Spring is nearly here, and just around the corner from that is summer. In Florida, that means high temperatures, summer beaches, and bugs as far as you can see em. And if we’re honest, you’ll likely need real help if you have an actual bug situation. But before that, there are things you can do to help prevent infestation. And today we’ll touch on one of the natural, low impact ways and discuss a few Florida pest repelling plants.
Florida Pest Repelling Plants: Overview
Thankfully for Central and Southern Florida homeowners, there are countless insect repelling plants. But not only that, they also look good and smell good on top of naturally deterring bugs from your home. That’s exciting news considering Florida is home to around 12,500 different species of insects, all of which could crash your pool party or BBQ this summer. Some of the most common bugs in south Florida include flies, wasps, and ants.
And in their own particular category is mosquito repelling plants. Mosquitoes and many other biting insects target their victims by the odors and gases we give off—carbon dioxide, sweat, and smelly feet, to name a few. Mosquitoes, for example, can be attracted by the carbon dioxide in our breath from as far as 150 feet away.
Luckily, the strong scents produced by some common garden plants can block the scent receptors that the bugs use to find us—but simply including strongly scented plants in your garden isn’t enough to keep the bugs at bay. In most cases, a much more substantial, more concentrated amount of a plant’s scent is needed to throw the bugs off your trail.
The key to getting that insect repelling effect is in the plant oils. So remember that when we discuss plants that repel mosquitoes, you may have to be a bit more active in their usage. For example, you may have to crush some of the plants and rub them on your skin to truly benefit. But be aware of allergies first! So, let’s start touching on some of the Florida pest repelling plants.
Florida Pest Repelling plants: What should I plant to keep bugs away?
To start with, there are Marigolds. Marigolds are beautiful flowers, easy to take care of, and have powerful scents. Mosquitoes are scent based hunters, as I mentioned before, so planting a handful of these around the garden and maybe one or two in pots near mosquito entry points could be more than worth your time. Lavender is a similar plant when it comes to being pretty and producing small plants. Either of these can be put into pots around your home to hide your scent and keep away hungry mosquitoes.
Another heavyweight mosquito repellent plant is lemon grass and citronella grass. Both of these grasses have mosquito repelling abilities thanks to the oil contained within their leaves. These grasses will only survive as perennials in frost free zones. So if you live in a cooler area of the state further north, you may have to put these into pots and keep them indoors on the coldest days of the year.
Lemon thyme is another citrus scented plant that can be good as a topical insect repellent. Just make sure you have a plant large enough for you to regularly tear off a leaf or two and crush it up and rub it on your skin. Also, if you’re ever out cooking some BBQ drop one of these on a corner of the stove. The citrus smell of the smoke will keep mosquitoes away. Lemon balm is another plant that has almost the same use as thyme. However, it’s a mint plant so it spreads to the point of suffocating the rest of your garden. Make sure to plant that Florida pest repelling plant in a pot.
Other plants
As you can see, the potent fragrances and essential oils in some plants, such as lavender, and marigolds, naturally repel mosquitoes. If you enjoy spending time outdoors on your deck or patio, pot up a few of these plants and set them around the perimeter to naturally help keep mosquitoes at bay—and add a little beauty to the setting. Other mosquito-repelling plants include things like rosemary, catnip, basil, sage, and peppermint.
Other Ways To Repel Mosquitoes
Now, we know that the main focus of this article is going to be mosquitoes. They’re very numerous, dangerous, and fast breeding. So to finish this off let’s cover a few more ways to keep mosquitoes out of your yard and home.
For one, standing water is going to be your biggest enemy. Many female mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Since it only takes about a week for a mosquito to go from egg to adult, getting rid of the standing water on your property can help reduce the number of mosquitoes that will plague your next backyard barbeque.
- Empty water that has been collected in children’s toys, garden pots, buckets, trash can lids, wheelbarrows, or other items lying around that could collect water.
- Inspect gutters for clogs and clean them regularly to prevent water collection.
- If you have a birdbath, change the water regularly.
- Walk your property and address any low spots in the lawn that collect water or areas that have poor drainage.
In general, make sure to clean up debris around your yard when you can. A kiddie pool isn’t the only thing that can provide a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Some types of mosquitoes lay their eggs in damp soil or debris, such as decaying logs and leaf piles, so be sure to clear them away. Remember to remove leaves and other debris from gutters, too. If you continue to have a problem with mosquitoes and have a lot of shade in your yard, you may want to consider having your trees trimmed to increase light levels and make your landscape less habitable to these pests.
What to do if you have an infestation?
If you have an actual infestation where you’re constantly swarmed whenever you go outside, however, you need help from the pros. Feel free to visit us at insectfree.com and schedule a consultation to get the protection your home needs now!