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Flowers and Bushes that Assist in the Fight Against Mosquitoes

By
Home Stager with Rooms With Style

With summer comes one bad thing.....mosquitoes! Oh I hate that annoying buzzing at your ear and the horrible itching at night.

There are seven plants that you can add to your patio to keep your guests and you more comfortable without applying layers of chemicals to your skin.

 

Lavender 

 

Rabbits and insects won't even destroy this plant in your garden. And is there anything prettier than multiply lavender plants in bloom. Place them in varied height pots for a stunning eye catching look on your patio.

 

 

 

Marigolds

 

 

Marigolds are hardy and can make great borders or you can even add them to your vegetable garden.

 

 

Citronella Grass   

Citronella has a distinct smell and there is a reason most patio candles are citronella. It is the most effective at repelling pests. This plant is low maintenance and does best in pots as it cannot withstand frost.

 

 

 

 

Catnip

DEET is the chemical most commonly found in insect repellent but catnip was found to be 10 times more effective than DEET in a study at Iowa State University. It did not state if your yard would be filled with the neighborhood cats getting tipsy. :)

 

 

Rosemary and Basil  

 

These herbs are great repellents and plant extra so you can use them in your summer recipes.

 

 

Scented Geraniums

 

 

The favored scent seems to be lemon which is similar to Citronella Grass. These fast growing, plants have beautiful blooms and have a strong fragrance that keeps pests away.

 

 

When it's time for planting season don't forget to mix in an abundance of this plants for a natural deterrent to a mosquito problem.

 

Libby Cousins
Extraordinary Processing - Spokane, WA
Contract Mortgage Processor, licensed in WA

I will have to look for citronella grass as I had no idea it existed. I would love to put a few pots of that around my patio. I have only ever used the citronella geraniums. 

Apr 17, 2019 10:28 AM
Shar Sitter

It will be interesting to see if it works for you Libby Cousins 

Apr 18, 2019 07:55 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Shar- I love lavender so will look for some pots for our patio!!

Apr 17, 2019 01:10 PM
Shar Sitter

I have done that for a couple years Kathy Streib and it's so pretty!

Apr 18, 2019 07:56 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

                                                        

                                    You've been featured in the Group Bananatude

Apr 17, 2019 05:10 PM
Shar Sitter

Thanks so much for the feature Kathy Streib !!

Apr 18, 2019 07:56 AM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Hi Shar,  Thanks for the information on great plants to have around the yard.  I think I'll be looking to add some of these around here.

Apr 17, 2019 07:33 PM
Shar Sitter

You are welcome Bob Crane . Good luck!

Apr 18, 2019 07:56 AM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

That's valuable information to know.  The mosquitos are out in force, and they always seem to like me best.

Apr 20, 2019 01:10 AM
Shar Sitter

The mosquitos aren't out quite yet in MN but I know they are coming @Myri Jeffcoat.

Apr 21, 2019 08:08 PM
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

Good morning, Shar Sitter what a great post for the upcoming season of mosquitoes....thanks for the valuable information....

Apr 20, 2019 03:33 AM
Shar Sitter

You are welcome Barbara Todaro . Good luck with the battle against them!

Apr 21, 2019 08:09 PM
Sheila Anderson
Referral Group Incorporated - East Brunswick, NJ
The Real Estate Whisperer Who Listens 732-715-1133

Good morning Shar. I have it all in my garden so these are great tips. Waiting on new lavender.

Apr 20, 2019 03:51 AM
Shar Sitter

Oh I love lavendar Sheila Anderson . I have it in pots every year myself!

Apr 21, 2019 08:09 PM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

This is great information - I'm going to bookmark it and refer to it again!

Apr 20, 2019 03:52 AM
Shar Sitter

Glad it is of help Kat Palmiotti 

Apr 21, 2019 08:10 PM
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

Good Morning Shar Sitter 

I have bookmarked this post for future use. Really good information. Thank you

Apr 20, 2019 05:13 AM
Shar Sitter

You are welcome Doug Dawes . Glad it could be useful to you.

Apr 21, 2019 08:10 PM
Sheri Sperry - MCNE®
Coldwell Banker Realty - Sedona, AZ
(928) 274-7355 ~ YOUR Solutions REALTOR®

HI Shar Sitter - 

I really like this selection of plants.  I have time to get this set up. Sedona's rainy season doesn't start until July. Thank you. 

Apr 20, 2019 06:39 AM
Shar Sitter

You are welcome Sheri Sperry - MCNE® . Mosquito season is coming up soon in MN!

Apr 21, 2019 08:11 PM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

I'm also a huge fan of lavender and use it in borders, around our veggie garden, and will now add a few pots to our patio areas. Thanks for this great post, Shar. 

Apr 20, 2019 07:31 AM
Shar Sitter

You are welcome Debb Janes EcoBroker and Bernie Stea JD . I use lavendar in pots around my patio and love the look and the smell.

Apr 21, 2019 08:11 PM
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

I wish I would have known this in 2013 when I was in the midwest for a year.

Apr 20, 2019 08:51 AM
Shar Sitter

Yes that would have helped. No pesky insects in WA Carol Williams ?

Apr 21, 2019 08:12 PM
Matthew Klinowski, PA
Downing Frye Realty - Naples, FL
Naples Golf Guy | Find Your Dream Lifestyle

Thanks for sharing Shar. I had no idea there were plants which discouraged mosquitos. I could use some of those! Have a good weekend.

Apr 20, 2019 10:03 AM
Shar Sitter

Good luck in the mesquito battle Matthew Klinowski, PA 

Apr 21, 2019 08:12 PM
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Shar Sitter thanks for the valuable report about fight against mosquitoes.

Apr 20, 2019 03:56 PM
Shar Sitter

It's an never ending battle John Pusa :)

Apr 21, 2019 08:13 PM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Shar:

I knew about a couple of these plants as deterrants but thanks for the list. I hated mosquitoes back in New England and thankfully they are far less of an issue here in SoCal, at least where I live. Anything that works to keep them at bay is A+ in my book!

Jeff

Apr 22, 2019 06:33 AM