If you’re looking for a solution to get rid of flies, bugs, and other pests, but you don’t want to invest in chemical pest repellents for your home, there are plenty of natural plant remedies that can ensure pests don’t make your house their home. Also, remember these natural remedies are the first step in keeping pests away. But if you think your pest infestation is getting out of hand, consult a pest control specialist immediately.
First step in keeping pests away should be investing in natural remedies, which are great for your ecosystem. Natural remedies like plants will not only save your family from insects, but they’ll also save you from the potential health problems caused by pesticides when they’re used without moderation. The use of chemical pesticides is best left to the experts, who know when and how to use them and control any adverse effects on your health.
Plants that will keep pests away
Here are a few plants that can not only successfully repel pests but also keep your home smelling great:
- Lavender
Lavender is a great addition to your home not only because it smells great but also because it eradicates signs of flies, mosquitoes, fleas, and moths. Planting it in areas of your gardens that are sunny to keep your house pest-free.
- Basil
The advantages of growing basil plants in your home are triple fold. First, it acts as a pest repellent for mosquitoes and houseflies, it smells great, and you can now make homemade pesto.
- Lemongrass
Lemongrass is a great addition to your home garden because the citronella found in lemongrass is a staple ingredient that is used in pest repellents, especially mosquito repellents.
It also smells great and can grow up to four feet tall and three feet wide in one season. However, the benefits of growing lemongrass don’t just end there; it is also an essential ingredient in Asian cuisine.
- Pitcher plants
Pitcher plants are carnivorous plants — and their main diet is feeding on insects. These plants have a ‘pitcher,’ a specialized leaf that traps insects and feeds on them. Pitcher plants helps prevent wasps, flies, bees etc. Pitcher plants feed on insects like ants, flies, wasps, bees, and others. But here’s the catch, pitcher plants mostly thrive in sunny areas with lots of moisture, which is generally a difficult environment to reproduce as a home gardener.
- Lemon Thyme
Thymus citriodorus or lemon thyme effectively gets rid of mosquitoes because of its strong citrus smell. It repels mosquitoes when you bruise its leaves to release essential oils because of its strong citrus smell.
- Mint
Thanks to its scent, mint repels a wide variety of pests like mosquitoes, aphids, carpenter ants, and cabbage moths. But since mint can grow aggressively, it can overtake your garden. A good way to use it as a pest repellent is to place mint planters around your outdoor area or patio with mint to repel pests and create an insect-free environment.
- Catnip
Catnip is a member of the mint family and can also spread aggressively in your garden. But it is one of the best natural mosquito deterrents and can be used by rubbing its leaves directly on your skin or by extracting its oils and using it to make a pest repellent spray.
- Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums contain the compound pyrethrum, which is a naturally occurring ingredient that is widely used in pesticides. However, it can help get rid of pests like cockroaches, ants, ticks, silverfish, lice, fleas, bedbugs, and many others.
What are the best places to plant pest repelling plants in your garden?
The best place to place these plants is dependent on where pests need repelling. If you are having problems with pests inside your home, try planting them on the perimeter of your home to form a sort of a natural repellent circle.
Take proper care of your lawn and follow the above recommended tips to keep bugs and insects away from your yard.
Author Bio:
When people find their homes and offices infested with pests, it is not uncommon for them to panic. Raymond Web has taken the task to educate people on pest prevention and control strategies helping them keep their surroundings healthy, safe and pest-free. Being the digital marketing manager for Take Care Termite and Pest Control, a top rated pest control service in Tracy, CA, he has an in-depth understanding of people and their pain points due to pests, which he uses in his content to educate.
Photo Credits:
Featured Image (Lavender Plants)
Basil Plant
Lavender Flowers
Lemongrass
Pitcher Plants
Lemon Thyme
Mint
Catnip
Chrysanthemums