As soon as the fine weather arrives, common or tiger mosquitoes appear. Nothing is more unpleasant than being bitten during a walk, a meal or a gardening session. The solution to scaring away these biting insects may be in the garden?
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Certain plant odors are known to drive away mosquitoes, biters and bloodsuckers. They actually hate all the subtle lemony scents. Let’s take a look at the plants mosquito repellent to be grown in the garden, on the edge of the terrace, on window sills, in pots or planters to avoid summer invasions.
Effective mosquito repellent plants: geraniums
Some varieties of scented geraniums give off a strong lemony smell, they are part of the anti-mosquito plants. Varieties like ‘Mosquitaway Eva’ and ‘Mosquitaway Lizzie’ bear small bicolor pink and white flowers from April to October. They have the particularity of diffusing an amazing smell of lemon.
‘Dr Levington’ pelargonium is also a natural repellent. Its small flowers contrast with green foliage which, once rubbed, exhales lemongrass fragrances that help get rid of mosquitoes.
Rosat geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), whose repellent properties against these unwelcome hosts are recognized, and citronella geranium (Pelargonium citronellum) can also be planted in a corner of the garden. Bush-shaped, these mosquito repellent plants grow without maintenance and bloom from March to September.
Le marigold, the carefree mosquito repellent
Small yellow or orange flowers that bloom from spring untilfallwhether grown in the vegetable patch, the garden or in pots on a balcony-terrace, marigolds (Calendula officinalis) are not a mosquito’s best friend. They contain pyrethrin, the basic ingredient for the manufacture of industrial repellents. Indeed, their unpleasant odor promotes the removal of insects.
Lemon aromatic plants
In a pot or in the ground, grow it lemon verbena (Aloysia citrodora). Its light green elongated foliage gives off a lemon scent at the slightest touch. You can also dry the leaves and place them in a small canvas bag to enjoy its fresh scent for a very long time inside.
The lemongrass of Java (Cymbopogon citratus) is the 2and aromatic plant widely used to repel mosquitoes. Simple to maintain, it is the anti-mosquito plant, the main ingredient of essential oils effective in keeping these insects at bay and relieving itching due to bites.
The lemon balm officinale, on the other hand, develops green foliage that exudes a sweet lemon scent when touched. Resistant, you can keep it in place for many years.
The mints (Mentha), including pepper, are very fragrant and if you are unlucky enough to have been bitten by a mosquito, rub leaves on the bite to instantly calm the itching. Grown in a pot, tray or in a bed, it will become a real natural repellent.
You don’t suspect it for a moment, but mosquitoes don’t like the basil (Ocimum basilicum), of which the basil lemony that offers a powerful citrus scent. In cold regions, take care to return it for wintering.
About the aromatic, avoid letting the blooms take hold. Only leaves, and especially their smells, scare away mosquitoes. Blooms may exhaust the feet. So cut the stems that are going to flower in order to obtain new branched stems.
Lavender
Grow it everywhere to enjoy its fragrance that will remind you of the South and protect you from mosquito attacks because they don’t like its smell. Another advantage, the lavender attracts many pollinators, so important to the garden.
Where to install these mosquito repellent plants?
To be 100% effective and form natural barriers against mosquitoes, grow mosquito repellent plants near the terrace, on a window sill or in places of passage. A simple rustle of foliage and flowers will let these lemony fragrances float, so pleasant.
Mosquito repellent sticky note
In summer, avoid leavingbackwater in the saucers of plants because these places are prized for the reproduction of larvae of mosquitoes. The less humidity there is in your garden or on your balcony-terrace, the less risk you will have of being invaded all summer long.
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