To keep away pest and insect from your yard to growing insect repellent plants

Aside from looking beautiful, flowers and other plants can bring added benefits to you and your garden.  Best of all, they’re a natural prevention that will hopefully limit how much insecticide you end up needing to use should the bugs start to take over a plant.

Consider choosing plants and herbs for your garden and landscaping which will help deter pesky insects from bothering you and your yard. Many herbs, vegetables, and flowers have strong aromas that make them wonderful companion plants for natural pest control. Keeping your growing areas as insect free as possible will help your vegetable garden stay productive and your ornamental beds attractive.

1.           Marigold: The scent from various types of marigolds repels aphids, mosquitoes, and even rabbits. The roots of marigolds are well-known among farmers to repel nematodes. They have even been proven to repel whiteflies away from tomato plants. 

2.           Basil: This easy-to-grow culinary herb doubles as a repellent for houseflies and mosquitoes. Plant basil in pots and place them around patios to form a protective barrier.                 

3.           Chives: When planted in your garden, this allium plant deters Japanese beetles, carrot flies, aphids, mites, and even rabbits. 

4.           Chrysanthemums: Since they naturally contain a compound called pyrethrum that's common in many artificial insect repellents, chrysanthemums are an effective way to deter pesky insects like spider mites, silverfish, Japanese beetles, ants, bed bugs, roaches, and fleas.

5.           Lemongrass: This attractive, tall-growing ornamental grass is a common ingredient in herbal teas. It contains fragrant citronella oil that acts as a mosquito repellent. 

6.           Mint: Mint is best grown in pots rather than the ground because it spreads aggressively. Containers of mint strategically placed in the garden or on the patio will help keep nearby plants insect free. 

7.           Citronella grass: You probably already rely on citronella candles, garden torches, burning oils and incense to fight off the mosquitos during the summer. Citronella is also a natural ingredient in many mosquito repellant sprays and creams. When planted under the windows or near the door, citronella grass can also deter other flying insects from entering your home as well.                

8.           Rosemary: The strong smell of rosemary can naturally drive flies and mosquitoes away from your property. It grows best in hot, dry weather, either in pots or directly in the garden bed. Not only is it an effective pest repellant, but it looks great as a flowering bush and tastes great in a wide variety of recipes.