With the arrival of summers the biggest issue is how to save on self and the family from mosquitos. The beeping sounds of mosquito are so irritating. The worst thing is a mosquito bite and red itchy skin. Mosquitos also beings with them a lot of infections and diseases among them dingy virus is the most life threatening. Everyone loves to go and play outside in the summers, but the fear of mosquitos is always surrounding us. Most of the children receive the instructions from their mothers to come back home before the sunset as there will be a lot of mosquitoes after that time. People spend a lot of money on mosquito repellent products, but they come up with their own side effects. Lotions and spray with DEET is the most popular as they give you a good protection, but studies have shown that a big abortion of DEET by the skin causes many skin diseases. The other side effects include seizures, slurred speech and hypotension.
It is somehow easy to protect your rooms and indoors from mosquitos but what to do when you want to stay in your garden and lawn? Also, if your lawns are protected then the probability that the mosquitoes will enter your home will be highly reduced.
The good news is that there are certain plants and flowers that act as a great mosquito repellent. Planting them in your garden will repel mosquitoes and other insects. If you don’t find them you can easily find them from the web. There are a lot of sites that sells fresh flowers online. Planting them will surely protect you from mosquito bites.
Citronella
It is one of the ingredients that are mostly used in mosquito repellent products. Its strong order has the unique property to repel mosquitos. It is used in different forms from candles, spray, mats, oils etc. But the living plant is the most effective. As it has the strongest order. It is a kind of a grass with the exception of height. It is 5 -6 feet tall and can be planted in the areas which do not have frozen winters. Citronella plants are considered low maintenance, like most grasses, and they do best in full sun and well-drained locations. Periodic applications of nitrogen-rich fertilizers will ensure vigorous growth, but this treatment only needs to be applied once a year, preferably in early spring.
Marigold
It is a beautiful flower and a classic mosquito repellent. It is being used as insects’ repellent plant since ancient times. It is grown in sunlight when the soil is fertile. They can easily be planted from seed. Marigold is an inexpensive plant so one can also buy it from garden centers.
It’s good to place the plant near windows and home entrances doors. It makes a strong barrier for mosquitoes. Besides repelling mosquitoes, marigolds repel insects which prey on tomato plants, so you may want to plant a few marigolds in your tomato bed for added protection.
Ageratum (Floss flower):
This plant has a particular smell that is not liked by the mosquitos. That’s why it is widely used in mosquitos’ repellent products. But it is the most effective in its natural form. Planting it in the gardens and laws will protect your homes from the beeping mosquitos.
It is a gorgeous plant with beautiful blue flowers. It is also in pink, white and violet bloom. So it will also add beauty to your lawn. This plant will thrive in full or partial sun and does not require rich soil. It is often displayed in rock gardens where low-lying plants are planted.
Catnip
It is a green plant with very strong mosquito repellent properties. According to a report of Iowa State University to American Chemical Society state that catnip is ten times more effective than DEET, the chemical found in most commercial insect repellents. It is an easy to grow plant. It needs good water supply to flourish well.
Horsemint (Beebalm):
Horsemint is an adaptable perennial plant which repels mosquitoes much the same as citronella. It gives off a strong incense-like odor which confuses mosquitoes by masking the smell of its usual hosts. It survives well in shades. It does well in dry, sandy soil and can tolerate salty conditions, which is why it is often found in coastal and beach areas.it can be easily grown in home lawns. It’s a great idea to plant small plants in different areas of the lawn to totally protect it from mosquitoes.