Use These Plants That Repel Mosquitoes In Your Home Instead of Toxic Sprays
This is a Guest Post by Eric Tress
Nothing irritates like the sound of pesky mosquitoes in your ear or their harsh bites on your skin. It’s normal for most people to reach for an insecticide spray to zap them away. But is that the way to go? Insecticides can be harmful – but plants that repel mosquitoes are not. Here’s why.
Harmful Effects of Insecticide
Insecticides are among the most dangerous things you can use in your home.
- They cause allergic reactions including asthma attacks and skin irritation in adults and children due to their chemical content.
- They are toxic The chemical content in insecticides lingers in your home long after you spray it, and can build up to dangerous levels in your body, causing harmful ailments.
- They contaminate food and water because when you spray pesticides, particles land on foods and surfaces around your home. You, your children, and pets ingest these harmful ingredients.
Although insecticides are a quick solution, they expose you and your family to great danger. Why not try green solutions like homemade bug repellent or plants?
Plants That Repel Mosquitoes That You Can Grow At Home
Yap! You read that right. You can grow some plants in and around your house that will keep away insects such as mosquitoes, flies, ants, and others.
Many of the plants that repel pesky pests are not hard to plant or maintain. Here are a few.
1. Citronella Grass
You’ve probably used citronella spray or lotion to keep mosquitoes off your skin. Well, you can plant citronella plants to keep insects out of your home too.
The scent of citronella plants puts off insects like mosquitoes. They are also easy to maintain and will thrive in all zones and seasons.
2. Lemon Grass
Another grass that can keep away insects and is excellent for repelling mosquitoes is lemongrass. It grows tall and can make an effective mosquito repellent hedge.
Lemongrass is great for keeping away mosquitoes in summer. Make it even more potent by planting it next to Citronella.
3 Lavender
An attractive plant you can grow to chase bugs away is Lavender. It has a beautiful purple color and a calming scent that many people love. Pests like gnats and mosquitoes hate it!
Plant lavender plants on a windowsill, just outside your door or around places you love to sit – perhaps a reading nook. Once the blossoms dry up, you can use them to make potpourri to keep your clothes drawers fragrant.
4. Marigold
Another example of great plants that repel bugs is Marigolds. Buy the Stinking Roger variety that is loathed by biting flies.
Marigolds are easy to keep alive. Put them next to your lavender plants on window sills or outside doors to make a border that insects will hate to go over.
5. Catnip
If you have cats, kill two birds with one stone by planting Catnip. It is disliked by insects like mosquitoes, cockroaches and ants, but loved by cats.
Grow your Catnip in a container and place it where it will get some light. The chemical nepetalactone in Catnip will repel bugs for you; and keep your cats happy.
6. Mint
Most people love the fresh taste and smell of mint, but insects like fleas, ants, moths, and flies hate this herb. Mint does well anywhere as long as it gets a little sunshine.
Apart from acting as a bug repellent, you can also use mint to flavor your food and make cooling mint tea in summer. No more buying mint at the grocery store for you!
7. Rosemary
Another herb you can use to keep away bugs is Rosemary. Pick the herb Rosemary instead of the landscaping kind because it has a more pungent scent.
Pot your Rosemary and place it in any area of the home where it can get a bit of sun. It will help you keep away mosquitoes and also come in handy when cooking.
More Suggestions for Plants That Repel Mosquitoes
These are a few bug-repelling plants to grow in and around your home. See more suggestions in this guide. Try them out instead of using insecticides and see how well they work!
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Warm regards,
P.S. Don’t forget to download your free green living handbook “Live Well, Live Green” here.
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