Unfortunately, none of the means known to science can guarantee you 100% protection against mosquitoes. Planting certain plants will not rid your area of them either. However, the insects' interest in you will definitely decrease.
Scientists still cannot give a definite answer why some people attract close attention from mosquitoes, while others are left almost unnoticed. For now, one thing is clear: mosquitoes really react to odors. And if some aromas attract them like a magnet, then others make them fly around certain places.
So, what plants can be used as mosquito repellents?
Ageratum
Light-loving ageratum belongs to that rare category of plants that can bloom almost all summer, the main thing is to choose the appropriate place for it on the site. The color of the flowers varies from white and pale pink to blue and deep purple, i.e. you can easily fit this plant into any flower bed.
Ageratum loves light and well-drained soils and does not tolerate waterlogging. To achieve abundant and long flowering, it is best to plant ageratum in well-lit areas. Please note that this crop should be fed with great care, since too high a nitrogen content in the soil causes the ageratum to begin to grow green mass to the detriment of flowering.
- Ageratum - all about planting, care and popular varieties
We tell you how to grow beautiful ageratum on your own plot.
What plants repel mosquitoes - top 5 repellents in the garden
As soon as it gets warmer, mosquitoes begin to plague owners of suburban areas.
Annoying buzzing and painful bites - who will like it? Fortunately, there are plants ready to defend themselves. Let's meet our friends from the plant world! You've probably noticed that mosquito attacks increase when you work diligently in your garden beds. Mosquitoes are attracted to the carbon dioxide we exhale, along with ethereal compounds in the sweat of the human body. Thus, according to the logic of things, it is necessary to add aromatic crops to the garden and, preferably, those whose smell is unpleasant to little bloodsuckers.
Basil
Basil is not just a versatile herb that goes well with many dishes, but it is also an excellent repellent that can be used to ward off mosquitoes. If you want to prevent annoying insects from bothering you during lunch, just place a pot of this spice on the dining table.
If you still fail to avoid an insect bite, rub 2-3 leaves of this spice between your fingers and apply them to the bite site. These manipulations will help relieve swelling and itching.
- 10 best varieties and hybrids of basil: fragrant, bright and healthy
Red, purple, green, but invariably aromatic, tasty and healthy - we choose the most successful varieties of basil.
Oregano
Many of us have dried oregano at home. But having the real plant may also be a good idea since insects don't like the oily scent of this herb. Grind 4-5 cups of oregano leaves to release the juice. After this, place the mixture in a container of water in a sunny place and leave overnight. Add liquid dish soap to the mixture, strain and pour the liquid into a spray bottle.
Marigold
The bright “suns” of marigolds are frequent guests in garden plots, even though some people find the aroma emitted by these plants not very pleasant. If the smell of marigolds does not bother you, be sure to plant these flowers on your plot or in a flower pot.
The specific aroma of marigolds repels not only mosquitoes, but also some garden pests. For example, the phytoncides contained in this plant help in the fight against onion flies, cabbage whites and the Colorado potato beetle. In addition, marigold roots secrete thiophene, a substance that repels soil pests and inhibits the growth of certain weeds, such as horsetail and wheatgrass.
- Instructions: growing marigold seedlings at home
Do you want a bright and sunny flowerbed in the summer? Or maybe you dream of a small garden in hanging boxes right on the balcony? Then sow marigolds!
What to plant to repel moles and mice
In addition to various harmful insects, larger pests - mice and moles - can attack your beds. Field mice can eat your vegetables and even get into your house, and moles can significantly damage root crops and tree roots. To prevent these rodents from causing harm in your area, you can plant plants that repel moles and mice.
Plants that repel mice
To protect the entire area from mice, you can sow coriander, wormwood, tansy, white sweet clover, tripartite succession or black root along the borders. Mice cannot tolerate the aroma of these herbs, so they move away. In addition, blackroot and string frighten rodents by clinging to the fur with their rough seeds, which the animals really don’t like.
Daffodils or colchicums can protect flower beds from mice, so they are often planted around other flowers. Mice do not like the taste of daffodil bulbs and the smell of colchicum, and they leave the flower beds.
Lavender
Despite the fact that the birthplace of this plant is sunny regions, lavender can be successfully grown in the middle zone, the main thing is to choose the right variety and find the appropriate place for planting. Lavender categorically does not tolerate heavy soils and stagnant water, so it is best grown in light sandy soils, providing enough light. Purely hypothetically, lavender can be planted in partial shade, but you are unlikely to achieve abundant flowering.
Before planting lavender, be sure to check the acidity of the soil - this crop is very sensitive to this indicator. The optimal pH level is 6.5-7.5. If you can choose the right variety and provide the plant with the necessary conditions, then caring for lavender will not take so much time.
- Lavender field on your own site - an interview with the owner of the lavender farm
Fragrant lavender can not only decorate the area, but also generate income!
