If you are lucky enough to have a garden and want to keep pests from attacking your plants, you can either use pesticides which are dangerous and not eco-friendly, or you can choose to plant companion plants.
Here we list some plants that repel unwanted insects and look more closely at how they do it.
HOW DO THEY DO IT?
An insect finds its favourite food using its sense of smell. So, one way to use companion planting as a deterrent is to grow varieties among your favourite plants which confuse their sense of smell (i.e. planting onions between cabbage).
Another way is to grow plants which repel insects. There are a number of these and they work by utilizing some of the following natural chemicals:
- Pyrethrum - Pyrethrum occurs naturally in a variety of Chrysanthemum-like plants and is used in natural pesticides.
- Geraniol – Geraniol occurs naturally in plants and can be five times as effective as citronella plants to repel insects.
- Linalool – Occurs naturally in many spice plants. It’s odor acts as a fly repellent.
- Limonene and d-limonene – are found in citrus plant oils which not only repel insects, but are fatal to flies.
- Citronella – Citronella is a natural insect repellent which is commonly used in mosquito coils and candles.
PLANTS THAT REPEL INSECTS
While there are other forms of deterrent such as pesticides and flyscreens, the following plants can be equally effective when strategically planted around your house and garden.
Citronella Grass
By far the most popular insect- repellent plant, it’s pungent oil is used in the manufacture of citronella candles and mosquito coils. It is perfect for outdoor entertainment areas where it can be placed in pots on the table to deter mosquitoes.
Catnip
A member of the Mint family, catnip is an effective repellent for mosquitoes. It’s fast and easy to grow and has a pungent odor that is attractive to cats (hence the name).
Rosemary
As well as being used as a herb in the kitchen, Rosemary has a fragrant smell that is attractive to humans, but is repulsive to insects.
Basil
Like Rosemary, Basil is another herb which is used extensively in cooking and also works well as an insect repellent. It’s best planted in pots near doors and outdoor entertainment areas.
Mint
Mint is an effective mosquito repellent. Like sage, Mint should be grown in pots because of its tendency to take over a garden.
Chive
A herb with edible flowers that repels aphids and beetles. Like Mint, it should be grown in pots because of its tendency to spread.
Garlic
The pungent odor of Garlic repels insects such as beetles, fruit flies and grubs.It also serves to confuse the sense of smell of some flying insects such as cabbage moths.
Sage
As well as attracting bees, sage repels a number of insects. These include ants, which can be a problem in some households. Grow Sage in pots near entryways and lay sprigs on pantry shelves.
Oregano, parsley and thyme
As with the herbs above, these should be planted as companion plants in your garden due to their ability to confuse and repel insects.
Lavender
This plant has a strong fragrance that is an effective deterrent to a variety of insects such as fleas, flies and mosquitoes. Because of this, it is also used in sachets to keep moths away from clothes in drawers and closets.
Marigolds
Best used as a companion plant in your vegetable garden, Marigolds deter insects such as microscopic worms that attack the roots of plants. They are also effective in deterring foraging rabbits when planted around the perimeter of the garden.
Lemongrass
This is a plant that contains large quantities of citronella. This makes it repellent to insects not only in the garden, but when crushed and rubbed on the skin is a natural alternative to insect spray.
Chrysanthemums
In addition to being beautiful flowers, Chrysanthemums are an effective deterrent to bedbugs, fleas, ants and other pests. They contain pyrethrin which is a natural insecticide.
Petunias
A good natural insect deterrent, Petunias will protect your vegetables more effectively than many other companion plants. They also protect your roses from aphids.
Nasturtiums
This is an edible flower that repels a variety of insects. It is particularly useful in protecting vegetable patches when planted around the perimeter.
These are best grown in pots due to their preference for moist boggy soil. These carnivorous plants attract insects into their pitchers using a sugary nectar and then trap them when they are unable to climb out.
Many of the above plants are multi-tasking, providing sensory enjoyment while also keeping unwanted bugs at bay. So choose those that you think will best suit your home and garden.
But remember, some can also be toxic if eaten by your pets, so be sure to check with your vet or your local SPCA’s website for more information.
And if you can’t grow these plants, their essential oils can be purchased and sprayed or wiped on surfaces to achieve the same insect repellent properties.
There are many websites to go check out.
However, GardenCrafted is one of the best small websites to go to for information on gardening.
It is especially helpful with articles on How to Care for certain plants such as the Philodendron Florida Ghost.
That is one of the most popular articles to check out.
There are also articles on How to Care for Alocasia Odora Variegata and How to Care for Lemon Lime Philodendron.
Just to name a few.Some of the more up and coming articles and that have very few articles on them is on it is on How to Care for the Syngonium Pink Splash.
Have you not heard about Citronella Plant?
Then don't worry here you will learn How to take care of it?
Is it a must to plant it?
So, what are the important things to take care of when it comes to gardening?
Well, we all know plants depend on the environment we keep them in.
Above is the summary, keep on reading about Citronella Plant.
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