Mosquitoes can spread disease--and make you itch!
Gardening is a favorite past time of millions of Americans, but it can be more of a pain than a pleasure if you are bitten by mosquitoes while outside. Instead of covering yourself with bug spray before you step out the door, plant mosquito repellent plants in your garden. These common and easy to find plants will keep the mosquitoes away while adding beauty to your landscape. Does this Spark an idea?
Catnip
While it may attract cats to your garden, catnip will repel mosquitoes--they cannot tolerate the smell. A 2001 study done by an Iowa State University entomologist, Chris Peterson, demonstrated that nepetalactone, the oil made by the plant, is roughly 10 times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET since it takes less of the oil to repel mosquitoes.
Plant it in containers, though. Being a member of the mint family, catnip spreads willingly.
Citronella Plant
The fragrance from the citronella plant is used in many mosquito repellent items, like candles and sprays. The tropical plant is not practical to grow in colder climates, so scientists genetically engineered a hardier plant--a geranium hybrid--to carry the fragrance. The smell from the geranium-hybrid is not as overwhelming as the candles can be, but it repels mosquitoes just as well. It also has the benefit of driving the little bloodsuckers away all day, not just when a candle is lit.
Marigolds
Marigolds are easy-to-grow, colorful plants with a long bloom season--and they have the added benefit of repelling mosquitoes. The produce a fragrance that the mosquitoes do not like. In fact, the oils of this flower is used in many commercial mosquito repellents.
Marigolds also are unappealing to many other garden pests, and are often co-planted in vegetable gardens to ward off crop-killing insects. Plant marigolds as edging in your garden beds and enjoy a summer with less mosquitoes.
Ageratum
Ageratum contains the chemical, coumarin, which mosquitoes avoid. The essential oils of this plant are also used in commercial repellents. An attractive, low-growing plant, it is perfect for borders and containers. They produce delicate flowers from June until the first frost, so they provide a season of mosquito repellent in a pretty little package. It should not be handled by those with sensitive skin since it can cause a rash.
Lemon Bee Balm
Also known as horsemint, this plant produces a scent similar to citronella. It has pretty purple flowers and a lemony scent that makes it a pleasant addition to any garden, with the added benefit of keeping mosquitoes at bay.
This plant is also in the mint family and is an aggressive spreader, so it is best to plant it in containers or in an enclosed bed.
Tags: mosquito repellent, your garden, added benefit, mint family, oils this