Planting is an overall fun activity, and it’s so nice to see your little crops blooming and bearing fruits! It’s a therapeutic hobby, especially at a time when we’re all stuck at home and feeling bored.
But apart from garden beautification and having homegrown food organics, some plants have the natural power to drive nasty bugs away! You’ll be surprised to know that the same stuff you put in your food can solve your pest problems in a snap.
Check these 8 houseplants that will make you convert to an au naturel way of keeping bugs at bay!
All about that Basil
We all know this plant as a staple in herb gardens as well as a garnish to pasta and salads, but basil does bug control in the outdoors, too! Having basil plants in your garden would keep mosquitoes away because the plant contains 4 out of the 6 naturally-occurring mosquito repellant volatiles.
By simply crushing some basil leaves and rubbing them on your clothes and skin, the blood-sucking insects will stay out of your way. You can also make homemade basil spray if you want to keep a carry-on mosquito repellant.
The Menthol Meanie
Another cooking herb that’s out to get the bugs, mint is a meanie to various pests. The menthol in mint acts as a pesticide that keeps away ants, spiders, mosquito eggs, and even mites! Since the plant has a strong scent, it’s also avoided by mice because they have a good sense of smell. Mint may just be your savior from both pests and vermin!
One downside of the mint plant is that it’s invasive—meaning, it can compete with your existing plants for resources (such as nutrients) and destroy them. Just make sure to grow them in a separate bed, away from your other plants in the garden.
In times of trouble, Rosemary comes to me
We’ve seen the pest-repelling powers of mint and basil, but let’s not stop there because rosemary’s joining in on the fun! Similar to what a mosquito coil does, smoke coming off from rosemary can keep mosquitoes away. Its woody, aromatic scent also repels flies and moths especially if you’re out on a picnic outdoors.
The rosemary plant is also low-maintenance—you can plant it all year long and it’ll thrive as long as the soil where it is planted drains water well.
Lovin’ the Lavender
Known for its calming fragrance, lavender continues to be a stunning addition to garden landscapes. But did you know that bugs are repulsed by their scent? The light purple plant produces oil that repels mosquitoes, and even the dried and wilted flowers don’t go to waste as they can be hung in the closet to keep moths away from clothing. Talk about pretty with a purpose!
Go for Marigolds
These bright yellow blooms aren’t just beautiful additions to your garden—marigolds keep mosquitoes and nematodes away from your landscape! Nematodes or roundworms are parasitic organisms that attack the stems, roots, foliage, and flowers of your plants.
If you want to keep your garden looking alive and free from worm infestation, go for marigolds! They’re easy to grow and easier on the eyes!
Care for some Catnip?
This dainty plant that drives your cat bonkers also can shoo nasty bugs away! Catnip is proven to be ten times more effective than DEET or diethyltoluamide, aka the active chemical ingredient in most insect repellents. If you’re still unimpressed, maybe you’ll change your mind with the fact that catnip is 100 times more effective than DEET when talking about cockroach-repellent abilities.
Aren’t you glad for Oranges?
Osage orange trees can grow up to 20 feet tall with thick trunks and spiny branches. But aside from providing wide shady areas, its fruits are also a natural cockroach repellent because of their cedar-like smell. In general, cockroaches hate anything with a strong scent, so it’s sure that they’d be staying out of the way of Osage oranges, too.
Garlic: A holy grail
Unlike the previous crops, garlic is not commonly planted in one’s yard. It doesn’t flower nor possess an appealing smell, but what it does in the garden is more than just keeping the vampires out.
Garlic has a strong smell that drives away bugs, snails, and garden pests that can munch and destroy your perfect little plants. It also keeps out beetles, fruit tree borers, and spider mites so you don’t have to worry about being bit by critters.
Although these plants can help reduce the frequency of pests, it is always advisable to seek pest control at Toms River help.
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