By: Andy Zhong
As the summer arrives, so do the guests that come buzzing, crawling, and creeping into our lives. Bugs can quickly become a bother, causing lots of discomfort and health risks.
We’ve got some tricks up our sleeves to help you reclaim your space and enjoy the sunny season to the fullest. So let’s roll up our sleeves and get ready to bid farewell to those pesky bugs once and for all!
Unlock the Power of Lavender, Say Goodbye to Pesky Pests!
Lavender is a great bug repellent with an absolutely lovely smell to add to any setting! It keeps mosquitoes, flies, moths, and fleas away by masking their odor cues. The essential oil of lavender contains linalool and linalyl acetate, which act as insecticides and repellents.
To use lavender as a bug repellent, mix a few drops of essential oil with a carrier oil like coconut or almond oil and apply it to your skin. The scent of lavender masks the odor cues that attract bugs, making your surroundings less appealing to them. This way, you can enjoy bug-free surroundings and the calming aroma of lavender!
Basil Brilliance, Unleash the Bug-Repelling Magic!
Basil plays a huge role in repelling bugs for two main reasons: First the basil plant releases a strong aroma that repels many types of insects such as mosquitoes, flies, and ants. It acts as a deterrent making bugs less likely to approach the area where a plant is growing!
Basil also gives a non-toxic alternative to chemical insect repellents. They do not pose any harm to humans, pets, or the environment this makes them a safer option particularly for households with children or individuals with sensitivities to chemical products.
Moreover, basil is a versatile herb that can be grown both indoors and outdoors, it can be cultivated in pots, gardens, or even on windowsills. This versatility allows you to place basil plants strategically in areas like doorways, windows, or outdoor seating areas!
Mint, Please!
Mint plants release a potent fragrance that naturally repels many insects. This strong aroma acts as a deterrent, making bugs less inclined to approach the area where the plant is located. Mint is a versatile plant that can be grown both indoors and outdoors providing flexibility in its placement.
However, it’s important to be aware that mint plants can be invasive due to their aggressive growth habit. To prevent them from taking over your garden, consider planting mint in containers or using barriers to control their spread.
Placement Suggestions
Some of the best places you can plant these herbs are in entryways, outdoor seating areas, and garden borders.
By placing potted lavender, basil, or mint plants near entry points such as doors, windows, and patio areas, you can reduce the bugs in your vicinity! Bugs often try to enter the house through these openings and the strong scent of these plants can help get rid of them. Outdoor seating areas are also excellent locations to plant these herbs.
Placing these herbs in outdoor seating areas creates a natural barrier and helps repel mosquitoes, flies, and other insects while enjoying your time outside! Placing these plants around your garden can act as a protective barrier, removing pests from entering and damaging your plants and vegetables.
Finally, by adding these plants in vegetable and herb gardens it will remove pests that commonly target garden crops such as aphids, beetles, and mosquitoes.
The Smart Plant & Tree Care app has so many useful pieces of information about your plants, a free plant care calendar, and helps with identification of pests, weeds, and diseases! Download to help your garden thrive in any season.
Embrace the power of these natural bug repellents by incorporating them into your gardening and landscaping plans!
