Summer is a terrific season because you can spend a lot of time outdoors doing fun activities like swimming, grilling, and playing games with friends in your backyard when it's cold outside. Bugs are something that frequently prevents individuals from enjoying their time o
utside and can give you the impression that they'll never go away.
In the summer, bugs—from gnats to mosquitoes—love to emerge, so you'll either have to grow used to swatting at them or you'll have to take action. The major issue with bugs is that many of the potentially dangerous compounds used in store-bought pest repellents aren't safe for regular usage. Thus, how do you get rid of those bothersome insects?
Plants could be useful if you have some open area or even a pot. Using plants is a cheap and natural approach to keep pesky insects away from your home. If you're interested in employing natural pest repellant plants, find out which ones might flourish where you live first, and then give a few a try. Your health will appreciate you for cutting back on some of the harmful ingredients in bug spray in addition to making your surroundings more beautiful.
How Plants Can Keep Insects Away
Certain herbs are not only useful to have on hand, whether you use them in cooking or just enjoy their delightful scents on their own, but their perfumes may also be very effective at keeping insects away.
Volatile oils, which are present in plants, are what give them their characteristic scent. If you have enough of the plants we'll cover below nearby, the volatile oils in them can keep bugs away from you and them.
6 Plants That Naturally Repel Pests
Mint
As it's picnic season in the summer, ants inevitably become a major problem. After they discover your outdoor dinner, they will linger there for what seems like an eternity; however, mint is a simple solution to this problem. As peppermint interferes with their capacity to communicate through pheromone marks, ants do not appreciate the fragrance of it. Grow some mint outside your door or use peppermint essential oil to spritz it over windows and thresholds to ward off ants and even flies (Taylor, 2016).
You can obtain an ant deterrent right away by purchasing a mint plant from your neighborhood grocery shop or plant nursery, placing it in a pot with new soil, and watering it regularly. To stop ants from going where you don't want them to, simply coat the area with mint.
Lavender
Lavender is often dried and hung upside-down as a decoration in homes today, but when it is in bloom, it works wonders as a mosquito deterrent.
It is more difficult for mosquitoes to locate you when you are near a lavender plant because the plant emits an oil that conceals human odor. Also, if you grow too much lavender, you can simply dry it out and utilize the clippings as an artistic decoration (Bernier et al., 2005).
Lemongrass
If you don't like the scent of lavender but still want to keep mosquitoes away, consider planting lemongrass.
Geraniol, an alcohol found in lemongrass, has been demonstrated in trials to be a powerful substitute for DEET (Novak, 2017). It thrives in a container on a balcony or in the yard and is very effective against mosquitoes. While being present in lemongrass and having been demonstrated to be useful in reducing pests, this chemical is not as potent as the essential oil of lemongrass.
Rosemary
The herb rosemary is frequently used to give foods an additional spice. Also, it works wonders in driving away pests from your yard. Cockroaches and mosquitoes both abhor the smell of rosemary. The strong scent of rosemary is the main source of this.
You can use this herb by scattering the tender leaves where the bugs are most prevalent. Take the leaves and blend them with wood chips to make this technique even more effective. Afterwards, disperse the mixture over your yard's outdoor activity areas to aid in reducing the migration of these pests (Caouette, 2016).
Marigolds
Marigolds are stunning golden blooms that bring a vibrant splash of color to any balcony or yard. They thrive in the sun and are tough plants that will flourish even in the height of summer's pest season. In addition to looking fantastic wherever they are planted, they will help protect you from mosquitoes and aphids.
This is due to the fact that marigolds contain a number of compounds that when combined, give off their offensive odor (Do Marigolds Repel, 2017). Its scent can help shield the skin from mosquito stings for several hours while also discouraging mosquitos.
Catnip
Catnip is just what you need if your goal is to use the strongest plant you can locate to defend yourself against your neighborhood bugs. This plant is well-known for its peculiar effect on housecats as well as for its unpleasant fragrance. The part of the plant that kills bugs also contains the essential oil that gives off this recognizable scent.
A recent study showed that nepetalactone, an ingredient in the essential oil generated by catnip, repels mosquitoes ten times more effectively than DEET, the main ingredient in bug sprays. Catnip is best known for combating small bugs and cockroaches. Although it won't be as effective, the herb can still be helpful (American Chemical Society, 2001).
Place some catnip instead of using dangerous pesticides! Your pets will adore you even more, and the bugs will flee farther and faster.
Even the most obnoxious bugs can be easily and affordably repelled by plants during the summer. Additionally, if you can take care of them during the winter, they'll work just as well the next year, thus saving you money. Try some out this season to see how plants can protect you from pests.
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