Most herbs, aside from their ornamental and culinary uses, can also repel mosquitoes and other nasty bugs! Some herbs that you may already have can keep pests off of your patio. Though just having the plants nearby is not enough.
For best effectiveness the plants must be crushed to release the repelling oils from the leaves and stems. For best benefits, crushed or bruised leaves can be rubbed on the skin or you can place pots of mosquito repelling plants on the ground where a passerby can brush against them, or in the middle of the patio table where they can be bruised often to release their odors!
Some common mosquito repelling plants include:
- Citronella geranium
- Lavender species
- Rosemary
- Peppermint
- Pennyroyal
- Catnip
- Marigolds
- Lemon balm
- Lemon grass
- Garlic
- Sage brush
- Pineapple weed