Lawrie Barton, Whitewater Gardeners
Many of us like to put plants outside on our decks or patios but don’t like to put up with mosquitoes . The following plants are good ones to grow to help discourage Mosquitos from your home. you You can start them inside now so you can later move them outside when warmer weather comes.
Citronella Grass – The essential oil from citronella grass is used to make those insect-repellent candles you’ve probably come across at a summer barbecue. Make sure you’re buying the tall spiky grass Cymbopogon nardus, not “citronella plant” (Pelargonium citrosum), which is actually a type of geranium that smells similar to citronella but doesn’t contain the same mosquito-repelling oils. Citronella grass prefers partial sun and moist, loamy soil, so water every day if you’re growing it in a container. It is a perennial in tropical climates but can be grown as an annual in colder places.
Basil – Basil essential oil is being studied for its mosquito-fighting properties, and anecdotal evidence says just growing it helps keep mosquitoes at bay. But even if it doesn’t have any impact on mosquitoes, you’ll still be able to make fresh homemade pesto, so why not give it a try? Basil likes full sun and moist soil, so water daily during the height of summer, especially if planting in a pot.
Lemon Balm – This member of the mint family gets its distinctive scent from citronellal, an oil that contains some of the same properties as citronella, including an ability to repel mosquitoes. It’s incredibly easy to grow—almost too easy. Lemon balm is a perennial that can quickly become invasive and take over your whole plot, so it’s best planted in a container. Give it full sun to part shade and don’t forget to water.
Peppermint Peppermint essential oil has been shown to repel mosquitoes. A cousin of lemon balm, peppermint has essentially the same care requirements: give it lots of sun and water and contain it in a pot unless you want to grow lots of mint and nothing else in your flower bed. You can also use the leaves of both peppermint and lemon balm to brew tea.
Lavender – Some tests on lavender essential oil suggests that mosquitoes do not like this scent Some natural living gurus even suggest drying the lavender flowers and making sachets to ward off mosquitoes. Either way, you really can’t go wrong growing lavender because it’s so gorgeous. It prefers full sun and drier soil; water once or twice a week during the growing season. Lavender is a perennial, so expect it to come back yearly.
Catnip Nepetalactone – the essential oil that gives catnip its distinctive smell, has mosquito-repelling properties. Catnip (another member of the mint family) grows best in full sun and well-draining soil, but it will put up with partial sun and just about any type of soil. Once established, the only thing you really need to do to care for it is to pinch off the flower heads when they appear, since catnip spreads quickly by seed and can easily take over.
WARNING! All plants of the mint family can be invasive so grow in large pots or a designated spot in your garden where they can divide and roam…cause they will!!
If you have grow lights you can be starting many seeds now for later planting especially herbs and greens that don’t mind the cold like spinach and Kale.
Happy Gardening! Lawrie Barton President, Whitewater Gardeners.
