Repelling pests naturally – why do it?

There’s a reason environmentalists are pushing for greener living. Using natural solutions to our problems is better for the planet, better for your family, and usually, better for your wallet.

Repelling pests naturally will not only save your family from the terrors of rodents and biting insects, it will save you the money of hiring exterminators, and prevent potential health problems from their sprays.

The best places for pest repellent plants:

    Next to the front door, back door, and side door
    In pots on a balcony or porch
    Bordering the patio or deck
    Bordering or interspersed in the vegetable garden
    In flower boxes under windowsills
    Bordering the chicken coop
    In pots indoors or on outdoor tables

Best 7 Plants That Will Repel Pest

1. Lavender
This beautiful and useful perennial is disliked by most insects and rodents. Plant lavender in your herb garden once, and it will come back year after year to do the work of driving pests away.

Lavender can be harvested, dried, and hung around the home, or made into herb sachets and tucked into drawers and cupboards to keep away moths and other pests.

2. Marigolds
Marigolds are well known for their pest repellent stink. This plant repels squash bugs, tomato worms, and mosquitoes, among others.
Gardeners have long used marigolds in or around their gardens. They make an excellent companion plant to squash and tomatoes, as they tend to have lots of issues with insect pests.

3. Catnip
Cats love catnip, but most other creatures don’t. Catnip is a member of the mint family, and is a fellow perennial. Be sure to plant this crop in pots, or in an area that you don’t mind it spreading, because it sure will.

Catnip is one of the best mosquito deterrents, and it’s all natural. Rub the leaves directly on your skin, or use it in a homemade bug spray to drive away these biting pests.

4. Garlic
Most bugs simply detest the smell of garlic, and will avidly avoid any area in which it’s planted. Garlic is most effective at repelling insects that attack plant roots and tubers, as well as nasty aphids.
We like to plant garlic around the perimeter of our garden to keep pests at bay, and when the gardening season is over, we dig it up and enjoy it in the kitchen.

5. Chrysanthemums
These are the ultimate in insect repelling plants. Chrysanthemums drive away mites, lice, ants, beetles, ticks, roaches, and even bed bugs.
Chrysanthemums, or mums for short, naturally produce pyrethrin, a neurotoxin that repels insects. Mums look beautiful when interspersed with garden veggies, and their presence will ward of pests like nobody’s business!

6. Citronella grass
This grass (Cymbopogon nardus) holds the ingredients of those classic pest repellents: citronella candles.
Plant citronella grass near thresholds to your house to keep out flies and mosquitoes.

7. Lemongrass
Can’t find citronella grass in your area? Plant its cousin, lemongrass, instead.
Lemongrass holds many of the same qualities as citronella, but is usually easier to find at your local plant store.
When planting lemongrass, be sure to give it plenty of space. This giant can grow to 3-6 feet tall!

How to use plants to repel pests?

Use the leaves or flowers in sachets, sprays, and infusions

Dehydrate the leaves and/or flowers from pest repelling plants to make a portable pest repellent that can be used wherever you’re having trouble.

Dried herbs and flowers can be just as effective at repelling pests as live ones. Dried herbs can be hung near windows, placed in sachets inside drawers and cupboards, or used in decorations like wreaths and bouquets. Lavender flowers, in particular, make for beautiful pest repellant home decor.

These plants can also be used fresh. Many people take the freshly picked leaves and rub them between their hands to release the oils, then spread them on exposed skin to ward off bugs.

Another great way to use the fresh leaves is to infuse them in oil, then use the oil on your self or around the house to keep insects away.
Yet another way to use fresh herbs is to make a tincture using alcohol or vinegar. This can be poured into a spray bottle for easy homemade bug spray.