These Easy Plants May Help Keep Pesky Bugs Out of Your Outdoor Space
Simple, fragrant plants that may help keep mosquitoes and other pests away from patios
Backyard season turns on one small detail: whether you can actually sit outside without swatting. The right plants near a patio or doorway can quietly do the work of a citronella candle, a bug zapper and a can of spray—all at once. If you’re tired of trading dinner outdoors for a chemical fog, certain easy-to-grow pests-repelling plants offer a low-maintenance fix that doubles as decor.
Garden experts say a handful of common herbs and flowers naturally drive off mosquitoes, aphids, flies, ants and moths. Most are inexpensive, beginner-friendly and ready to plant in pots or beds.
Which plants repel which pests
Different plants target different bugs, so a mix tends to work better than a single hero. The most-recommended options:
- Lavender — mosquitoes and moths
- Marigolds — aphids, mosquitoes and flies
- Basil — mosquitoes and houseflies
- Mint — ants and mosquitoes
- Rosemary — mosquitoes and cabbage moths
- Lemongrass and citronella grass — mosquitoes
- Petunias — aphids and tomato hornworms
- Chrysanthemums — multiple insects, thanks to natural compounds
- Catnip — a surprisingly strong mosquito repellent
Citronella, the plant most associated with mosquito control, tops the list for a reason.
“Citronella is by far the most popular plant that repels mosquitoes,” garden expert Carmen Johnston told Real Simple. “It has a very pungent odor. I often place this in small eight-inch terra cotta pots and mix in with my centerpieces when entertaining outdoors. You can either use the clippings mixed in with arrangements or use the plant itself as the centerpiece.”
Rosemary works as both a kitchen herb and a pest barrier. Annie Burdick and Jamie McIntosh write in The Spruce: “The scent of rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) is a deterrent to mosquitos and other garden pests, such as cabbage moths. Rosemary loves warm and dry climates and may need to be moved indoors in areas with harsh, cold winters. But all summer long it adorns your patio and keeps pests at bay.”
Catnip may be the most underrated option on the list. Madeline Buiano writes in Martha Stewart: “Mosquitoes hate catnip (Nepeta cataria), the very same plant that your cats love. Also known as catmint, this herbaceous perennial emits a chemical that acts as a natural insect repellent.”
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How to use them effectively
Buying the plants is the easy part. Placement is what makes them earn their keep.
- Set plants near seating areas, doorways and windows where bugs tend to enter
- Use pots on patios to create a stronger “barrier” effect around the space you actually use
- Mix multiple plants rather than relying on a single variety
- Position fragrant plants where air flow can carry the scent across the yard
- Pair the plants with other habits: clearing standing water, removing yard debris and trimming overgrowth
The scent is the active ingredient for most of these plants, so brushing leaves, snipping clippings or simply moving pots closer to your seating can boost the effect on a still evening.
Why this matters now
Mosquito-borne illness, tick activity and longer warm seasons have made outdoor pest control a year-round concern in much of the country — not just a midsummer nuisance. Skipping the chemical sprays is also a growing priority for households with kids, pets or pollinator gardens they don’t want to disturb.
A few well-placed pots of lavender, basil, rosemary and catnip won’t replace every other defense. But they’re a cheap, attractive first line — and unlike a bug zapper, they look good on the table while they work.
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