Enjoy these 11 Plants & Herbs That Naturally Repel Mosquitoes

1. Citronella
Chances are, you’ve heard of this one before- it’s one of the most common ingredients in most
mosquito repellents. Strange enough though, many people don’t even know that citronella is
actually a plant! Citronella is a beautiful perennial clumping grass that emits a strong aroma. That
aroma masks other scents, and keeps mosquitoes from being attracted to things located around it.
The citronella plant has a much stronger aroma than other mosquito
repellents that contain citronella, so it is a great choice. Citronella is very
easy to grow, and can get to be a very tall 5 or 6 feet high! You can grow
citronella in pots and place it around a porch or patio, or you can plant it
directly in a yard or garden bed. It’s a great choice for repelling mosquitoes
naturally.

2. Lemon Balm
A member of the mint family, the plant also known as horsemint and beebalm is a very easy plant
for beginning gardeners to grow- even if you don’t have a green thumb! Lemon Balm is a very
hardy plant, it resists drought, and it grows well even in shade.
It is a very fast growing and sometimes aggressive plant, so you might want
to contain it to a pot, where you can move it to wherever you like to ensure
that it doesn’t take over your garden. An added bonus? You can dry the
leaves and use them to make a delicious herbal tea!

3. Catnip
Your feline friends will be happy to know that catnip is a great mosquito deterrent!
In fact, in a 2010 study, researchers found that catnip is 10 times more
effective than DEET, the ingredient commonly found in bug repellents.
It is a very easy plant to grow, and if you have cats in the house, they will
surely be happy to have it around. Keep plants full by pinching the growing
stems and flower buds when they appear.

4. Marigolds
A bright, hardy annual plant, marigolds are a great choice for repelling mosquitoes. Marigolds
contain Pyrethrum, an ingredient found in many insect repellents, and they have a unique aroma
which bugs find repulsive.
The flowers themselves are beautiful and can make a great border or addition
to any flower bed. Try placing them around borders of your home, and
mosquitoes might not want to cross over!
Top Tip: Companion plant marigolds with tomatoes. The insects hate them
so much they’ll stay away from your beloved tomatoes.

5. Basil
Calling all cooks! Want a double whammy when it comes to mosquito
protection? Plant some basil. Not only will you have a quick and easy
mosquito repellent, you will also have a delicious fresh herb on hand to add
to all of your favorite recipes. (try my Perfect Pesto Recipe!)
There are many different varieties of basil around, so feel free to experiment
and find the ones that you like best.
Many expert gardeners recommend trying lemon basil or cinnamon basil to deter insects. Plus basil
is one of the easiest herbs to keep alive – even the biggest novice can manage it.

6. Lavender
You probably know that lavender is a gorgeous purple flowering plant with a soothing, calming
scent. But, did you know that it is also a natural mosquito repellent?

Grow it indoors near a sunny window, or outside in your garden or flower

bed to keep the bugs away.
While you’re at it, make a delicious herbal tea, or use lavender to fill your
home with a wonderful calming aroma. There are so many reasons to grow
lavender.

7. Peppermint
Most bugs despise the smell and taste of peppermint, so planting it around your home is a great
way to keep them from dropping by uninvited.
Plus, if you do happen to get bitten, peppermint leaves rubbed directly onto
the skin make a great bite relief treatment.
An added bonus is the wonderful minty smell that makes a delicious addition
to food and beverages.

8. Garlic
Unfortunately for all of us who love Italian food, studies have shown that eating garlic does not
repel mosquitoes. (Unless, however, you were to eat a huge amount!) However, having garlic
around does!
Make sure to add some garlic to your flower bed or vegetable garden for
added protection from mosquitoes.
Not only will you keep mosquitoes away, you’ll also have a whole load of
garlic to flavor your food and for its incredible health benefits.

How to Make Garlic Garden Spray

Co-authored by Maggie Moran

Updated: July 11, 2019

Garlic isn't just a delicious and nutritious aromatic to use in the kitchen, and you can also use it in the garden.
Because garlic contains sulfur compounds, it acts as a natural repellent for many insects. This means you can
turn garlic into a cheap and safe pesticide. You can make a basic garlic spray to control aphids, slugs, and other
insects, or you can make an onion, chili, and garlic spray that will help keep away ladybugs, caterpillars, deer,
and other insects and animals as well.

How to Make Garlic Garden Spray

Co-authored by Maggie Moran

Updated: July 11, 2019

Garlic isn't just a delicious and nutritious aromatic to use in the kitchen, and you can also use it in the garden.
Because garlic contains sulfur compounds, it acts as a natural repellent for many insects. This means you can
turn garlic into a cheap and safe pesticide. You can make a basic garlic spray to control aphids, slugs, and other
insects, or you can make an onion, chili, and garlic spray that will help keep away ladybugs, caterpillars, deer,
and other insects and animals as well.
 Ingredients
Basic Garlic Spray
 1 head garlic

 4 cups (940 ml) water

 2 tablespoons (30 ml) liquid soap

Garlic, Onion, and Chili Spray
 4 cups (940 ml) water

 1 head garlic, peeled

 1 small onion, peeled

 1 teaspoon (2 g) powdered cayenne pepper

 1 tablespoon (15 ml) liquid dish soap

Part One of Three:
Making a Basic Garlic Spray
Image titled Make Garlic Garden Spray Step 1
1
Peel the garlic. Use your fingers to peel off the outer layer of skin from the head of garlic. Break up the
individual cloves and transfer them to a large metal mixing bowl. Cover the bowl with another metal bowl of
the same size. Hold the two bowls together and shake them vigorously for 10 seconds. Remove the top bowl
and pick out the peeled garlic cloves.[1]
You can also use a large mason jar with a lid if you don’t have two metal mixing bowls of the same size.

2. Process the garlic in a blender. Transfer the peeled garlic cloves to a blender. Add 1 cup (235
ml) of the water and secure the lid on the blender. Puree the mixture until the garlic is finely chopped,
about a minute.[2]
 If you don’t have a blender, you can use a food processor or immersion blender. Otherwise, chop or mince
the garlic with a knife or garlic press and stir it together with the water
3. Add the remaining water and soap to the blender. Puree the mixture for an additional minute or
so, until the garlic has been liquified. The soap will help the mixture stick to the foliage in the garden,
but it also acts as a pesticide in its own right.

 You can use any liquid soap you like, such as dish or castile soap.[3]

4. Steep the mixture overnight. Transfer the pureed mixture to a clean mason jar and screw on the lid. Leave
the mixture on the counter for at least 12 hours, and up to 24. The longer the mixture steeps, the more time the
garlic will have to infuse the water with pungent sulfur compounds.[4]

5. Strain the mixture. Line a fine-mesh strainer with cheesecloth and position the strainer over a bowl.
Pour the mixture into the strainer to remove the chunks of garlic. Give the cheesecloth a gentle
squeeze to remove as much of the liquid as possible.
 Straining the mixture will prevent the garlic from clogging the nozzle on your spray bottle.[
6. Transfer the mixture to a spray bottle. Insert a funnel into the mouth of a clean spray bottle.
Pour the garlic liquid into the spray bottle.[6] Remove the funnel and screw on the lid. Use as
necessary to control pests and fungi in the garden.
 Store the mixture in the refrigerator and use within a week