The warmer months approach are a great time to enjoy your property, but sometimes insects — particularly mosquitoes — show up and ruin the fun. And in Indiana, we definitely are known to have some big, mean mosquitoes.
While it may not be your first thought on how to deal with mosquitoes, the plants you choose for your property can make a big difference in how many of the little blood suckers are around. These helpful plants can be broken into two categories: the first is plants that absorb water the mosquitoes need to breed, and the second category includes plants that create an aroma that drives them away.
Below we will list eight plants that can help you fight mosquitoes, with four from each category.
- Citronella — There are two different plants that get called “citronella,” and thankfully both are great for keeping mosquitoes away. One is citronella grass, also called lemon grass, and the other is the citronella plant. The grass is actually where the citronella scent comes from for candles, but both produce a strong, lemony scent that mosquitoes do not like.
- Catmint — The most famous type of catmint is catnip, but many members of the Nepeta family are great for keeping mosquitoes away. And if you are a fan of cats, it may even draw some of them instead. Catmint varieties are a perennial with a long blooming period, making them attractive and low maintenance.
- Mint — The non-cat variety of mint is also great for driving away mosquitoes. This plant doesn’t need much introduction, as most of us have tasted it in gum and seen it in drinks. But while humans love the taste and smell, mosquitoes hate it. So, plant some mint; you’ll get the added benefit of getting to use some in your kitchen.
- Lavender — Mosquitoes seem to hate a lot of the scents we enjoy, with lavender being another example. This perennial has a pleasant aroma that many people use for falling asleep. Plant some in your garden after winter has passed and it will grow steadily and produce beautiful purple flowers.
- Dogwood — There are trees, shrubs and even herbs that get the dogwood name, and many of them are great at soaking up moisture mosquitoes use to breed. The redosier dogwood is especially good at this task. It is native to the midwest, survives our tough winters and is very thirsty.
- Lilies — Everybody loves lilies, which is why it’s one of the most popular flowers you’ll see in people’s homes. Their beautiful flowers are a variety of colors, including white, yellow, pink and orange. If you have some low ground on your property, they will thrive in wet environments and remove some of the excess water.
- Winterberry — The winterberry is a bush native to the eastern U.S. It grows well in Indiana and has nice, red berries. Winterberry is from swampy terrain, so it is particularly good at absorbing moisture in poorly drained areas.
- Ferns — Ferns have long branches with very distinct leaves. They grow well in shady areas, and many varieties (like Christmas ferns, cinnamon ferns and royal ferns) grow well in wet soils as well.
If you need more help, just call Anthony’s at (812) 345-5694
There are so many other plants that could fit perfectly for your yard while also helping to keep mosquitoes away; these are just a few. During a consultation, we can help determine which of these may work best. In many situations, we can also help to eliminate the standing water that mosquitoes are breeding in by improving your drainage. Give us a call to learn more.
Recent Comments