfortunately, however, it is also good at turning away humans, so marigolds may best be reserved for larger scale operations instead of backyard gardens.
5. Most people associate catnip with its effect on the feline species, but little do most of them know it has also been found to be more than ten times better at repelling mosquitoes than DEET, a commonly used chemical in commercial pesticides. Plant some catnip around your garden and not only will the pest stay away, but your cats and all the neighborhood cats will love you!
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