There is nothing better than being in the garden at this time of year. With warm days and nights, everything grows lustily, and the garden flows and swells with both floral and edible harvests. But for many of us, the most vexing part of the summer heat is that it lures mosquitoes out in droves.
Happily, there are lots of scents that repel mosquitoes (whilst being very pleasant to our noses!) Many can be found from mosquito repellent plants that can easily be grown in containers, giving you the option of moving them around to wherever you are sitting. Most insect-repelling plants do so with their natural fragrances, so there is no need to douse your plants, skin, and clothes in chemical bug spray.
Here, I ask one garden expert to weigh in on the five very best container plants that repel mosquitoes, so we can enjoy summer unscathed.
1. Rosemary
In my opinion, if there is just one aromatic herb everyone should grow in their garden, it should be rosemary. There are many ways rosemary can be used to the gardener's advantage, notably its glorious perfume that delights people, but discourages mosquitoes.
'Rosemary contains eucalyptol, camphor, and rosmarinic acid, which are compounds that naturally repel mosquitoes and other biting insects, explains plantsman Alex Kantor.
'The pungent scent released by the plant helps form a natural barrier. It’s also a heat-tolerant, edible, evergreen herb, making it ideal for multifunctional gardening.'
More vigorous cultivars, like this creeping rosemary plant from Nature Hills, make good ground cover and are perfectly judged for pots - let it spill out of the container and pour down over the edge.
2. Citronella
Using citronella to repel mosquitoes is an age-old practice, and many of us use citronella candles to protect us from nighttime bugs in the warmer weather.
It's often forgotten, though, that citronella can and should be planted in pots. It has beautiful flowers and is extremely fast-growing, and a citrusy fragrance that will carry throughout your garden or patio the whole summer long.
'Citronella is often called the mosquito plant, and for good reason,' explains Alex. 'It has a distinct lemony scent, which comes from the oils in the plant. Citronellal, citronellol, and geraniol are strong and can mask the carbon dioxide and body odors that attract mosquitoes.'
'You can also commonly find these oils in bottled mosquito repellents,' he explains. If you love the look of brightly colored geraniums in terracotta pots, opt instead for citronella around your outdoor dining area, like this beautiful citronella plant from Fast Growing Trees.
3. Peppermint
If you are serious about deterring mosquitoes, then peppermint is an essential herb to grow. Peppermint is a very pretty but be warned, its rhizomatous roots spread voraciously and quickly become a weed. This means that the best way to grow it is in a container.
'Peppermint contains menthol and limonene, compounds that act as natural insecticides and repellents,' explains Alex. Peppermint plants are relatively inexpensive, like these peppermint plants from Amazon.
It can be used as foliage for vases dotted along the outdoor dining table, too, which will further disarm pesky mosquitoes.
4. Lavender
I could rhapsodize all day about the many blessings lavender brings to a garden, not least for its mosquito-repelling properties.
'Lavender emits linalool and prevents mosquitoes from smelling blood sources,' explains Alex. 'While it’s more effective when leaves are disturbed, just having it around seems to reduce pests, and as a bonus, it's also a calming scent.
It works best in terracotta pots with sandy, well-draining soil. Lavender thrives in full sun and prefers to stay on the dry side.'
For a beautifully fragrant and floriferous lavender plant, try Lavender Provence Blue from Burpee.
5. Lemongrass
Lemongrass is often overlooked, but it is a beautiful herb and a great plant for summer, and I particularly like to make a lemongrass syrup, similar to a late summer elderflower, which can be served to guests as they sit amongst the fragrant foliage of lemongrass plants in containers.
'Lemongrass, which is related to citronella, also contains these oils in the form of geraniol and citral,' says Alex.
'When crushed or disturbed, it confuses the mosquitoes and they lose the ability to track human hosts. Lemongrass grows well in containers, loves full sun, and requires regular watering.
It can reach 3–5 feet tall and forms a beautiful clumping plant.' If you are considering planting Lemongrass, try this Lemongrass plant from Perfect Plants, Just be sure to prepare a container with ample drainage holes, as it hates to be waterlogged.
If you're wondering how to get rid of mosquitoes without the need for harsh chemicals, Mother Nature has well and truly got you covered.
There are other scents that deter mosquitoes, too, like grapefruit and eucalyptus. Instead of burning plain candles at the dining table this summer, opt for a smattering of eucalyptus scented candles like this essential oils candle available at Amazon, or if mosquitoes are particularly drawn to you, try dabbing grapefruit oil on your pulse points, like this natural grapefruit oil available at Amazon.
