Many of you have plants in your office and your home. You might even have a variety of plants that you keep as a part of your décor. But did you know that some of these plants are great for keeping pests away?
Many plants have developed the ability to repel insects. And these plants are often used for natural pest control through companion planting, the practice of growing different plants together to achieve specific results based largely on anecdotal evidence.
To understand how some plants are effective in repelling pests, we must first understand how insects react. Like humans, insects find their food by using their sense of smell. And since they rely on scent to locate their food, nature’s way of driving away pests is by disrupting the insect’s sense of smell.
Plants, such as herbs, that have pungent scents can be very effective insect deterrents. Here are some must-have plants in your garden to repel pests and insects.
Basil
Basil is an excellent repellent for mosquitoes and insects. You may grow this herb at your front entrance or in your garden. The scent of this plant repels pests, and it is occasionally utilized in insect repellent sprays. Growing basil is simple since you can buy a plant in a container and just put it in your garden; nevertheless, this one-year plant needs a lot of light and water to thrive, so choose your location carefully.
Lavender
Lavender has been used to impart a lovely scent to homes and clothing drawers for generations. It’s also a great pest-control plant since it repels fleas, mosquitoes, and flies. Plant it in a bright spot in your garden or near your front door. This plant is simple to care for because it can withstand almost any weather condition.
Dill (Anathum Graveolens)
Dill is a fantastic insect repellent for cabbage moths and spider mites. Dill is also a host plant for black swallowtail butterflies and attracts helpful insects such as parasitic wasps that deposit eggs in tomato hornworms. You’ll lose a little dill while the larvae eat, but they’re only there for a short time, and the butterflies are beautiful.
Garlic
Aphids, cabbage moths, codling moths, Mexican bean beetles, peach borer, Japanese beetles, and rabbits are all deterred by garlic. Garlic planted under roses to prevent Japanese beetles is a traditional companion planting strategy.
Citronella
Citronella grass also contains essential oils that repel mosquitos. It’s also an effective natural insect repellent, as its odor irritates insects. In just one season, this plant may reach a height of four feet. It grows best in a container or a sunny, well-drained position on the ground.
Rosemary
Rosemary repels a range of insects that are detrimental to other plants, but mosquitoes dislike it the most. This herb may be cultivated in your yard or pots. Insects dislike the smell of rosemary oils.
Oregano
Cabbage moths are repelled by oregano. Because it is a spreading perennial, it might be difficult to interplant. You might try planting newly cut springs near your cole crops, but they’ll need to be replanted regularly. Instead, plant them in pots and scatter them across the garden beds.
Chrysanthemum
Spider mites, ticks, roaches, lice, and flea aphids are all pests that are repelled by chrysanthemum. It has traditionally been used to shield other plants from insects, but it may also be used as a pest control plant. Pyrethrum, an element found in chrysanthemum blooms, keeps pests at bay. Many indoor sprays and pet washes contain this component.
Key Takeaway
Plants with pungent scents are among the most effective insect repellants, and many of these are herbs, so they add two purposes to your garden. In addition, some repellant plants also attract beneficial insects you want in the garden. Therefore, you can have natural pest control by simply planting the plants listed above.
