When it comes to mosquito control, it’s never too early to devise a plan to keep pests away from you and your family. Suppose you’re looking for a natural way to deter mosquitoes and other pests. In that case, you can plant insect-repellant plants and flowers instead of relying on stinky bug sprays, repellents, or ineffective bug zappers.
First, let’s discuss why mosquitoes and other pests are drawn to humans and pets to understand how to use plants and flowers to keep biting insects away. While there are a variety of reasons why these bugs are attracted to us, mosquitoes – in addition to gnats, biting flies, ants, and other biting pests – are drawn to people and pets by the scents we emit. This includes carbon dioxide, sweat, and even smelly feet, which can attract mosquitoes from as far as 150 feet away.
Growing strong-smelling plants and flowers can help block these pests’ scent receptors and effectively mask your scent. The plants highlighted in the following section have shown great promise in repelling mosquitoes and other pests when burned or applied topically. Exercise caution when applying topically or burning, though, as some of the oils these plants produce can irritate your skin, and some plants are less ideal for burning than others.
At Mosquito Authority, we want to help keep you and your family protected against mosquitoes and the dangerous diseases they can transmit. As your source for professional mosquito control, we’re dedicated to providing you with practical tips you can use in addition to our effective treatment options.
Potent Plant Power
People have been using outdoor plants to repel insects since ancient times. Back then, people relied on tars, smoke, plant oils, and other methods to keep mosquitoes away. DEET was developed by the US Department of Agriculture in 1946, and the chemical has remained one of the most widely recommended and used insect repellents available. When used as directed, DEET is not considered harmful. However, many questions remain regarding its use as it’s not fully understood how the chemical works despite being the most well-known repellant on the market.
While some plants can be labeled as insect-repelling, they offer little in terms of actually repelling mosquitoes and other pests – for instance, the mosquito plant (Pelargonium citrosum). However, there has been little evidence that shows that it works against repelling mosquitoes, despite its name and pleasant scent.
Luckily, many other plant options can produce strong scents and insect-repelling qualities when grown in a targeted area and used correctly. Plants that have herbal, minty, fruity, and other strong odors can effectively block insects’ scent receptors and provide relief against itchy or painful bites.
Some plants that have shown promise to repel insects include:
- Lemongrass
- Lemon balm
- Lavender
- Garlic
- Rosemary
- Basil
- Mint
- Catnip
- Marigolds
These plants can be an attractive addition to any garden, can be useful when cooking, and can also be grown in pots if you’re looking for indoor plants that repel insects. It’s not enough to just place these plants around your yard or home, however. In order to have an insect-repelling effect, the leaves or petals will need to be crushed or burned to release essential oils, as this is the best way to generate a strong fragrance.
To use these plants topically, it’s easiest to pluck a few leaves and crush them in your hands to release oils, then rub the crushed leaves and oil over your skin. This creates a mosquito-repellent effect to keep bugs away. We suggest performing a spot test before applying elsewhere to ensure your skin is not irritated.
Another option is to collect sprigs of these plants and burn them. Between the smoke and the plant’s fragrance, you’ll be able to create a barrier between the bugs and your skin.
Our Pest Control Services
Even though the plants and flowers that repel insects we’ve highlighted are a great natural option to help deter pests from biting, it’s important to remember that their effects will not be the same as their commercial counterparts.
Commercial insect repellents are engineered to be effective for a long time. While plants can provide moderate protection for a while, they do need to be reapplied once their scent has worn off. If you can’t smell it on your skin, chances are the bugs can smell you again and will return.
Some other all-natural solutions for eliminating mosquitoes on your property include draining standing water, removing trash and leaf litter, and keeping your gutters flowing freely. Removing mosquito breeding grounds will significantly reduce the number of mosquitoes you see.
In addition to these things you can do yourself, choosing Mosquito Authority for pest control services is the best way to protect your home or business. Our variety of preventative pest services eliminates all types of bugs, including flies, ticks, spiders, mosquitoes, and more. We offer a wide range of mosquito control treatment options for yards of all sizes, including an all-natural service option to treat and protect against mosquitoes.
Over the course of 20 years, we’ve developed treatments rooted in science and designed to break mosquitos’ life cycles and prevent the development of breeding habitats and larvae growth. Our cost-effective treatment systems are proven to work and are quick to implement, with no hassle on your end. We employ a thorough, four-step process to identify your problem, inspect your property, and create a customized program for your unique requirements. We’ll return every 21 days to apply treatments to ensure you’re not bothered by mosquitoes. If you are, you need not worry because every service comes with the Mosquito Authority guarantee, so you can have the peace of mind that you’ll stay mosquito free or we’ll be back.
Whether you’re looking for a one-time treatment or season-long services, Mosquito Authority is your source for professional mosquito control that provides maximum protection against pests.
Contact us today for more information about insect-repellant plants and the services Mosquito Authority provides to eradicate pests.