Chemical pesticides can be harmful to pests, pets and humans. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency “Pesticides are inherently toxic. Also, according to a recent survey, 75 percent of U.S. households used at least one pesticide product indoors“.
Do you want to get rid of bugs without bug spray and repel mosquitoes naturally? Planting and choosing the right shrubs in your garden can make bugs automatically stay away from you. This article highlights plants that repel mosquitoes and other insects in your home.
I’ve focussed on plants that are easy to grow and maintain and also pleasant to have in your home!
Table of Contents
Here are plants that can repel mosquitoes naturally along with other bugs too
1. Basil
This plant isn’t only great in salads, pasta, soups, and other recipes. You can repel mosquitoes naturally with basil. They are also effective in keeping away house flies! Above all, it’s an easy plant to grow. You can plant basil in containers in outdoor areas where you prefer to relax or entertain visitors.
I often have several little basil plants in different rooms. The aroma is great, I can swap them around when I use up basil in my dishes and they repel mosquitoes naturally which is amazing.
You can even make an easy homemade mosquito repellent by boiling fresh basil leaves into water and squeezing all of the leaves’ moisture into a container and spray when needed.
So, basil takes the number one spot mostly because it’s one of the easiest to grow and grows in small pots, doesn’t need maintenance and is useful in more than one way.
2. Lavender
Most people love the smell of lavender. But mosquitoes, flies, and other insects hate it. You can place tied bouquets of lavender in your home to keep unwanted insects away. Be sure to plant it in sunny areas of the garden to help keep those areas free of pests.
Just as with Basil, you can use the extracted moisture or oil from the flowers as a mosquito repellent.
3. Lemon Grass
Lemongrass are rich in citronella. This has been a staple ingredient for many insecticides and mosquito repellents.
You can place this by your doorstep or near your windows. This is definitely one of the plants will keep insects away from your house.
4. Rosemary
This plant repels a variety of insects that are harmful to vegetable plants. You can grow them in containers on your patio likewise in landscaped beds because some varieties can grow quite large.
You can also use rosemary in baking such as this Healthy Focaccia Bread Recipe Baked in Air Fryer
5. Sage
Similarly, sage can be grown in containers on a patio or in landscaped beds. This plant is perfect if you often spend time in your background to repel and keep insects away. You can also toss this plant into bonfires. Insects hate the smell of sage and will therefore stay away from the aroma.
6. Mint – One of the nicest scents that repel mosquitoes
Like lavender, mint is great at keeping mosquitoes away. The only drawback of planting mint is that it spreads aggressively and may take over other plants. Be sure to plant mint in pots or containers, and place them near your doorways.
7. Chrysanthemum
This plant contains pyrethrum, which is one of the ingredients often used in natural insect repellents.
Many insects like spiders, ants, ticks, fleas, spider mites, cockroaches, and even bed bugs hate the smell of this plant.
Use these flowers as a background plant in your home to keep these unwanted insects at bay.
In conclusion:
Pest-repelling plants can not only save you from buying insect repellents that are harsh-smelling, but they can also bring fragrance and make your garden, porch, or even indoors more beautiful.
Try planting a few of these to keep the insect population contained.
Good information. I have several in my garden and cut them occasionally to use inside my home.
Great info. I’m always looking for ways to reduce bugs wanting to come in my home. Thanks.
I live in the city and have a balcony where I’ve tried to grow many of these plants. Unfortunately, I don’t think they like my balcony or the small space I have as I haven’t managed to keep them alive longer than a month at a time!
Interesting read! I already love Basil and Mint, and to get some pots for my kitchen, so this definitely sealed the deal š Thanks!
Great information on natural ways to combat a common problem.
these are such beautiful plants and their scents are gorgeous, I had no idea that they had all these other benefits. I would never have thought my basil and mint plants can help deter mosquitos! thank you so much for sharing this, definitely referring to this in the future.
Wow! I love this! Iām going to look into not only adding some of these plants or oils around our home but planting them in our garden and entry ways to help keep the bugs away.
I had no idea lavender can help with keeping insects out of the house. It such a beautiful plant.
Oooh I love the smell of lemongrass! I don’t think I knew it kept bugs away. Bonus! Thanks for the info.
oooh perfect, looks beautiful AND keeps insects away! Double advantage š
Okay this is AWESOME info, I’m in the market for some new plants!