We all could certainly do with less pests in our lives, especially the type that bite, sting, and raid your pantry. Getting rid of household pests is an age old problem with a lot of varied solutions.
Our favorite solution for getting rid of bugs and rodents is using pest repelling plants to ward them off. The best thing about using plants to repel pests is it’s 100% natural, so there’s no harm, and you add more beauty to your garden.
How to use plants to repel pests
1. Plant live plants around your property
The best place for pest repelling plants is wherever their meal of choice happens to be. That may be in and around your home, around the chicken coop, or in the vegetable garden.
Planting pest repellant plants around your property not only helps keep pests away from those zones, you can use the leaves and flowers to ward them off elsewhere too.
2. Use the leaves or flowers in sachets, sprays, and infusions
Dehydrate the leaves and/or flowers from pest repelling plants to make a portable pest repellent that can be used wherever you’re having trouble.
Dried herbs and flowers can be just as effective at repelling pests as live ones. Dried herbs can be hung near windows, placed in sachets inside drawers and cupboards, or used in decorations like wreaths and bouquets. Lavender flowers, in particular, make for beautiful pest repellant home decor.
These plants can also be used fresh. Many people take the freshly picked leaves and rub them between their hands to release the oils, then spread them on exposed skin to ward off bugs.
Another great way to use the fresh leaves is to infuse them in oil, then use the oil on your self or around the house to keep insects away.
Yet another way to use fresh herbs is to make a tincture using alcohol or vinegar. This can be poured into a spray bottle for easy homemade bug spray.
Where to plant pest repelling plants
Where to place these plants is entirely dependent on where you’re in need of pest repelling. If you’re dealing with insect pests eating your garden plants, planting them around the perimeter or even inside the garden will help.
If you’re having issues with mosquitoes or flies on your property, planting repelling plants around the perimeter as well as in pots and window boxes near the house will help.
Some of these plants can even be kept in pots indoors all year round to help repel insects and rodents from entering your house.
The best places for pest repellent plants:
- Next to the front door, back door, and side door
- In pots on a balcony or porch
- Bordering the patio or deck
- Bordering or interspersed in the vegetable garden
- In flower boxes under windowsills
- Bordering the chicken coop
- In pots indoors or on outdoor tables
Which plants will repel pests?
1. Citronella
Most people are familiar with citronella and know that it’s a common ingredient in mosquito-repelling products. What they aren’t aware of is that citronella is a beautiful perennial grass that grows in clumps 5 to 6 feet tall and emits a strong aroma. It is easy to grow and the scent is more powerful than manufactured repellents, making it an effective plant to add to the yard to keep mosquitoes at bay.
2. Marigolds
These cheerfully bright, annual ornamentals contain pyrethrum, a natural form of the compound, pyrethrin that is found in most commercial insect repellants. Marigolds emit this botanical insecticide from their flowers, leaves and roots. According to NewScientist, this unique smell – a characteristic of the volatile insecticide – is especially toxic to mosquitoes that carry yellow fever and malaria.
3. Peppermint
Both the scent and the taste of peppermint plants deters mosquitos and other insects. As an added bonus, if you do get bitten, MedicalNewsToday recommends using peppermint oil on mosquito bites because of its cooling sensation on the skin; rub the leaves directly on an affected area for relief.
4. Lavender
Essential oils in the leaves of lavender plants give off a soothing fragrance that acts as a natural mosquito (and sometimes deer and other critters) repellent. Once established, lavender plants are drought-tolerant and very hardy. If you have problems with mosquitoes in the house, try growing a potted lavender plant on an indoor windowsill.
5. Lemon balm
Another citrus-scented plant, lemon balm is a fast-growing plant that is easy for beginning gardeners to grow. It is both drought- and shade-tolerant.
Source: ruralsprout.com