Gardening is the best way to have greenery around the house. Gardening not only makes the landscape beautiful but is also good for mental health and well-being oneself. Gardening provides a way to relieve stress and spend some time with nature in the current modern age where people are addicted to using smartphones and computers throughout the day.
Plants also attract insects by releasing scents that tell the bugs that there is food for them, pollen and nectar, to be precise. The good news is that there are herbs to repel bugs, and having those herbs also has secondary benefits, ranging from an increase in the garden’s beauty and collection of plants to using herbs to boost health and immune system.
Which Herbs are Insect Repellents?
Be it the mosquitos, ticks, or any other bug, there are plenty of herbs that gardeners can plant to ward off those insects.
● Garlic
Planting garlic cloves will not only avoid moths, cabbage worms, spider mites, carrot flies, etc. but is also extremely good for the immune system, blood pressure, and overall health.
● Nasturtium
Nasturtium is an edible herb with abundant vitamin C and many other nutrients. They are some of those herbs that are good for fungal and bacterial infections. Nasturtium is known to release a chemical that can repel beetles, white flies, squash bugs, and cabbage loopers. Having a nasturtium plant will keep predaceous insects away from the surrounding plants. The upside of Nasturtium is that they do not ward off bees which are important pollinators.
● Lavender
Lavender has an attractive fragrance. The scent of Lavender will turn the whole garden into a perfumed garden. While the smell is lovely to humans, it is extremely bad for insects. Lavender’s aroma has a good repellency against mosquitos and flies. The bonus point of planting a Lavender is its oil which has a calming and nourishing effect on the skin
● Lemongrass
A study has shown that among many plants, Lavender and Lemongrass have a very high repellency rate against a malaria-carrying mosquito known as Anopheles. They are also very effective against other species. Lemongrass contains an oil called citronella which is a mosquito repellent. There is no doubt that Lemongrass is among the best herbs to repel bugs.
● Catnip
According to a study, Catnip releases nepetalactone, a chemical known to trigger a chemical receptor in insects that generates a sensation of itching or pain. Catnip helps keep cockroaches, mosquitos, flies, and deer ticks away.
● Foss Flowers
Foss flowers contain a chemical known as coumarin, which is widely used in insect repellent sprays. Foss flowers will not only keep biting bugs away but are also ornamental, making them ideal for a beautiful decorative garden.
Conclusion
Gardening has many benefits, including improved well-being, greenery and fragrance around the house, connection with nature, and much more. But plants also attract many insects that will damage them and disturb the people around them. Luckily, nature has many herbs to repel bugs and can prevent insects in many ways.
