Mosquitoes are one of the most annoying animals on the planet and cause problems for both people and pets. They also carry a number of deadly diseases such as West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis (EEE or “Triple E”). While these can be harmless as a mild fever, they can also result in more serious diseases like encephalitis or meningitis.
In addition to sprays to get rid of mosquitoes, a natural repellent can be found growing in the ground: plants. Plus, they have the added perk of being great for the environment and beautiful to look at. If your mosquito problem hasn’t escalated out of control yet, these 10 plants will help to keep these pesky insects far from your home.
1. Lavender
For us, lavender is one of the most beautiful fragrances in the world. The scent comes from the essential oils that are found in the leaves of the plant. However, mosquitoes hate lavender because it messes with their ability to smell. This means that they can no longer find an accurate victim for blood, which is great news for us and our pets!
2. Marigolds
Marigolds are an easy-to-grow flower that looks beautiful in any garden. The flower emits a special smell that repels mosquitoes, keeping them far from your environment. You can grow Marigolds in your garden or in a flower pot. Just make sure you place them near any areas where you don’t want mosquitoes to come.
3. Citronella Grass
Citronella Grass is more commonly known as lemon grass. It is the most commonly used natural ingredient for mosquito repellants and smells amazing - at least for us! This plant is very low-maintenance that does best in warm climates. It will not survive the winter if you leave it outside in a cold temperature, so make sure to plant Citronella Grass in pots if you live in an area with cold seasons.
4. Catnip
Catnip can be found almost anywhere. It is part of the mint family, and although it is considered a weed, it has a beautiful smell which cats famously love. Catnip is very easy to grow and it spreads on its own quickly. If you don’t mind it slowly taking over parts of your garden, this is one of the best options to repel mosquitoes.
5. Rosemary
Rosemary is a fantastic herb that many of us are familiar with in the kitchen. The beautiful smell is fantastic for roasts and sauces and the plant is best used fresh. This is a great plant option to repel mosquitoes if you’re also looking to use the plant in your home. Rosemary does best in dry and warm climates, which means that it is not the right choice if it frequently rains in your area or if you have long periods of snow.
What If Things Have Gotten Out of Control?
Sometimes, a plant will not be of any help if the mosquito problem has gotten out of control. When this happens, you need a professional to sort things out!
Although there are many commercial products on the market that claim to get rid of mosquitoes, attempting to take care of the problem on your own can be messy and hazardous.
At RidAway, our pest control experts know how to protect you from mosquitoes. Our protection plan includes several stages:
- Discovering the location where these pests hide
- Carefully eliminating the pests and clearing the area
- Ensuring that your environment is safe for living
- Periodical visits to ensure there are no new invaders
- An annual treatment program to keep you safe 365 days of the year
- State licensed and industry certified professionals and equipment
Don’t wait to sick from a mosquito bite before taking action. Give us a call today to make your yard safe for the season.
