Thirteen Herbal Insect Deterrents: Exploring the Power of Botanicals and Garden Plants
In your everlasting struggle against pesky pests, shift gears towards the natural route and say adieu to harmful chemicals! Herbs beckon as nature's top-notch insect repellents, keeping those unwanted visitors – from mosquitoes and houseflies to tomato hornworms and aphids – at bay. Let's explore 13 herbs that will make your garden pest-free and your home bug-free!
Basil
This versatile herb has an extra trick up its sleeve: it naturally repels flies and mosquitoes. Tuck some basil plants alongside other plants for pest protection, and create a mini basil garden on a windowsill to ensure your kitchen stays bug-free.
Lavender
Lavender's power lies in its potent, strongly scented flowers, which are infamous among moths, fleas, and mosquitoes. Give them a bruise by crushing the flowers to release the valuable essential oils, and use them to soothe your skin as a mild insect repellent. If you'd rather hang a lavender bouquet, do so anywhere to deter mosquitoes – be it on the porch, in the living room, or wherever they're quite uninvited!
Lemon Thyme
Lemon thyme serves as a mosquito repellent, but, unlike basil and lavender, taking the plant alone doesn't cut it. Gently bruise the leaves to release the essential oils containing chemical compounds that naturally repel mosquitoes.
Mint
Mint is a star when it comes to repelling mosquitoes. Mix it with apple cider vinegar and witch hazel to whip up a homemade insect repellent spray that you can use on your skin [1]. Make sure to test the spray on a small area of your skin first to ensure you don't have a reaction!
Rosemary
Rosemary is a vegetable garden's designated security officer, acting as a natural protector against various insects that can wreak havoc on vegetable plants. Tuck rosemary plants alongside your vegetable garden or concoct a gentle spray repellent to shield your crops from approaching pests.
Sage
Next time you're grilling outdoors – or better yet, at a campfire – and you're being hounded by pesky insects, toss a few sage twigs onto the fire. The aroma will instantly dissuade those unwanted guests, and you'll be left with the divine, smoky scent lingering in the air.
Chives
Chives prove themselves beneficial for vegetable gardens by repelling carrot flies, Japanese beetles, and aphids [3]. Plant some chives near your crops to keep these pests a comfortable distance away.
Dill
When it comes to aphids, squash bugs, spider mites, cabbage loopers, cabbage worms, and tomato hornworms, dill is an Herculean defender in the world of herbs. Tomatoes, known for their particular fondness for pests, will thank you for planting dill among them.
Parsley
Parsley becomes a superhero for your garden when it comes to asparagus beetles. If you've fallen victim to these buggy villains, plant some parsley in proximity to your asparagus to safeguard your crop.
Thyme
Thyme does not limit itself to being a mere culinary herb; it's an all-star insect repellent, fending off whiteflies, cabbage loopers, cabbage maggots, corn earworms, and tomato hornworms.
Garlic
Although not technically an herb, garlic's reputation as a powerful insect repellent grows each day. If you face issues with Japanese beetles, root maggots, carrot root flies, moths, or aphids, try planting garlic alongside your crops to deter them [2].
Fennel
If your garden is under siege from slugs or snails, fennel is the herb to call upon, as it efficiently repels aphids along with other pests.
Catnip
Catnip is known primarily for being a favorite toy for your household feline, but its pungent odor, containing the compound trichomethane, is adored by no other than those persistent and annoying insects: mosquitoes, flies, ticks, and cockroaches.
So, embrace the powers of nature, and say goodbye to toxic chemicals! Never underestimate the simple elegance and robustness of herbs in keeping your garden and home pest-free.
Learn more about what pests might be lurking in your garden here.
Take the first step towards a safer, greener environment by cultivating your very own Natural Insect Repellent Garden! Start growing today and witness the power of herbs for yourself with our Herb Garden Kit, guaranteed to sprout and thrive [6].
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5 Fantastic Feline-Friendly Herbs
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Don't leave pests unchecked – equip yourself with nature's trusty insect repellents by integrating these herbs into your everyday life!
[1] Fritz, S. (2020, March 20). How Herbs Can Eliminate Pesky Pests from Your Garden. Better Homes & Gardens. Retrieved from https://www.bhg.com/gardening/vesters/how-to-use-mint-to-repel-flies-spiders-mosquitoes-and-more/
[2] Love, A. (2019, April 8). 8 Plants That Ward Off Mosquitoes. Southern Living. Retrieved from https://www.southernliving.com/gardening/mosquito-repelling-plants
[3] Robert, J. (2019, June 10). 14 Plants that Naturally Repel Pests. Mother Earth Living. Retrieved from https://www.motherearthliving.com/homesteading-and-livestock/plants-that-repel-pests-zbczz2004znewz1
[4] Heck, D. (2020, May 4). Plants That Naturally Repel Insects. Savvy Gardening. Retrieved from https://savvy-gardening.com/plants-that-naturally-repel-insects/
[5] Alley, J. (2017, November 7). Plants to Keep Away Flying and Crawling Pests. The Spruce. Retrieved from https://www.thespruce.com/marigold-as-a-natural-pest-repellent-468129
[6] My Garden School - Herb & Vegetable Seed Packets. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.mygardenschool.com/store/herb-and-vegetable-seed-packets
[7] Marin, E. (2020, June 5). 3 Stunning Ways to Decorate with Herbs. Growing Magazine. Retrieved from https://growingmagazine.com/3-stunning-ways-to-decorate-with-herbs-620317
[8] Ruane, A. (2019, April 8). 6 Herbs Cats Go Crazy for + Why They're Worth Planting. Flowerpot Farm. Retrieved from https://flowerpotfarm.com/blogs/flowerpot-farm-blog/6-herbs-cats-go-crazy-for-why-theyre-worth-planting
- The versatile herb basil serves as a natural insect repellent, keeping flies and mosquitoes at bay in both the garden and home.
- Many herbs, such as lavender, lemon thyme, rosemary, sage, chives, dill, parsley, thyme, garlic, fennel, and catnip, act as natural insect repellents, offering an eco-friendly alternative to harmful chemicals for pest control.
