These Plants Naturally Repel Bugs
If you’re looking for an easy way to keep mosquitos and other bugs away, plant a container garden full of naturally-repellent plants! It’ll enhance your outdoor patio or deck while repelling those tiny pests!
Bug-Repellent Plants
Isn’t it great there are plants that bugs are naturally prone to dislike?? You don’t need chemical sprays or anything fancy to keep mosquitos away. Just a few trusty plants!
Any combination of these plants will work:
- Citronella
- Peppermint
- Marigolds
- Lemongrass
- Lemon balm
- Lavender
And my favorite part about this project is that it also decorates your outdoor living space at the same time! So pick up a cute planter or two while you’re getting your plants. I used this resin-based whiskey barrel planter* and a smaller one in a different color for some variety.
Add Soil and Plants
Since the whiskey barrel planter I’m using is so deep, I like to start by putting some empty grow pots or water bottles in the bottom of the planter. It keeps it from getting too heavy and I can get away with using less soil.
Plan out where your plants will go in your container before you get to planting. The plants I selected have 3 different heights. So I’m going to start with the shortest, peppermint, in the front.
A fun fact is that peppermint and spearmint are very invasive plants. They have a high spread rate and can take over a garden in no time! So it’s recommended to keep them confined to a container or planter.😬
After my peppermint is in place, I move on to the medium-height Citronella. It’s commonly referred to as ‘the mosquito plant’. Depending on the size of your planter you may need more or less plants to fill it out!
I love using Lemongrass in a container like this because it’s so tall and has a fun texture! Put your largest plant, whichever you choose, in the back of your container so it doesn’t hide the others.
Video Tutorial
This container garden was made in partnership with Exmark Mowers*. You can watch my video tutorial on this project for more tips and tricks and to see this ‘how-to’ in action! Their Backyard Life site is full of other fun outdoor projects too!
Speaking of video tutorials, remember when I made this wooden initial herb garden? You could plant some of these same bug-repellent plants in it too!
If you follow this easy way to keep mosquitos away and make your own bug-repellent garden, tag me (@checkinginwithchelsea) and use the hashtag #backyardlife on social!
Thanks for Checking In! ~Chelsea
*This post may contain affiliate links.*
Liane says
September 1, 2020 at 7:26 pmI love the tray idea. You give out a lot of help to people like me. I live in a mobil home and this will give my porch a great new look.
Chelsea Lipford Wolf says
September 3, 2020 at 12:45 pmLove it, Liane! Thanks for sharing! ~Chelsea
Jackie says
September 1, 2020 at 8:06 pmHi Chelsea…I always enjoy watching you and your Dad’s show on television and also your idea’s online. Looking at the picture of you sitting on your porch of your old home, which looks so inviting, I wondered if you added the porch overhang (ceiling) or was it already there? We moved to a condo, added and extended a concrete patio that faces a pond, but only have an unbrella for protection from the sun and depending what time of the day it is the protection is limited. We need ideas for adding an economical roof for our porch area. Thank you for any comments you may make on this. Congratulations on your new home.
Chelsea Lipford Wolf says
September 3, 2020 at 12:45 pmHi Jackie! We did add the porch to the house. The whole roof structure is tied back into the roof structure of the house, so I would say not economical! Have you seen or heard of shade or sail cloths? I had one for a time on our back deck attached to some shepherd’s hooks from a previous project (https://checkinginwithchelsea.com/video/hanging-lights-around-a-deck/). But you could also attach them to 4×4 or 6×6 posts on the outside of your patio like we did in this episode of Today’s Homeowner: https://todayshomeowner.com/video/from-plain-patio-to-relaxing-retreat/. Hope that helps! ~Chelsea
Doug littrel says
September 1, 2020 at 8:19 pmI will be trying your bug repellent idea.
Chelsea Lipford Wolf says
September 3, 2020 at 12:40 pmWonderful!
jennifer says
September 2, 2020 at 7:20 amThank you, I need to do this. Living in south Louisiana it is hard to enjoy our patio because of the bugs.
Chelsea Lipford Wolf says
September 3, 2020 at 12:40 pmI know the feeling! And since it’s hot for so long, you’ve still got time to reap the benefits! ~Chelsea
Christine says
September 2, 2020 at 7:56 amNow I know how to refresh my 4 foot stock tank planter here in Baldwin County. Thanks Chelsea!!
Chelsea Lipford Wolf says
September 3, 2020 at 12:39 pmWahoo, Christine!
Sharon Jacobs says
September 12, 2020 at 5:11 amI am definitely going to try the bug repellent idea! I would also love to see tips for getting a home ready to sell! Thanks Chelsea!
Chelsea Lipford Wolf says
September 13, 2020 at 11:00 pmAwesome, Sharon! House selling post will be live sometime tomorrow! ~Chelsea
dan m collier says
January 24, 2021 at 9:20 amEnjoyed your web page. I have a somewhat personnel question. Was your grandfather Lanny Lipford. He grew up in Bonham,TX. Graguated highschool in 1955. I was in same class. I apologise for the question, but have been querious for some time.
Chelsea Lipford Wolf says
January 29, 2021 at 2:13 pmNo, my Lipfords are from Marianna, FL. Ha!
Elaine T Rutledge-Beuk says
March 9, 2021 at 10:28 amHi Chelsea! We are retired and have moved into a 34 ft camper on our Fowl River-Canal-extension lot. A one room cabin and screened porch – and large dock/deck over the water is already in place. We spend most time outdoors, and have had a port-potty to use before getting the camper and county sewer hookups. We found we like having the porta-potty to avoid tracing into the camper – but what an eyesore. I decided to move it and enclose it with vinyl lattice panels. I need tips! I didn’t anticipate having to build a wooden frame. Danny has mentioned on the show a product for porch posts, to avoid sinking the wood in the dirt. What do I ask for when I go to Home Depot? We did order some lattice panel stands for free standing panels, but for the potty enclosure I want something more substantial. Any ideas? I’m 76 – hubby is 78. Can’t do a lot of heavy stuff but we are both strong. He was a merchant marine and I was raised on a ranch where, if we wanted something, we had to build it. I can’t toss around boxes of baling wire any longer, but I do whatever heavy lifting needs doing since his hip and knee replacement. Would appreciate any ideas you have that could facilitate the project.
Chelsea Lipford Wolf says
April 1, 2021 at 9:58 amHi Elaine, I believe the product you’re referencing for porch posts is a composite material that won’t rot. The best way to build a substantial frame to conceal the potty is by putting 4×4 posts in concrete in the ground. It’s recommended for them to be at least 2 feet in ground. Perhaps there’s a teenager or college student you could hire for a few hours to dig holes and help you hoist the posts into the ground? Hope this helps! Best, Chelsea