Guide: 9 Plants to Repel Bugs

With warmer weather coming, so are the bugs. Insect pests like flies and mosquitoes can make enjoying your summer patio much less fun when all you’re doing is swatting at bugs. Besides mosquito candles and torches, you can plant a number of plants around your patio, pool, and property to keep your yard pest-free. Take a look at the list below of natural, bug-repelling plants.

1. Marigolds

Marigolds

These popular summer annuals deter plant lice, mosquitoes, and even rabbits. Plant near your front or back doors or even in vegetable gardens to keep rabbits and mosquitoes out.

2. Rosemary

Rosemary repels a wide variety of bugs. Keep your garden protected with this fragrant herb!

3. Mint

Who doesn’t love fresh mint? Planting mint around your garden or doors will not only offer a pretty fragrance, but it’ll deter bugs such as spiders, ants, and mosquitoes! Be mindful when planting, however, because mint spreads quickly.

4. Basil

Basil

Plant basil around your back door to discourage mosquitoes and house flies from getting inside your home.

5. Citronella

A classic bug repellent, citronella can be planted in gardens or in containers near your doors to repel mosquitoes.

6. Lavender

Gnats and mosquitoes hate the smell of lavender, which is a bonus if you love it! Plant lavender near windows and doors to both deter bugs and allow the aroma to waft into your home.

7. Chives

Japanese beetles and carrot rust flies won’t want to stick around your garden if you’ve got chives growing.

Petunias

8. Petunias

Simultaneously add color to your yard and repel beetles, aphids, leafhoppers, tomato worms, and a number of other pests.

9. Bay leaves

Bay leaves repel flies and can also deter roaches in your kitchen.

10. Garlic

Plant garlic near roses to discourage Japanese beetles, maggots, carrot flies, moths, and aphids.

11. Chrysanthemums

Mums are an excellent repellent for ants, Japanese beetles, roaches, bed bugs, spider mites, and ticks. These plants are so effective due to a neurotoxin called Pyrethrin that many insect repellents use them in their mixtures.

Chrysanthemums