Ten Plants That Keep Mosquitoes From Ruining Your Summer

There are some mosquito myths out there like- let a mosquito finish biting you and it won't itch as much. Absolutely false. You want to smack that thing as soon as you can. Or harsh chemicals are the only way to get rid of mosquitoes. Not true.

There are plenty of natural mosquito repellents that you can plant right in the backyard or in your planter garden on your deck.

A  lot of mosquitoes carry disease, their buzzing is a crazy, annoying sound, and their bites itch beyond belief. So it's always better to try and repel them, than to put up with them.

Here are just a few natural ways to repel the nasty litter biters. Try planting some of these plants to keep the skeeters away.

1. Catnip

I've been lucky over the years to have catnip all around my house and yard. My cats love it, so I start bringing it to them the minute it starts growing. As much as my cats love it, that is how much mosquitoes hate it. It gives off a chemical that keeps them away.

You might want to plant your catnip in pots if you don't want it everywhere because it grows prolifically without much encouragement.

2. Mint

Here's another natural mosquito repellent that humans love. And yes, you can make tea from the fragrantly spicy leaves, or put it in salads, or delightfully refreshing summer beverages.

All of these wonderful advantages to planting mint to keep mosquitoes away from you and your family. Once again, unless you want it everywhere, it's best to plant it in pots or planters.

3. Citronella

Citronella is actually a type of scented geranium plant with a citrusy scent mosquitoes hate. That is why candles with citronella in them are such big sellers. But it is best to go with the original plant.

They grow really well in planters and pots you can put around your patio, deck, or backyard area.

4. Lavender

Not only is this plant beautiful, but it also smells wonderful - to humans anyway. Mosquitoes - not so much. One of the other great things about it is, it is drought tolerant, which makes it a great summertime addition to your garden or planters.

5. Marigolds

My dad used to plant these around his vegetable garden because he believed they kept bunnies away. It seemed to work somehow, but little did he know they also repelled the bugs that he just despised.

Mosquitoes find marigolds very unpleasant. So feel free to plant them anywhere. They also add a beautiful pop of color to every garden.

6. Lemongrass

Even though it's called Lemongrass, its leaves are full of citronella oil which we already know mosquitoes hate. So crushing the leaves and rubbing them on your skin is a great way to keep "skeetos" from bothering you. These look great in borders or in pots and planters too.

7. Basil

Not only do mosquitoes dislike Basil,  but it is also good at repelling other critters from your garden. Cinnamon basil is particularly good at keeping mosquitoes away. The added bonus, of course, is that this delicious herb can flavor hundreds of delicious dishes in your kitchen!

8. Rosemary

This delightfully piney herb not only scares away mosquitoes, but it welcomes pollinators and again adds lovely flavor to any number of savory food creations.

9. Sage

Here is yet another aromatic herb that can keep mosquitoes from ruining your next barbecue and can be put to good use in your next poultry dish too. Plus it is a good repellent for other garden critters too.

10. Geraniums

Scented geraniums give off a lemony scent that mosquitoes find unpleasant. They are excellent to grow in planters and pots for your walkways, deck, and patio, or anywhere mosquitoes would be likely to hang out.

READ MORE: Five of South Dakota's Best Sandy Beaches

All of these delightful plants are naturally repellant to mosquitoes and can help this summer season be less buggy for you.