Beware of the coming seasonal flying insects that are attracted to floral and fruity scents! Be as safe as possible and invest in a bottle of Ivory Liquid dish soap and put 10-12 drops of wintergreen, spearmint or peppermint essential oil in it and shake it up! You will feel especially clean and the bugs will like you a lot less! (I use mine on my person and in my hair!)
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Here is a list of plants and what insects they repel. This was sent in by Gill, a long time reader.
You can help prevent aphid infestations on your vegetables by interplanting them with plants that repel aphids. Some examples are anise, chives, coriander, garlic, onions, petunias, and radish.
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
Lynne from London, KY
There isn't one specific plant that will repel all insects, but in general, strong-smelling plants seem to work better than odorless plants. The idea is that some insects use scent to locate their host plants. If strong-smelling plants are growing nearby, the insects are more likely to become confused and move on. Try interplanting tansy, pennyroyal, lavender, peppermint (and other mints), onion, garlic and marigold.
Mixed planting is another effective strategy for controlling insects. By mixed planting, I'm referring to growing a diversity of plants rather than growing just a few types of plants. This encourages the pollinators and works to attract the kind of predatory (beneficial) insects that will naturally prey on pests. Mix planting also discourages pests from laying eggs.
Ellen
I think the answer is yes, but it depends on what exactly you're asking.
Repels all bugs in the garden? yes. it's the lowly marigold - any variety of marigold. Plant marigolds among/around your other flowers/vegetables and this keeps bugs away.
If you mean repels bugs from human skin etc. - I don't know....
hope this helps.
i don't think there is any one plant that repels ALL bugs but i agree with the other post, marigolds come close.
strong plants keep away pests too. white clover attacts good bugs and adds nitrogen to the soil. its rather invasive but it also smothers out weeds.
I purchased a citronella plant "mosquito plant" in the spring and potted it, placing it so when the dogs come to greet me, or to bed down, they rub against it which causes its aroma to fill the air. It also repels fleas and ticks. I noticed a marked difference in the mosquitos in their area this year, so many less, that I could sit longer outside to love on my dogs and when a mosquito would slip past, I would take a stick and give the leaves a few nudges, again distributing the scent.
Try the leaves of a Callicarpa species. Let me know
I visit my neighbor just about every day and in the past week his place has been adorned with flies. There are hundreds of them, on his porch, his car, his lawn furniture, you name it they are there. Is there a bush or flower that has an aroma that repels flies? Does anyone have any other suggestions besides opening up a lizard and frog zoo?
By Suntydt from Tazewell, TN
Basil always works well for me. Plant it around your porch and flies will disappear.
Bird feeders and bird baths will attract birds which will eat the flies.
Tell him to go to Costco's or a Garden Centre etc, and order some beneficial nematodes. There are different kinds, but the ones that do flies, also kill off Japanese beetles and grubs. They are micro organisms which feed on the larvae in the soil.
You can't see them, they are microscopic. You just take the pack out of your freezer, follow directions, essentially sprinkle on the soil in the area where the buggers are. This as all natural, non pesticide and works like a hot damn.
What can I do about gnats and mosquitoes? I know there are some plants.
By Sheryl
Lemon grass will do it and also there is a geranium called a Shoo Geranium. That is probably the best one.
It's is starting to be spring here a little early, but we will take it. With spring we get what my husband and I call "biting gnats". They are about the size of a gnat, swarm around you and their bite stings.
We love to sit outside all spring and summer long, but in the springtime they make it almost impossible. We have tried spraying ourselves with Listerine and Off. Any ideas on other sprays or plants to plant around our deck? We already plant marigolds for mosquitoes. Any other suggestions? Thanks.
Hardiness Zone: 5a
By Jen Hummell from Shellsburg, IA
