What flower acts as a natural pest control?
Chrysanthemums are some of the easiest flowers to grow. They contain pyrethrum, a natural repellant. It’s used in a lot of natural bug sprays to prevent biting insects, so chrysanthemums are very handy to have around. These flowers do best with full sun, so plant these in the sunniest areas of your yard. Flowers That Keep Bugs Away Marigolds – Their scent repels aphids, mosquitoes, and nematodes, making them great companion plants for vegetables like tomatoes and peppers. Chrysanthemums – Contain pyrethrin, a natural insecticide found in many bug sprays. They help deter roaches, ants, and ticks.Beetles and Weevils : These cause damage to number of annuals including marigold. These feed on young leaves and tender shoots, particularly at the ground level.
Which plant is the strongest mosquito repellent?
Citronella Grass. Citronella is a common ingredient in insect-repelling sprays and candles. The live outdoor plants are just as effective at keeping mosquitoes at bay. A low-maintenance ornamental grass with a lemon scent, Citronella can grow up to 6 feet tall. Entomologists at Texas A&M University1 and the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension have found that mosquitoes, fleas, and flies find the scent unpleasant. And while lavender in the garden is ideal to attract pollinators, it does not work well to repel insects that damage plants like aphids or slugs.Combine essential oils like citronella, peppermint, tea tree, and lavender to create your own bug-repellent spray. Mix with water and a little alcohol to help disperse the oil. Place oil-diffused cotton balls in areas where pests are a problem, such as near windows, doors, and cabinets.For those enjoying time outdoors, using repellents like citronella, eucalyptus, or lavender offers a chemical-free way to repel these pests. These essential oils are effective and provide a pleasant scent. They can be used in candles, sprays, or diffusers.Their strong scent is known to deter common garden pests such as aphids, mosquitoes, and whiteflies. They are best used to repel above-ground pests and attract beneficial insects like ladybugs and hoverflies, which feed on pests such as aphids and caterpillars​.
What plants attract the least amount of bugs?
While many plants can serve multiple purposes in your garden, lavender is the most effective at keeping the most insects away18. Though many people love the scent of lavender, insects tend to dislike it. Lavender repels mosquitoes, moths, fleas, flies, and others. Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus) is a well-known natural mosquito repellent. While citronella candles are commonly used, you can also plant citronella grass in your backyard. This grass emits a strong citrus scent that mosquitoes find unpleasant, effectively deterring them from your outdoor space.Using Mosquito-Repellent Plants Certain plants have innate pest-repelling properties. For example, research has found that some marigold species, catnip, and chrysanthemums contain phytochemicals that prevent insects (including mosquitoes) from feeding on them.Citronella grass, rosemary, catnip, lavender, and marigold are among several plants that have been used to produce oils or lotions that one may spray or rub on the skin to help discourage mosquitoes.Citronella Grass (Lemon Grass) In fact, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden recommends lemon-scented plants such as citronella grass to keep mosquitoes at bay. And the good news is that the living plant is the most effective at repelling pests.