Insects play an extremely important ecological role in nature, but let’s face it – no one likes mosquitoes or flies, and their bites are nothing pleasant. In the warm months, we often resort to chemical sprays or ointments to repel insects. However, when we are bitten, there are itchy and burning marks from the stings. You can fight the insects without harming them at all. One way is to use the power of plants and plant them both in the garden and on balconies and home windowsills. Which plants will repel unwanted insects?
Even simply crushing the leaves in your hands and rubbing their oils into your skin while gardening can discourage some insects from approaching and biting you. Plants alone will not solve the problem one hundred percent, but they will help, and they will be even more effective if we use them together with natural remedies to fight insects.
The scent of certain herbs and flowers, created by the distribution of tiny particles containing essential oils, can help repel bugs. High temperatures cause these particles to become volatile, evaporating the essential oils and turning them into vapors that insects can’t stand.
Plant materials for repelling insects have been used by man for thousands of years. Usually by hanging plants in homes, this method is still practiced in some countries.
Planting plants will not make the disliked insects completely stop coming to our gardens or houses, but there will certainly be fewer of them due to the smell they dislike. In addition, we do not want to completely eliminate all insects, because we need them. Pollinators aside, many insects are food for birds and other beneficial creatures. Therefore, our goal should be reduction, not elimination.
Among the plants that are always worth having close by are:
- basil,
- mint,
- lavender,
- rosemary,
- catnip.
See 9 plants that will repel unwanted insects:
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