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10 Plants That Repel Insects Naturally

plants that repel insects
Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / hasogr

There’s nothing more frustrating than dealing with pesky insects around the home. Instead of using chemical-based insecticides, try these 10 plants that repel insects naturally.

Discovering Natural Solutions To Natural Problems

Insects can pose real challenges in the garden or in the house.
Insects can pose real challenges in the garden or in the house.
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / SamuelStone)

There’s nothing more frustrating than coming home to find pesky insects lurking around the house or in your garden. Be it ants, flies, or (God forbid) cockroaches, no one wants to deal with the headaches that insects bring to the table.  

What’s worse, who wants to spray bug spray around the house? The chemicals are environmentally unfriendly, can smell unpleasant, and can be a real hazard to your pets. Indeed, it’s always best to try to solve such problems with natural alternatives. The good news is there are many varieties of plants out there that repel insects naturally.

1. Plants That Repel Insects: Alliums

The scent of alliums is a powerful insect deterrent.
The scent of alliums is a powerful insect deterrent.
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / pixel2013)

The smell of alliums repels aphids, cabbage flies, and slugs. You’ll want to plant these in your garden where you want to keep such bugs away.

2. Basil

Basil is great at keeping houseflies and mosquitoes away.
Basil is great at keeping houseflies and mosquitoes away.
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / monicore)

Not only good for Italian cooking, basil plants repel insects like houseflies and mosquitoes. This is a great houseplant option that you can plant in small pots and leave around the kitchen to keep pests away.

Read on: Growing and Keeping Basil Fresh: Tips for Kitchen Herbs

3. Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums are a beautiful addition to the home or garden.
Chrysanthemums are a beautiful addition to the home or garden.
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / Suppenkasper)

Another plant that repels insects, Chrysanthemums are especially effective at deterring silverfish, Japanese beetles, ants, bed bugs, and roaches. They contain pyrethrum, an ingredient often used in artificial insect repellents. You can plant these in pots in areas of high humidity in your home (bathrooms, kitchens) to keep beetles and roaches away.

4. Plants that Repel Insects: Dill

Dill is an effective bug deterrent for your garden.
Dill is an effective bug deterrent for your garden.
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / Hans)

Dill plants naturally repel squash bugs, aphids, and spider mites. Plant dill in your garden to keep various insects from ravaging your vegetables.

Read on: How to Make Homemade Pickles

5. Lemongrass

Planting lemongrass is a great way to repel mosquitoes naturally.
Planting lemongrass is a great way to repel mosquitoes naturally.
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / sarangib)

Lemongrass is an excellent mosquito repellant. Plant it in pots around your porch or near areas of high humidity in your home to keep mosquitoes away. 

Read on: The 12 Best Plants to Naturally Repel Mosquitoes

6. Marigolds

Marigolds don't only deter bugs. They also keep away rabbits!
Marigolds don't only deter bugs. They also keep away rabbits!
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / ignartonosbg)

Plant marigolds in your garden to brighten things up, or keep them in vases around the house. Their aroma deflects rabbits, aphids, and mosquitoes.

7. Plants That Repel Insects: Parsley

Parsley has many other practical functions outside of cooking.
Parsley has many other practical functions outside of cooking.
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / AllNikArt)

Parsely doesn’t just add to your cooking. Instead, it’s effective at keeping asparagus beetles away. Plant it in your garden to manage these pests.

Read on: Parsley vs. Cilantro: How to Tell the Difference and How to Use Them

8. Mint

Mint is incredibly effective at deterring mosquitoes.
Mint is incredibly effective at deterring mosquitoes.
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / Buntysmum)

If you have a mosquito problem, mint will keep them away. The essential oils in mint plants deter mosquitoes. You can use mint plants to repel insects in your garden or around the home in pots.

Read on: Growing Mint: Mint Plant Care in your Garden or Kitchen

9. Thyme

Thyme is also useful outside the kitchen.
Thyme is also useful outside the kitchen.
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / Hans)

Similar to mint plants, it’s the essential oils in thyme plants that repel insects. Keep thyme in your garden to deter cabbage loopers and corn whiteflies.

Read on: Drying Thyme: How to Preserve the Precious Herb

10. Plants that Repel Insects: Lavender

Lavender is a great choice inside and outside the house.
Lavender is a great choice inside and outside the house.
(Foto: CC0 / Pixabay / Wow_Pho)

Beautiful lavender is not only a nice aesthetic choice for your house/garden. The plant also repels insects like mosquitoes, fleas, and flies. You can plant it in your garden or keep it in pots in your house.

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