Escape the itch, here’s what to plant in your garden to repel mosquitoes

It’s summer, and the constant buzzing sound you hear is likely mosquitoes. What you plant in your garden does matter.

If your garden is in a location that you frequent, know that certain plants and herbs attract and repel mosquitoes.

Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes don’t sustain themselves on the blood they consume from others; instead, they provide this blood to their eggs. As adults, they need to eat the nectar of certain plants to survive. These plants include taro, papyrus, water lilies and water hyacinths.

Standing water can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, so be sure to remove areas that create long-standing puddles in your yard.

Plants that repel mosquitoes

As for what to plant to repel mosquitoes, Associate Lane Otte from Daniel’s Farm and Greenhouses in St. Peters, Mo. mentioned planting anything with lemon in its name to act as a natural repellent.

Those types can include lemon balm, citronella lemon balm, quedlinburger lemon balm, variegated lemon balm, aurea lemon balm, lemonella lemon balm and lime lemon balm.

Otte also suggests planting citronella, mosquito plants (the name of the plant), and scented geraniums. As for lavender, he responded, “It can help, but isn’t as strong, won’t repel mosquitoes like the other plants and herbs mentioned.”

Peppermint, marigolds, basil, sage, mint and catnip are herbs known to repel insects, but not necessarily mosquitoes.

Added precautions

Planting mosquito-repelling plants in your garden will help ensure your time spent in your yard will hopefully be bite-and itch-free. You can even take the leaves off the plants, crumble them up and rub them on your skin to deter the mosquitoes. If you are more sensitive, consider DEET-approved bug spray.

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