I'm getting more and more questions about plants and shrubs that naturally repel mosquitoes from people looking for earth-friendly alternatives to pesticides. I want to take a few moments to shed some light on the pros and cons of relying on plants to fight off mosquitoes.
Mosquito repellent plants are an eco-friendly way to fight against these airborne pests without using pesticides. Many of them are blooming plants that not only have limited mosquito repellant properties, but are aesthetically appealing in your flowerbeds and border areas.
There are several plants and shrubs that are being sold in big chain home stores and nurseries that are advertised as "mosquito plants." Yet, relying solely on plants to ward off mosquitoes is not a full proof plan. In fact, you will have more success reducing mosquitoes by eliminating standing water around your home than from planting plants around your home.
For one thing, most of these plants have a very limited radius of protection. If you are serious about eradicating mosquitoes around your home, you must inundate your yard with these plants. Not only is this expensive, it doesn't totally solve your problem as the plants have a very limited area of resistance. Plus, you will find yourself replanting every year since many of these plants are annuals.
There are other all natural alternatives to unhealthy pesticides most pest control companies use. For instance, here at Optimal Pest Solutions, we only use EcoSmart's blend of botanical oils that target not just mosquitoes, but a broad array of other bugs in your yard as well.
I'm not going to say don't use mosquito repelling plants in your yard because every little thing you can do helps. I just don't think they live up to the advertising hype.
Pleaes leave a comment or contact our pest control company if you have questions about our EcoSmart products or additional information on this subject.