Plants that repel bugs: Natural pest control for your garden

There are few greater pest control solutions than a garden full of plants that repel bugs - naturally. Many plants like mosquito-warding citronella grass have scents or other features that bugs can’t stand, encouraging them to give your garden a wide berth. Not only can these plants keep you more comfortable, they can help protect your other plants from hungry pests.

If you’re interested in natural insect repellents, try these insect-repelling plants:

Lavender

The scent of lavender has been shown to have a calming effect on humans, but it can also deter mosquitos. The potent essential oils found in lavender can repel most mosquito species for six to eight hours. Filling your garden with lavender or planting it around your home will encourage the biting, buzzing bugs to stay away while helping attract butterflies and honeybees.

Marigolds

Though they don’t have a strong scent, marigolds are another flower that keeps mosquitoes away. Marigolds contain insecticidal properties called phytotoxins that repel other insects like whiteflies, grain beetles and aphids.

From a gardening perspective, marigolds are low maintenance plants with vibrant blooms you can enjoy all summer.

Rosemary

Rosemary is a versatile herb beloved by home gardeners because of its ability to thrive in a variety of climates and situations. When grown in the garden, window boxes, containers or as part of your landscaping, you can count on the essential oils in rosemary leaves to repel mosquitoes.

When in bloom, rosemary also attracts bees and other pollinators to help your garden at the same time.

Nasturtiums

Nasturtiums are a popular flowering vine you can use to protect your vegetable garden or outdoor living space through diversion. Nasturtiums actually attract mosquitoes and other pests like aphids, carrot flies and squash bugs to keep them off your veggies.

For this reason, it’s recommended to use nasturtiums for companion planting in organic vegetable gardens for natural pest control.

These are only a few insect-repelling plants to consider for your organic garden. Whether you’re growing vegetables, flowering plants or just want to keep annoying insects out of your space, these plants are the perfect place to start.