Mosquito Repellent Plants You Can Own

Living in Georgia, USA means you are going to have to deal with mosquitoes.  Period.  There is no question about it!

The real question is “How can I rid my yard of mosquitoes and enjoy the outdoors around my house?!”

The answer has three parts:

First, if you’re serious about getting rid of mosquitoes, invest in a mosquito company like Mr. Mister.

Second, even if you go with the pros, be proactive and make sure your yard is maintained properly, and you make sure you don’t have any standing water around.  An out-of-control yard, and standing water, both create breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Third, have a little fun and have some mosquito repellent plants around, either in the ground or in planters.

Mosquito repellent plants are usually plants that oils can be extracted from, to be used as active ingredients in mosquito repellent. How it works is that the pleasant fragrance they infuse the environment with, acts as a repellent for mosquitoes. Most of these plants are very easy to grow in home gardens and can provide some much needed relief from mosquitoes in the summer.

Mosquito Repellent Plants You Can Grow

Here are a few popular plants that are easy to grow, do the job and smell great as well!

Citronella

Citronella is one of the most common ingredients in plant-based mosquito repellents and is even more effective in plant-form since the plant’s smell is stronger. Mosquitoes are attracted to the fragrance that citronella plants exude, and this distracts mosquitoes from other scents that they use to track food. It is a good idea to grow citronella away from areas in the garden that are commonly used, so that mosquitoes are drawn away from here.

Catmint

Catmint is also known as Catnip and is found growing in most places. It is very easy to grow and are recommended as mosquito repellents by the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. The only downside to this plant is that it grows as a weed and the expanse of growth may need to be kept in check.

Rosemary

The herb has a woody scent and is great choice if you have a lot of hot or dry weather where you live. They also serve as a nice decorative addition to the kitchen garden, from where you can pluck them fresh to season your food.

Lavender

This is obviously a gorgeous choice and will make your garden bright and lovely to look at. The oil in this plant comes from its leaves. Once established, the plant is resistant to drought and grows well in warmer weather.

Marigolds

Marigolds contain Pyrethrum, an ingredient found in many mosquito repellents, making them a great choice to plant in your garden. In addition, the flowers are beautiful and have a unique smell, which also repels mosquitoes.

There are many more plants that one can explore and pick out of, depending on the type of weather you have. Basil, peppermint and lemon balm are just a few more options to look at. There are still a few months till the hot months roll in, giving us plenty of time to get started on prepping our gardens.