Nothing can ruin a beautiful evening on your porch or patio more than being swarmed by mosquitoes, gnats, or flies. These pesky insects can make it hard to enjoy your outdoor living spaces, but the solution may be easier than you think. No, you don’t need to drench your yard in pesticides or abandon outdoor relaxation altogether; you just need to add some naturally bug repellent plants to your North Georgia landscaping!
Bug Repellent Plants for North Georgia Gardens
Why bug repellent plants are so important for North Georgia landscaping
Mosquitoes are arguably the worst pest insect to invade your yard due to their itchy, irritating bites. While mosquito bites are usually more annoying than dangerous, they can transmit serious diseases like West Nile virus, Zika virus, dengue fever, yellow fever, and malaria. Flies can also transmit a host of diseases from run-of-the-mill salmonella and conjunctivitis to serious illnesses straight out of a Victorian novel like cholera and tuberculosis. Most gnats don’t carry diseases that put humans at risk, but that doesn’t make it any less frustrating when your relaxing outdoor dinner is overrun by a cloud of the little pests.
Plants to keep mosquitoes, gnats, and flies away
Fortunately, mosquitoes, flies, and gnats have one thing in common: They’re very sensitive to smells and hate the scents of many commonly grown herbs, flowers, and landscaping plants! Some of the best bug-repelling plants to add to your landscaping include:
- Herbs like basil, rosemary, thyme, mint, catnip, lavender, and lemon verbena. In addition to keeping bugs away, you can also enjoy adding fresh herbs to your cooking, baking, and cocktails for a fraction of the price of store-bought herbs. Even your cat will thank you if you plant some catnip, but don’t be surprised if you spot other neighborhood cats rolling around in it!
- Flowers like geraniums, marigolds, chrysanthemums, bergamot, feverfew, floss flower, and pitcher plant. Make sure to choose fragrant varieties for maximum impact. Adding these plants will not only keep bugs away, but will also add lovely smells and vibrant colors to your landscaping.
- Grasses like lemongrass and citronella grass. Growing up to 6 feet tall and equally wide, citronella grass makes a striking addition to your landscaping, adding texture and height. If you’ve ever purchased citronella candles or torch oil to help keep bugs away from your porch, you’ll recognize the distinctive smell of the essential oil. Lemongrass doesn’t grow quite as large, but still makes a wonderful addition to your bug-repelling landscaping with a light, citrus-y smell.
If you’re hoping to add some bug repellent plants to your North Georgia landscaping this summer, give us a call at 770-893-1254. At Whispering Springs, we are not only a plant nursery carrying a wide selection trees, shrubs, perennials, and annuals, but also offer landscape design services specializing in native plants, woodland landscaping, and deer-resistant plants.
