Our yards and gardens are places of beauty, fun, and relaxation. But what isn't so great about these outdoor spaces are the pests that have no concept of personal space. No matter if you have a love of gardening, you like to entertain guests on your back patio, or if your kids use the yard as a playground, you don't want obnoxious insects around. They bite, sting, get in your food, and ruin your prized tomato plants. If you are looking for an eco-friendly way to banish bugs, consider some beautiful and fragrant plants that insects aren't so fond of.
1) Chives
A delicious item to have on hand, chives will repel aphids and Japanese beetles. These plants are great to have in the garden not only because they deter certain bugs, but they are also very useful in the kitchen. Be careful with this plant though, as it can spread easily.
2) Garlic
Another tasty addition to the garden that many bugs will avoid. Garlic is a good crop to grow that will protect other veggies from attack. We all know that garlic has a strong scent and that smell comes in handy against garden pests.
3) Petunias
Petunias are beautiful flowers and add color to your garden. On top of that, they help repel insects like beetles, squash bugs, and tomato hornworms. What a win-win!
4) Lavender
Lavender is a plant that produces a smell that many people enjoy. This flowery scent is commonly used to calm and encourage relaxation. That said, mosquitoes and other bugs don't find it quiet as pleasant. Put lavender by household entryways and on patios where you spend a lot of time in the hot sunny weather. Lavender is also good at repelling fleas, so it is a great plant to have in the yard if you have pets.
5) Basil
Basil is an herb commonly used in many people's kitchens. But while we may find this plant mouth-watering and an excellent pairing to our spaghetti dinner, pests such as mosquitoes and houseflies disagree. These are two insects that we do not want hanging around or entering our homes. Basil plants can help keep these pesky bugs out of our living spaces. As a bonus, these plants grow furiously fast, and can be chopped down at regular intervals to make some lovely organic pesto sauce!
6) Mint
Mint is an excellent plant for keeping away ants, mosquitos, spiders, and other insects. One note of caution: if you do not keep your mint in a contained space, it has a tendency to spread like wildfire. Mint will take over your garden if left unchecked so it’s best to keep it in a pot. Potted plants can also move to different areas where you notice bugs want to hang out.
7) Bay Leaves
Bay leaves are great for repelling insects in general but especially roaches. No one wants roaches in their home and roaches don't restrict themselves to dirty spaces. This is another plant that also serves great purpose in the kitchen as well.
There are so many more plants that you can use to help deter insects and other sorts of pests. Many of these plants can be grown both indoors and outside, so you can use them in areas that bugs seem to gather. And as an added bonus, many of these plants are edible by people and serve multiple purposes. But if you find yourself overwhelmed by an infestation of some kind that an odorous plant just can't fight, call the professionals. We are here to help you get rid of pesky insects so you can enjoy your personal spaces.