10 Plants to Keep Around Your House To Prep For Mosquito Season (And Where to Find Them)
Apr 10, 2020 06:48PM ● By Melanie Heisinger
Citronella plant. Flickr.
Mosquito season is right around the corner, and with us spending more time at home these days, it's even more important to keep the pesky bugs at bay.
While you're planning out your summer garden, consider adding a few of these plants to your layout to help the keep the mosquitoes away.
Scroll to the bottom for a list of local nurseries!
Make a delicious pasta AND repel mosquitoes? Win-win! Basil is not just for topping your latest food creation, but also helps keeps those bugs away. According to Proflowers.com, "Basil is toxic to mosquito larvae, so you can put it near standing water to deter mosquitoes from laying eggs."
Also, it repels flies -- bonus!
If done right, they can be an indoor or outdoor herb, though it can be a bit fussy. Be sure to talk to a professional at the nursery you go to for tips on maintenance. See our nursery recommendations below!
Marigolds are beautiful, and edible. Gardeners tend to place them at the edges of their gardens as they help repel all pests, including deer and rabbits. Also, they specifically protect tomatoes, so you can make the sauce that was going to go with your basil! They thrive the best outside where they can get a full day of sunshine.
Marigolds can typically be found in the floral section of your local nursery. Be sure to talk to a professional at the nursery you go to. See our nursery recommendations below!
No, it's not just for our furry friends! Catnip contains nepetalactone, a strong mosquito repellant, with properties known to be more effective than DEET, when combined with other chemicals. However, catnip also attracts felines, so be sure to put it somewhere in your garden that's safe for them. They sometimes enjoy laying down on top of the plant (pictured), so be aware of that!
Catnip is best outside, but easy to care for. A note though -- it can begin to take over your garden if you don't wrangle it in, so keep that in mind if you decide to plant it. Be sure to talk to a professional at the nursery you go to. See our nursery recommendations below!
Its smell is known to provide calm and relaxation. Even more relaxing, they can help keep those very un-relaxing bugs away! According to Angieslist, "lavender dissuades mosquitoes and gnats from invading your outdoor dinner party when planted in the garden or in pots placed by windows, doors and entertainment areas."
Also, dried lavender hung in wardrobes can keep moths away, which is a great bonus.
Enjoy the benefit of attracting pollinators like butterflies and bees, a necessity at this time. Be sure to talk to a professional at the nursery you go to. See our nursery recommendations below!
Bee Balm can be used for many things -- a fungus-fighting tea, body oil, as a fragrant salad-topper, mixed into a jelly, to attract pollinators, and -- most importantly -- repel mosquitoes. It's like the cherry on top! It's beautiful and flowers, a perfect addition to your outside garden. It needs full sun to thrive, so be sure to give it a nice sunny spot.
Make it into an oil to rub onto your skin to help keep the mosquitoes away.
When it comes to planting it, be sure to talk to a professional at the nursery you go to. See our nursery recommendations below!
Floss flowers can be found in blue, pink white and purple - gorgeous compliments to any garden. Containing a coumarin, a chemical that repels mosquitoes, these flowers will help you enjoy being outdoors without being bothered. Pollinators are also big fans and you can expect to see hummingbirds and butterflies in no time!
Because it is toxic to grazing animals, it will keep other pests like deer and rabbits away. So, it's another good option for an edging plant.
Floss flowers do best in partial shade, but be sure to talk to a professional at the nursery you go to. See our nursery recommendations below!
Need I say more? It is a staple in so many dishes, and could really add to the Italian dish you have going with the Basil you're growing and the tomatoes you're protecting with the Marigolds!
Oh, and its pungent smell also helps with keeping the mosquitoes at bay. And the vampires. So make sure to munch on it as much as you can. Even better, it can help to reduce cholesterol.
Best in full sun, garlic can also help keep ants away. Be sure to talk to a professional at the nursery you go to. See our nursery recommendations below!
So many uses here, where to start? Not only does this mint-family herb keep the mosquitoes at bay, it can help with an upset stomach, as well as reduce stress. It is also known to attract pollinators such as butterflies and bees.
Bonus -- it helps keep fleas away, too!
However, when it comes to planting this in your garden, keep in mind that it's invasive. According to Angieslist, "It’s fast growing, drought resistant and reseeds itself, so consider planting in a pot rather than in your yard to avoid a lemon balm takeover." Be sure to talk to a professional at the nursery you go to. See our nursery recommendations below!
Pyrethrums are beautiful white flowers that would not only be a great addition to any garden, but repel mosquitoes, too. In fact, it is said that soldiers during the Napoleonic wars used Pyrethrums to keep control bugs like fleas and lice.
According to dengarden.com, "Pyrethrum keeps mosquitoes away through the six esters known as pyrethrins, which are active ingredients contained in the flower heads known as achenes (the future seeds)."
