Linda from facebook recently asked:
Mavis, what kind of plants have you found to be effective for mosquito repellent?
My first thought was GAP black long-sleeved t-shirts have worked as an AWESOME mosquito repellent for me for years, but then I realized, not everyone can commit to cutting-edge fashion as I have.
So, here’s the truth: there is no fool-proof plant to completely repel mosquitoes. There are definitely plants that have been shown to deter them a bit, though, when planted in areas that you tend to hang out most. It’s like this: Imagine a stinky locker room. It may ruin your appetite a bit, but if you’re reaaaally hungry after a workout {also pretend I know what I am talking about when I say “locker room” and “workout”}, you’re probably still going to go ahead and eat it. That’s kind of how mosquitoes roll. They will go for blood. Everytime.
After all that, I do want to mention that that doesn’t mean I don’t think it’s not worth trying. It is. Using plants to deter them is all part of the battle, and we are waging war. So, here’s a couple of plants to try that have actually been shown to at the very least, ruin their dining experience:
- Lime Basil
- Catnip
- Thyme
- Garlic
- Citronella – This one is probably the most common and effective. It actually masks the smell of food for mosquitoes, making it harder for them to find you.
- Beebalm/Horsemint
- Marigold – These flowers have tons of benefits to the garden. Plant them irregardless.
- Ageratum
- Cedar
- Lavendar
- Lemon Geranium – Honestly, there are mixed reviews on whether or not these work.
- Eucalyptus
- Rosemary
- Tea Tree – This one is not a good idea if you have pets.
- Mint – Plant in pots on the patio, otherwise, mint will take over your beds, garden, grass, you name it.
There are more, but they come with less desirable features, like they are considered weeds by most folks. Plant several from the list, as they all work in different ways {omitting an offensive odor to the mosquito, masking the smell of actual food, etc.}.
I hope that helps,
Mavis
Marys says
Long time reader here who also happens to be an entomologist (nerd alert!) The best way to control mosquitoes in your yard is to reduce their habitat. Get rid of sources of standing water, like saucers under flower pots, bird baths or still ponds. If that’s not possible, change the water in your bird bath every day or so and look into getting mosquito fish or guppies for your pond. There’s also mosquito dunks for ponds etc, which are made up of a bacteria that only kills mosquito larvae and won’t harm people, pets, wildlife, etc.
Jen Hen says
We have gotten rid of or covered all the water containers in our yard and still have terrible terrible mosquitos! My neighbor and I were talking about how frustrated we are with it b/c neither one of us have standing water anywhere. The other neighbors don’t seem to have anything (visible) that would hold standing water. It’s the craziest thing! We do have a garden and I have wondered if they are living in it somehow?
Mavis says
I’ve wondered that as well. The research I did for this article gave me hope though!
Mary says
They really don’t need that much water to breed: just an inch or two. They’ve been known to breed in the upturned lid of a soda bottle. As for the adults, they like to hang out in dense foliage during the day. Your lush, gorgeous garden is really appealing to mosquitoes. Lemon eucalyptus oil works well as a personal repellant if you’re not into using DEET.
Jen Hen says
Good to know! Thank you!
Joan Hayden says
My daughter & I rubbed our arms with a lavender plant and the mosquitoes left us alone after that!