Naturally keep pesky mosquitos away while you enjoy your yard this summer with a mosquito repellent container garden. This container garden, filled with herbs, flowers, and plants, looks pretty while repelling mosquitos.
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Ah, summertime! It's a great time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the sunshine! Until you - smack - end up - smack - getting - smack - eaten alive by - smack - mosquitoes! They definitely know how to ruin a good time. Don't they?
I hate bug sprays. I mean, hate! They make me cough, they smell disgusting, and they're not really all that great for you either. I mean, butane and propane are just a couple of the ingredients in a can of bug spray. Come on!
How to Make a Mosquito Repellent Container Garden
It's pretty nasty stuff that doesn't always seem to get the job done anyway. So instead, I've been turning to plants to try and keep the pests away while we're hanging outside or working in our garden.
I had a barrel planter in our backyard filled with pansies and some dusty miller. The pansies took a turn and started to die back after the sweltering summer heat kicked in. I've been meaning to replace them.
It wasn't until I found a citronella plant on a clearance rack at the grocery store that I got inspired to turn that planter into a mosquito repellent garden.
After reading up on mosquito repellent plants, I realized that I already had a bunch growing in our garden. So I moved a few things around and created a container full of pest control! And it'll look pretty, too, once everything fills in.
Mosquito Repellent Plants to Add to Your Container Garden
The great thing about mosquito repellent plants is that they aren't very hard to find! In fact, you'll most likely see them in local greenhouses and garden centers. And, like I said, I even managed to find a citronella plant at the grocery store!
Basil
Basil is an annual staple in our garden. I mainly use it to add to recipes, but it also comes in handy as a mosquito repellent. Even though we love basil, mosquitos aren't much of a fan.
Catnip
Catnip isn't something you might automatically think would repel mosquitos. But after reading up on it, it's a pretty decent herb for pets and humans. Hey ladies! You can use it in a tea to help menstrual cramps! That alone makes me want to plant it! But knowing it might help repel mosquitoes is definitely an added bonus.
Citronella
Citronella is one of many scented geraniums that are available. The citrus scent repels mosquitos and if you crush the leaves, you can rub it on your skin to make a natural bug repellent.
Did you know? The citronella plant can even flower under the right conditions! It blooms with tiny clusters of petite pink flowers.
Dusty Miller
You know that dusty miller I had? I was able to keep it in its same pot! Although it doesn't have much of a smell, apparently mosquitos aren't a big fan of the color. Add it to your container garden as a pretty accent plant.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is one of my favorite scents ever! I use it in a variety of my products and love to cut stems to keep in our bathroom. But mosquitos - they don't love it quite as much.
While most eucalyptus scents act as a deterrent, lemon eucalyptus is the best at repelling mosquitos.
Lavender
Lavender is one of my favorite scents! The plant itself is pretty with its silvery green foliage and purple flower buds. But its scent also deters mosquitos making it one to add to the garden. You can even crush up the leaves and rub it on you as a natural bug repellent.
Lemongrass
Lemongrass isn't just a fragrant plant used in Asian cooking. When planted outside, it can keep mosquitoes away. Brush the leaves to release its fragrance.
Lemon Thyme
Lemon Thyme is really awesome, in general, to keep in your herb garden. It's great to use in dishes, but it also can be used as a mosquito repellent. Do you sense a trend with the fragrances that mosquitoes hate? Anything in the citrus family seems to be a win!
Marigolds
My Mom always has marigolds in her garden. She taught me years ago that they keep pests from disturbing your plants. But apparently these stinky, little flowers keep the mosquitoes away, too! Plus, their fiery blooms add a nice pop of color to the garden!
Mint
While you might consider mint to smell delightful, apparently mosquitos find it stinky and stay away from it.
Rosemary
Rosemary is another fragrant herb that repels mosquitos. Like mint and basil, rosemary can be steeped in water, cooled, and added to a spray bottle with cold water to create a natural bug spray.
Yarrow
Yarrow is a phenomenal medicinal plant! But it's also proven to be an excellent bug repellent! You can even use it to make a bug repellent tincture.
SUPPLIES
- Large planter, like a barrel planter
- Weed barrier fabric
- Potting soil
- Mosquito repellent plants
STEPS
- If your pot doesn't have drainage holes in it, drill some holes in the bottom of the pot.
- Next, cut a piece of weed barrier fabric to line the bottom of the pot. This will help keep the dirt in the pot instead of running back out onto the ground.
- Then, add a sufficient amount of potting soil into the planter.
- Begin arranging your plants and adding them to the soil. Make sure they have some room to grow and fill in.
- Give your new planter plenty of water and sunshine while you, hopefully, keep the mosquitoes away!
Using what I had in our garden, I was able to create my mosquito repellent garden with citronella, dusty miller, rosemary, and marigolds. Not only am I happy it'll help to keep the mosquitos away, but I look forward to seeing this planter fill in over the summer season.
Did you make this Mosquito Repellent Container Garden project? Share it on social media using the hashtag #holokahome. Don’t forget to tag me @holokahome!
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