With the arrival of summer, we would like to enjoy the cool evenings on the balcony or in the garden, but mosquitoes and other annoying insects often take away this pleasure. To ward off mosquitoes on the market there are various chemical repellents , mostly toxic to our health and the environment . To combat mosquitoes there are other more natural and less invasive remedies .
The plants repellent from the balcony and garden are a ‘ good solution . Growing and caring for mosquito repellent plants will not only free you from these annoying summer insects but will make your balcony or garden more pleasant by perfuming the air with intense and refreshing smells. Many of the mosquito-repellent balcony and garden plants are also aromatic plants that you can use to prepare tasty dishes in the kitchen.
Mosquito repellent plants – Tips for cultivation and care
The mosquito repellent plants for balconies and gardens are mainly perennials that bloom in the summer . They require little care, many are rustic and spontaneous flat , generally they need a good exposure to the sun and a mild climate . Many plants with anti-mosquito action are interchangeable and can be grown both in the garden and on the balcony .
These plants need dry soil , they can’t stand water stagnation or too humid soils. Mosquitoes are also attracted to pools of water and humidity . If you want to keep mosquitoes and other annoying insects away from your garden or balcony, you must therefore check and regulate the water needs of the mosquito-repellent plants for balconies and gardens and drain the soil if necessary . Above all aromatic plants, but also lavender, are typical of arid climates and therefore do not tolerate excess water .
Being plants suitable for mild climates, from Calendula to Citronella to geraniums it is necessary to pay attention to winter frosts and to shelter them during the cold months. For balcony mosquito repellent plants, grown in pots, it is necessary to cover them with greenhouse type cloths or fabric or by mulching the earth , covering the earth with natural fibers such as bark or straw to avoid frost damage . For garden mosquito repellent plants, they must be placed in places sheltered from wind and cold and protected in winter.
Balcony mosquito repellent plants
Monarda
Monarda is a perennial plant with abundant and colorful summer flowering . There are various species of this plant. Monarda is a plant with many functions, from its flowers we obtain natural essences and oils used in cosmetics and medicine. Its reddish flowers give off an intense smell similar to that of bergamot which acts as an excellent repellent against mosquitoes . To grow well it needs a mild climate , sun exposure and dry soil .
Geranium
Geranium or Pelargonium is a very popular plant for embellishing balconies and windowsills . Arranged in flower boxes these plants with colorful and bright flowers give off a characteristic odor that acts as a repellent against mosquitoes .
They do not require particular care, to grow well they need partial shade exposure . In addition to acting as a mosquito remedy, they embellish the environment with their flowering.
Incense plant
The frankincense plant is also known by the scientific name of Plectranthus colloid. It is an evergreen plant with green leaves dotted with white. It belongs to the Labiate family and comes from tropical areas so it needs mild temperatures and must be protected during winter frosts . Its leaves produce a pleasant and intense smell that repels mosquitoes. It is a very particular ornamental plant , so in addition to performing its function against parasites and mosquitoes it will embellish your balcony .
Catnip
Catnip also known as Nepeta Cataria is a very useful plant that performs various functions. Easy to grow , with long clumps flowering, it is an effective remedy against mosquitoes . In addition to mosquitoes, it is an effective repellent against other pests and is the favorite food of our cat friends. Belonging to the Labiate family , it is a perennial and rustic plant .
Aromatic plants
A balcony is not a real balcony without aromatic plants . Basil , rosemary and mint are essential for a fragrant, cheerful and mosquito-free balcony. In fact, aromatic plants are powerful mosquito repellents . You can arrange them on the balcony on a shelf next to each other.
In addition to their action as balcony mosquito repellent plants, you can use their tasty and tasty leaves in the kitchen.
- Basil is a relatively easy plant to grow , with shiny, fragrant and flavorful leaves. There are various types of basil on the market.
- Rosemary is another plant with a thousand qualities, its thick foliage perfumes and refreshes the environment and helps to keep mosquitoes away. Rosemary is a plant that grows quickly and in a short time will constitute a real compact hedge against mosquitoes.