Melissa (lemon balm, lemon grass)
Melissa can hardly boast impressive decorative qualities, but its greenery will provide you with an invaluable service in the fight against mosquitoes. The smell of this plant is as unpleasant to blood-sucking insects as the aroma of industrial repellents. This plant is so unpretentious that sometimes gardeners have to organize entire “rescue operations” in order to free their area from the expansion of this spice.
Melissa is an excellent choice for growing in a container. Plant a couple of bushes of this plant in pots and place them in the summer kitchen or recreation area. Very soon the number of mosquitoes visiting this corner of the site will noticeably decrease.
- Carefully! Ornamental plants that can quickly become weeds
Not all ornamental crops are equally safe for your garden. How to recognize and stop an aggressor plant?
Dill (Fennel)
Dill serves many beneficial functions in addition to its mosquito repellent properties: the fuzzy plants are as ornamental as any tall garden herb, the leaves are delicious in salads and soups, and attract butterflies in the garden.
Photography – instagram
Mint
Mint is an extremely unpretentious plant that “spreads” across the site so quickly that at some point it can become a threat to other plantings. That is why mint is grown in open ground in places where other crops do not take root.
Alternatively, you can plant it in a tub or pot. Firstly, this way the mint will not grow too much, and secondly, you can quickly move it around the area.
To prepare a natural mosquito repellent spray, pour 200 g of fresh mint into 200 g of boiling water and let it brew for several hours. Strain the resulting infusion, and then pour 100 g of alcohol into it. The finished repellent is poured into a spray bottle and used as needed. It is best to store the prepared product in the refrigerator.
- 14 reasons to plant mint in your garden
Plant mint in your garden, and you will not only get fragrant leaves for tea, but also a lot of benefits from this plant.
Bush plants
Black elderberry
This shrub looks very elegant in the spring during flowering. But it is even more beautiful in the fall, when the clusters of berries turn black against the background of crimson-red foliage.
A beautiful hedge that easily takes the required shape. Repels all harmful insects, including mosquitoes. When planting, pay attention to the wind rose so that the scent from the elderberry spreads in the right direction.
On a note! Black elderberry berries are not only edible, but also very healthy. They treat joints, liver, drink for colds and varicose veins. You can make jellies, jams and preserves from the berries, add wine and tinctures. A wonderful jam that tastes like honey is made from black elderberry flowers.
Flower jam or a decoction of flowers is drunk for coughs, cystitis and other urological diseases. In baths, it rejuvenates the skin and gives vitality.
The only negative is that it does not tolerate drought, but is otherwise an unpretentious shrub.
Castor bean
The seeds of this plant are very poisonous, containing a strong protein poison, and after separating the poisonous cake, castor oil is obtained.
A large, powerful plant, similar to a palm tree, with carved leaves and bright flowers. Castor beans will help to reliably hide a fence or outbuildings from view. Wasps, flies, midges and mosquitoes cannot stand it.
Bird cherry
It has completely unique phytoncidal properties. In spring, its flowers will fill the entire area with fragrance. And in the fall, medicinal berries ripen, which are especially valued as a filling for pies.
Bird cherry was considered the best remedy for diarrhea, but the range of its medicinal properties is incredibly wide:
- It removes toxins and excess fluid.
- Strengthens the body's protective properties.
- Normalizes digestion.
- Reduces cholesterol levels.
- Helps with colds, fever, toothache.
Important!
But this is not all the possibilities of bird cherry. When consumed regularly, bird cherry helps restore male potency. Juice from the berries strengthens the nervous system, and externally helps to cope with acne. To get rid of wrinkles and dry skin, you need to use an infusion of bird cherry flowers.
Such a tree should be planted at the edge of the site to prevent harmful creatures from flying in.
Rosemary
Rosemary is not only a universal spice, but also a well-known remedy for garden pests among gardeners. The vibrant aroma of rosemary is reminiscent of a complex blend of eucalyptus, lemon and pine. Despite the fact that rosemary varieties have now appeared on the market that winter very well even in the middle zone, many prefer to grow it “the old fashioned way,” i.e. in a pot. Rosemary planted in a container is kept outdoors during the warm season, and taken indoors for the winter.
By the way, it is not at all necessary to try to grow rosemary from seeds. You can, for example, grow a completely respectable bush of this crop even from a sprig of spice bought in a store. It is unlikely that this plant can be planted in open ground, since no one will give you a guarantee that these branches were cut from a plant of a zoned variety. However, with a high degree of probability, you will still be able to grow it as a pot plant (with annual wintering in an apartment).
- How to grow rosemary from a store-bought sprig
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Repellent plants may not be able to rid you of mosquitoes completely, but they will be an excellent addition to your anti-mosquito arsenal.
Bodinier's beautiful fruit (Callicarpa bodinieri)
The tiny white flowers of the beautiful carp are not very attractive, but the bright bushes with purple berries make this small shrub stand out in the landscape. The aromatic oils released by crushing the leaves repel mosquitoes , and although not common as edible, the leaves and berries are safe to eat.
Photography – instagram
