What Are the Best Plants to Keep Mosquitoes Away?
Mosquitoes use scent as a way to find people to feed on. A strong scent, then, may work as a natural deterrent for mosquitoes. Some plants and herbs that can easily be planted in your garden may help keep mosquitoes away, but only when the leaves or stems are crushed to retrieve the oils within. It’s important to not rely on plants alone to repel mosquitoes, and instead to work with a professional mosquito exterminator to keep the pests away.
Plants and Herbs to Repel Mosquitoes
Certain oils from plants work as natural repellents against mosquitoes. For that reason, it’s smart to plant a garden with a number of varieties that can aid in creating mosquito repellents. These plants include:
- Citronella. Often marketed as “mosquito plants” in big-box stores, this leafy plant is simply a geranium variety. Citronella grass, on the other hand, is most useful for extracting citronella oil.
- Lavender. As one of the most fragrant plants, lavender oil can help deter a mosquito by blocking its sense of smell.
- Marigolds. Both easy to grow and beautiful, marigolds emit a scent that also helps to deter mosquitoes. They also prevent aphids, whiteflies, and other garden pests.
- Rosemary, basil & thyme. These fragrant herbs are just that: fragrant! Similar to other plants, the scents of these keep pests and mosquitoes at bay.
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Do Mosquitoes Like Gardens?
Mosquitoes will find their food source in your garden. Contrary to popular belief, mosquitoes don’t only feed on blood—the main part of their diet is nectar. Male mosquitoes in particular feed only on nectar, plantsap, and honeydew. Female mosquitoes only feed on blood in order to be able to reproduce. So, just like other insects in your garden, mosquitoes are mostly getting their nutrients from flowering plants.
Best Scents to Repel Mosquitoes
One of the biggest attractants for mosquitoes is fragrance. Female mosquitoes use their keen sense of smell to locate carbon dioxide, which is breathed out by people nearby. Just as scent can drive mosquitoes toward you, it can also drive them away by disorienting them. Perfumes, citronella candles, and other scents can help to keep mosquitoes away from your home or garden in Bristol and Johnson City.
What Are the Best Plants to Keep Mosquitoes Away in Bristol TN?
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