When planning for your garden, be sure to talk to a professional at the nursery you go to for tips. See our nursery recommendations below!
3782 Route 113
Thetford Center, VT
220 Mechanic St
Lebanon, NH
(603) 448-6110
Scroll through their extensive online store and take advantage of their curbside pickup option! You can even give them a call to speak with any expert you need to. If you are near Lebanon, this is a great option to consider when building your garden.
Did we miss a nursery or garden center? Let us know in the comments and we'll add them!
Sources:
While you're planning out your summer garden, consider adding a few of these plants to your layout to help the keep the mosquitoes away.
Scroll to the bottom for a list of local nurseries!
Our Top 10 Mosquito-Repelling Plants
There are plenty of choices our there, but these are our top 10. Take a look!1. Citronella
(Pictured Above) Most commonly known, Citronella is typically found in candles and scents that will repel mosquitoes. It's strong scent is known to mask what is a strong attractant for bugs, such as carbon dioxide. Luckily, this plant is incredibly low maintenance and can grow up to six feet tall. There are plenty of variations to this plant, so be sure to talk to a professional at the nursery you go to. See our nursery recommendations below!2. Basil
Also, it repels flies -- bonus!
If done right, they can be an indoor or outdoor herb, though it can be a bit fussy. Be sure to talk to a professional at the nursery you go to for tips on maintenance. See our nursery recommendations below!
3. Marigolds
Marigolds can typically be found in the floral section of your local nursery. Be sure to talk to a professional at the nursery you go to. See our nursery recommendations below!
4. Catnip
Flickr.
Catnip is best outside, but easy to care for. A note though -- it can begin to take over your garden if you don't wrangle it in, so keep that in mind if you decide to plant it. Be sure to talk to a professional at the nursery you go to. See our nursery recommendations below!
5. Lavender
Also, dried lavender hung in wardrobes can keep moths away, which is a great bonus.
Enjoy the benefit of attracting pollinators like butterflies and bees, a necessity at this time. Be sure to talk to a professional at the nursery you go to. See our nursery recommendations below!
6. Bee Balm
Make it into an oil to rub onto your skin to help keep the mosquitoes away.
When it comes to planting it, be sure to talk to a professional at the nursery you go to. See our nursery recommendations below!
7. Floss Flower
Because it is toxic to grazing animals, it will keep other pests like deer and rabbits away. So, it's another good option for an edging plant.
Floss flowers do best in partial shade, but be sure to talk to a professional at the nursery you go to. See our nursery recommendations below!
8. Garlic
Oh, and its pungent smell also helps with keeping the mosquitoes at bay. And the vampires. So make sure to munch on it as much as you can. Even better, it can help to reduce cholesterol.
Best in full sun, garlic can also help keep ants away. Be sure to talk to a professional at the nursery you go to. See our nursery recommendations below!
9. Lemon Balm
Bonus -- it helps keep fleas away, too!
However, when it comes to planting this in your garden, keep in mind that it's invasive. According to Angieslist, "It’s fast growing, drought resistant and reseeds itself, so consider planting in a pot rather than in your yard to avoid a lemon balm takeover." Be sure to talk to a professional at the nursery you go to. See our nursery recommendations below!
10. Pyrethrum
According to dengarden.com, "Pyrethrum keeps mosquitoes away through the six esters known as pyrethrins, which are active ingredients contained in the flower heads known as achenes (the future seeds)."
When planning for your garden, be sure to talk to a professional at the nursery you go to for tips. See our nursery recommendations below!
Local Nurseries
If you have a list of mosquito-repelling plants you're ready to grab for your garden, consider going to one of this stores located in and around the Woodstock area!E. C. Browns' Nursery
Courtesy of E. C. Browns' Nursery.
Thetford Center, VT
(802) 785-2167
E.C. Browns' is a family-run garden center in Thetford Center, VT. Here, you'll find hardy northern grown plants for Vermont and New Hampshire. This includes Perennials, Shrubs, Evergreens, Fruit plants, Trees, Broadleaf evergreens, Vines and Roses, and so much more! Give them a call today and get your garden started!
Henderson’s Tree and Garden Services
Courtesy of Henderson’s Tree & Garden Services.
1542 Route 14
White River Junction, VT
(802) 296-3771
If you're more of a hands-off gardener and want the experts to step in, Henderson's is the perfect place to call. They have everything you would need for your garden and can even help you with landscape design and installation. Give them a call and see what they can do for your garden today! White River Junction, VT
(802) 296-3771
Gardener's Supply Company
Courtesy of www.gardeners.com.
Lebanon, NH
(603) 448-6110
Scroll through their extensive online store and take advantage of their curbside pickup option! You can even give them a call to speak with any expert you need to. If you are near Lebanon, this is a great option to consider when building your garden.
Did we miss a nursery or garden center? Let us know in the comments and we'll add them!
Sources:
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