Summer for me is about spending time with family and friends, swimming, and working on my garden.  The only thing that ever ruins these simple pleasures are the mosquitoes.  I’m not sure what it is about myself, but I’m an absolute mosquito magnet.  Insect repellant, both the natural kind and the kind that is saturated with DEET, are absolute necessities if I amto enjoy being outside without being covered in insect bites.  Since I love to garden, I decided to plant some mosquito-repellant flowers and herbs to help keep these bothersome insects at bay.

In order to be able to strategically move my mosquito-repellant garden around, I decided to plant them in containers.  There are many different types of plants that keep pesky mosquitoes away and the best part is that they serve multiple purposes.  Some plants can be used for cooking, while others provide lasting gorgeous blooms all summer long.

Culinary Plants

Basil:

Basil is an extremely popular herb used for cooking and whose scent keeps mosquitoes away.  They are an easy-to-grow annual that can be planted in flower beds, gardens, or containers.

These organic, non-GMO basil plants come in large 3.5 in pots and are around 5”-7” tall when they arrive.

Rosemary:

Rosemary can be used in a wide variety of dishes.  They are excellent in soups, stews, and casseroles.  They are also an excellent seasoning on meat and fish.  Depending upon where you live, rosemary can be a lovely perennial that can be planted as hedgerows or borders.

These rosemary plants are organic and non-GMO and make a wonderful addition to an herb garden.  They can grow to about 3’x3’ and can sculpted into a topiary or left as a bush.

Mint:

Mint can be used as a tea to aid in digestion and depending on the variety can be used in both hot or cold dishes.  They can even be added to salads, smoothies, and even desserts.

These fragrant herbs are easy to grow and do well when transferred into an herb garden.

Lemongrass:

Lemongrass adds great flavor to many dishes.  It contains citral, which is an oil used in many mosquito repellants.  Pregnant women and new mothers should use extreme care with lemongrass as it has been known to cause birth defects.

Two lemongrass plants arrive at around 4” to 7” tall and ready  for planting in your garden or in a container.

Flowers

Marigolds

Marigolds are hardy plants that thrive in full sun and well-well drained soil.  They are ideal to plant almost anywhere – in containers or along the edges of gardens.  Strong odor repels mosquitoes as well as rabbits, deer, and aphids.

These marigolds come in a 6-pack and are ready to plant in full sun in well-drained soil.

Floss Flowers

Floss Flowers are known for the white, pink, and purple blooms.  Because they grow well in all hardiness zones, they are ideal to plantalong hedge rows and borders of gardens, providing blooms from summer to the first frost.  These flowers contain coumarin, a chemical that is often used in mosquito repellants.

Citronella

Citronella are one of the most common plants associated with repelling mosquitoes.  They grow well in hardiness zones 9-11 and do well both in gardens,or in planters.

These particular citronella plants are 4” to 8” tall.  Because they arrive with a well-established root system, these citronella plants are ready to be transplanted into gardens or containers where they can grow up to 4’ tall.

Lavendar

The blue and purple lavender blooms make this a beautiful addition to your garden or containers.  Because lavender has anti-fungal properties, it can be used in cleaners and helps with healing burns.  Its oil is often defused to help with anxiety or sleeplessness.  Lavender can also be added to teas and marinades.  Although Lavender is considered to be a safe herb, it is important to seek the advice of health care professionals; this is especially true for pregnant women or nursing mothers.

This six pack of lavender plants arrive 6” to 8” tall.  Although they transplant well into any garden, they make excellent countertop plants where they can be enjoyed indoors as well as outdoors.

Catnip

Catnip is known for its effectiveness in repelling mosquitoes because it contains nepetalactone.  This chemical has been found in some studies to be even more effective than DEET.  Although it may repel insects, this plant is a feline favorite and is very attractive to cats.  While catnip is easy to take care of, it is highly advisable to keep them in containers as they can become extremely invasive if planted in gardens.

Fragrant and easy to grow, these catnip plants thrive in partial shade and should be planted in the spring.

For my particular project, I purchased a ceramic table top ceramic planter to place on my patio table and a resin 22 in. planter for the patio.  I love the idea of having a small mosquito repellant garden double as a beautiful centerpiece for my outdoor table.  While the larger container could be easily moved to various places on my patio to help repel mosquitoes.

For my tabletop planter I chose to include lavender, marigold, basil, and thyme.  For my large planter I chose to include lemongrass, mint, and marigolds.  I am really pleased with the way these turned out.  Not only are they visually appealing and help repel mosquitoes, but many of the plants are herbs that I use regularly when I cook.  How convenient to have them so close at hand to add flavor to my summer dishes!

I also purchased a citronella plant and a lavender topiary tree which I have placed near my backdoor entrance.  Both make beautiful additions to the other arrangements that I have in that area.  With the unusually wet summer season we have had this year, having these mosquito-repellant plants close by will make spending time outside fun and enjoyable for all.