6 Great Mosquito Repellent Plants to Add To Your Lawn (2024 Update)

Mosquitoes can make outdoor life unbearable, but dealing with sticky repellent sprays and scented candle flames can make the solutions almost as irritating. It’s hard to enjoy yourself when you’re uncomfortable, worrying about hazardous chemicals, or dealing with unpleasant fumes.

If you’re done with artificial fixes, let Mother Nature help you in the ongoing battle against mosquitoes. Learn how to take the organic approach with these great mosquito repellent plants that you can add to your lawn.

The 6 Great Mosquito Repellent Plants to Add To Your Lawn

1. Marigolds

Marigolds off-gas pyrethrum to keep mosquitoes at bay. Since it is a long-lasting annual flower, you can enjoy your marigolds’ beautiful burnt orange and coppery blooms and the mosquito repellency that comes with them from spring through fall.

Grow marigolds in your garden to prevent pests and invite beneficial pollinators and other insects. They also make exceptional container plants to move about as needed. Make sure to deadhead them throughout the season to keep them blooming as much as possible.

2. Painted Daisies

If you want a recurring mosquito repellent to come and go with the season each year, the painted daisy may be right for you. The stunning perennial invites beauty to the garden through its delicate yet vibrant petals and the butterflies it attracts.

Painted daisies are versatile growers across the country, requiring little maintenance and accepting diverse conditions. They need full sunlight when grown in higher zones, while hotter summers in zones 6–7 may warrant some afternoon shade. Soil quality can vary as long as it’s well-drained. Daisies will happily bloom in early summer and, with proper deadheading, can last until fall.

3. Bee Balm

Neon pink flowers erupt from the bee balm like beckoning tendrils, inviting butterflies, bees, and hummingbirds to your yard. The low-maintenance plant pairs nicely with the painted daisy to deliver an attractive, mosquito-repellent bouquet. Also called horsemint, the flower produces a strong scent that is off-putting to the tiny terrors and helps cover the aroma of nearby people.

Growing up to 4 feet tall, bee balm can make a statement in the flower garden. Better still, it can make a statement in your home when it isn’t repelling mosquitoes. Bee balm’s lemon-scented flowers are a culinary herb and garnish, and you can make a delightful tea to aid digestion and soothe a cold.

4. Peppermint

The crushed leaves of fresh peppermint offer an unmistakable aroma that’s pleasant to people but foul to mosquitoes. Mint, in general, can repel various pests, and peppermint is one of the most potent varieties.

Mint is an effective mosquito-repellent plant in the yard, but you can make it even more effective without much effort. Crush the leaves and rub them onto your skin for an all-natural alternative to DEET-filled sprays. Studies have also shown the efficacy of peppermint essential oil in repelling mosquitoes when applied directly to the skin.

Peppermint has countless uses inside and outdoors, but as with any mint, it’s crucial to keep it in containers. The plant spreads vigorously and overtakes beds and other plants in short order if planted in the garden.

5. Catnip

Catnip does crazy things to more creatures than the household pet. The active component of catnip triggers a pain receptor in mosquitoes when they smell it, causing them to buzz off. As effective as it is when growing in the garden, studies have shown that it is even more effective when you let your four-legged friends chew on it and release the deterrent chemical.

As another member of the mint family, bringing the catnip plant’s lush, serrated leaves to your garden isn’t particularly challenging. Unlike more aggressive varieties, catnip can grow harmoniously near other plants, although managing its spread will be a frequent concern. Deadheading will be crucial to prevent it from going to seed and spreading.

6. Lemongrass

Lemongrass features long, narrow leaves in elegant clumps growing up to 5 feet tall. The aromatic grass makes a lovely container plant and an attractive complement in raised planters. It doesn’t do well against frost but can be cold-hardy up to zone 8.

While lemongrass repels mosquitoes, it also has plenty of uses in the kitchen. You can take advantage of its bright lemon flavor by using it as a culinary herb or drying it out for a healthy tea.

Tips for Keeping Mosquitoes Away

Strategic plants can be a huge benefit, but you can help yourself even more by taking away any good reason for mosquitoes to show up on your lawn in the first place. Mosquitoes will linger if they have food, shelter, and the means to reproduce. Unfortunately, you are the food source, so you can’t do too much on that side, but you can take away their ideal living conditions.

Start by removing any stagnant water sources. Most of the mosquito’s life cycle occurs in the water, and taking it away will limit their reproduction. Some ways to manage standing water around the property include:

Maintaining a tidy, well-manicured lawn will eliminate mosquito nesting grounds. Pick up debris, toys, and lawn equipment. Keep the grass cut, dethatched, and clean, and you’ll remove the humid hiding places that mosquitoes love.

Conclusion

You don’t have to rely solely on irritating chemicals or smoky torches and candles to stay safe from mosquitoes outside. When you need relief, these mosquito-repellent plants are happy to help. Most varieties are low-maintenance, attractive, and helpful in many ways outside the garden. With so many benefits to enjoy, there’s no reason to leave them out of your yard.

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Featured Image Credit: Suratwadee Rattanajarupak, Shuttestock