5 Plants to Help Fend Off Mosquitoes

Posted on May 18th, 2017

Nothing’s worse than trying to enjoy a lovely barbeque outside and having a swarm of mosquitoes trying to eat you alive! You should be able to relax and eat your grilled food without having to swat your hands around or smack your skin because you think you got the little sucker. However, if you incorporate these five plants in your garden, mosquitoes will steer clear of your property.

1. Basil – Not only should you being growing basil for its amazing flavor and scent, but it can do wonders in mosquito control. The essential oils basil produces is toxic to mosquito larvae. Therefore, basil plants should be planted near any areas of water (mosquito breeding grounds).
2. Lavender – This pleasant smelling plant does an amazing job of keeping away mosquitoes, flies, and moths. Simply plant a few lavender plants in your yard and allow the wind to take care of the rest. If you’re looking for a natural mosquito repellent for your skin, simply rub a few lavender flowers directly onto your skin.
3. Peppermint – The essential oils within peppermint is a known insect killer. It does an amazing job repelling pests like mosquitoes, rodents, ants, and many more. Peppermint not only repels adult mosquitoes, it can also kill their larvae and eggs.
4. Sage/Rosemary – For those who are going to sit around a fire pit in the backyard or on the patio, collect some sage or rosemary from your garden. When these plants are burned, the scent will act as a repellent for many insects — especially mosquitoes. However, once you step away from the fire and smoke, you will not be protected as well.
5. Citrosum – The most popular mosquito repelling plant is the citrosum plant, also known as the “mosquito plant.” Citrosum has a strong citronella scent that is known to repel mosquitoes. Like lavender, you can take the leaves of the citrosum plant and rub them on your skin for an effective repellent.

Don’t let a swarm of mosquitoes ruin your backyard barbeque — utilize your garden to help keep them away from your property.

Turf Unlimited is a full-service lawn care provider, offering a wide variety of lawn care, fertilization, and pest and weed control services to the Massachusetts or New Hampshire area. For more information about our services call 888-649-9919 and schedule your free, in-home estimate today.

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