- Finally, among the aromatic plants you can use mind as mosquito repellent plants . Also for mint you have various qualities and types available, its delicate scent and its leaves with an original and spicy taste are an excellent mosquito remedy.
Mosquito repellent garden plants
There are numerous anti-mosquito plants for the garden , by choosing carefully you will be able to constitute an effective natural barrier against any insect to enjoy peace and tranquility in your green corner.
Lavender
Among the various types of Lavender , Lavender Angustifolia or officinal lavender is a very fragrant species with an effective anti-mosquito action . Lavender is one of the most elegant and refined plants to grow in the garden, a flowering hedge with the characteristic spikes of lavender is a sight to behold. It gives off a delicate and particular scent, and it is a plant with many qualities , its flowers and thin green leaves not only keep mosquitoes away but are also used to perfume rooms, linen and in the production of soap and cosmetics .
Lavender is a herbaceous or shrubby species, typical of Mediterranean countries , it needs the right exposure to the sun , if cultivated well it gives abundant flowering and will form a compact and aesthetically pleasing hedge.
Lemongrass
Citronella or Cymbopogon is one of the mosquito- repellent garden plants par excellence. It is no coincidence that the essential oils used in the production of natural mosquito repellents are extracted from lemongrass .
It is a perennial plant with a strong citrus scent, it can reach great heights , it is generally grown in hot and humid climates and is in fact widely used in Southeast Asia. In English it is called lemongrass , its leaves are used in the kitchen for sweet and sour dishes of Asian and Indian cuisine. It is a strong and resistant plant that also adapts well to our temperatures where it can reach up to 1 meter in height.
Calendula
Calendula is one of those plants that is often planted in the garden among vegetables and greens because its leaves give off a strong smell that keeps insects, parasites and mosquitoes away . Essential oils with emollient and moisturizing action are extracted from Calendula , used to produce cosmetics and beauty creams . It is a plant that loves mild climates and needs a lot of sun . It can also be arranged at home if you like the strong smell of its flowers. It blooms abundantly and colorfully with flowers ranging from red to orange to bright yellow.
Eucalyptus
L ‘ Eucalyptus gunnii is a great widespread cone-shaped tree in Australia and Tasmania. It grows very fast so it needs to be pruned regularly in spring . If left to grow it can reach up to 25 meters.
From its particular bluish leaves an essential oil is obtained which is used for various uses. Its fragrant leaves are an excellent anti-mosquito remedy and eucalyptus essential oil is used in the preparation of ointments and creams for its antibacterial and disinfectant action .
Lantana camara
The Lantana is a wild plant with a very rapid growth, grows in the area with a mild climate and coastal areas.
It is an aromatic plant with a pungent odor that keeps mosquitoes and insects away with a strong repellent action, and an essential oil with different uses is also extracted from it. It has green leaves and abundant and colorful summer flowering, ideal for creating a flower bed . Although defined as an aromatic plant, it is absolutely not edible.
Because these plants are mosquito repellent
The mosquito-repellent balcony and garden plants are generally very resistant plants with an ornamental function. All the plants described have a thick crown and those that bloom have bright colors. Mosquito repellent plants for balconies and gardens are an effective repellent because they give off an intense odor that annoys these insects and keeps them away. For example, the colorful flowers of the Calendula contain pyrethrum , a natural anti-parasitic substance . From many of these plants, such as geraniums and lemongrass, essential oils are obtained to make mosquito repellent products such as creams, sprays , scented candles .
When arranging these balcony and garden mosquito repellent plants , try to arrange them near the place where you usually eat or near your windows, so that the smell does not dissipate . You can create a real compact barrier against mosquitoes by arranging the plants close to each other, in the shape of a hedge in the garden or in pots next to each other on the terrace. The repellent action of some of these plants is superior to that of the chemical products with which the artificial repellents are packaged, they are not harmful and perfume the environment.
