Mosquito and garden pest repellent plants

Joana Alves Gomes
Sep 30
2 min read

With the arrival of summer and the heat, mosquitoes also arrive.

Insects are very important to the ecosystem; they are essential, for example, for pollination, maintaining the earth's temperature, decomposing organic matter (animal and plant carcasses), and recycling nutrients. However, they can also become nuisances, both through bites and through the transmission of diseases, infesting gardens, vegetable gardens, and indoor flowers.

Fortunately, there are some plants we can have at home and in gardens, or vegetable gardens, to ward off these potentially problematic insects.

Here are some of them:

- Rosemary - Rosmarinus officinalis

It repels flies and mosquitoes, cabbage butterflies, carrot flies, fleas and ticks, making it a great help in vegetable gardens and also ideal for growing in pots and planters indoors or on balconies.

- Rue - Ruta graveolens

It repels ants, flies, and mosquitoes.

It has a very strong odor, so most people prefer not to plant it indoors.

- Citronella - Cymbopogon citratus

Repels flies and mosquitoes.

It can be planted in vegetable gardens, gardens, or in planters and pots inside homes, on balconies, and porches.

- Chrysanthemum - Chrysanthemum spp.

Repels cockroaches, bedbugs, mites, fleas, ticks, and nematodes.

It can be planted in vegetable gardens, gardens, and in pots and flower boxes indoors or outdoors.

- Dill - Anethum graveolen

It repels aphids, mites, and cabbage and tomato pests, making it a great addition to your vegetable garden; it can also be grown in pots and flower boxes indoors or on balconies, and is a seasoning.

- Fennel - Foeniculum vulgare

Repels aphids, slugs, and snails.

Its large, open form makes it ideal for vegetable gardens and herb beds.

- Mint - Mentha x piperita

Repels ants, cabbage butterflies, and spiders.

It can become a weed in the garden, so it's ideal for growing in pots or bordered flowerbeds.

- Lavender - Lavandula officinalis

Repels fleas, flies, mosquitoes, and moths.

Due to its ornamental value, it is ideal for gardens and herb gardens. Dried flowers can be used as a deodorant and as an air freshener inside the home.

- Basil - Ocimum basilicum

Fly and mosquito repellent.

Being a spice and small, it is ideal for growing in pots and planters indoors or on balconies.

- Tagetes - Tagetes erecta

It repels nematodes in the soil, whiteflies, and mealybugs, making it an excellent addition to vegetable gardens and can be used in pots. However, it has a very strong odor that can be unpleasant.

- Lemon thyme - Thymus citriodorus