Known for its distinct smell, citronella grass (or lemon grass) is the most commonly used natural ingredient in mosquito repellants. In fact, the Brooklyn Botanic Garden recommends lemon-scented plants such as citronella grass to keep mosquitoes at bay.
A mosquito biting you! Mosquitoes have an incredibly strong sense of smell, which they use to find accessible food sources. You can repel mosquitoes by using scents they hate, like lavender, peppermint oil, geranium oil, cinnamon bark oil, lemon eucalyptus oil, citronella oil, catnip, rosemary, and pine oil.
Also called mosquito plant, the citronella geranium cultivar is a perennial in USDA plant hardiness zones 9b through 11. In other areas, it is either left in the ground and grown as an annual or dug up before winter and kept inside until spring.
Answer: Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus). Lemongrass contains citronella, a natural oil that repels mosquitoes. It is an ornamental grass that reaches 2 to 4 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet wide in one growing season.
Onions and garlic are very useful garden plants for repelling snakes. Both plants give off a smell that snakes not only dislike, but it also confuses them. Garlic plants are thought to be the best plants that repel snakes. The plant gives off an oily residue when a snake slithers over a clove.
Citronella plants (or Pelargonium citrosum) are commonly thought to be the best at repelling mosquitos. However, Lemongrass (or Cymbopogon) is superior.
Lavender
Crushed lavender flowers produce a fragrance and oil that can repel mosquitoes. An animal study from 2002 on hairless mice found lavender oil to be effective at repelling adult mosquitoes. Lavender has analgesic, antifungal, and antiseptic qualities.
Citronella
Citronella is a perennial 'clumping' grass which grows to a height of 5 – 6 feet. It can be grown directly in the ground in climate zones where frost does not occur. If grown in the garden or near the patio, it should be planted in the 'background', behind small decorative flowers and shrubs.
Despite the claims made on “Mosquito Plants” (lemon-scented geranium or “citronella plant”) sold at big box stores, the plants themselves don't repel mosquitoes. It's the oil inside the leaves that have properties that can repel mosquitoes. You would have to crush the leaves to extract these oils.
Citronella plants can reach 2 to 4 feet (0.6 to 1 meter) in height. You can pinch back citronella to form a more compact, bushy plant. The lacey, fragrant leaves also work well in summer floral bouquets so feel free to prune often. The stems also can be cut and dried.
You can control them with coffee grounds, a safe and effective way to keep pests away. Not only do they repel mosquitoes, but also other insects such as wasps and bees. Coffee grounds are the bee's knees when it comes to staying bug bite free.
Though citronella grass may sometimes be called lemongrass, they are two different plants. Lemongrass and citronella grass are closely related and can look and smell very similar. However, citronella grass has reddish colored pseudostems, while lemongrass is all green.
Snake plants (Sansevieria) do not attract mosquitoes; in fact, they repel them. Snake plants naturally produce a chemical called Saponin, which is neurotoxic to mosquitoes and other insects, and saponins are also considered toxic to cats and dogs.
Lavender.
They love the flowers, but other bugs stay away. Lavender has a pleasant scent that comes from the essential oils in the leaves of the plant, but the bugs hate it. Hang some dried lavender in your closet and you won't have to worry about moths eating your clothes.
What to Plant with Lemongrass. Lemongrass contains citronella, a plant oil with pest repelling properties, especially mosquitoes. Using lemongrass among your patio plantings is an excellent way to enjoy your outdoors in summer without worrying about those disease transmitting insects.
Lavender. Include beautiful lavender in your garden plans to help keep biting mosquitoes at bay. Varieties with higher camphor properties are the most effective insect repellents. This includes 'Provence' and 'Grosso' lavender.
Cut 3 to 5 inches off the tip of a branch and remove all but the top two or three leaves. Dip the cut surface at the end into a dish of rooting hormone and sink it into the planting mix at least three nodes -- the thick parts of the stem where leaves and branches start -- deep. Put several cuttings in each pot.
So, can we Verify this viral claim? No, there is no scientific backing from the EPA or CDC that Irish Spring soap repels mosquitoes.
Lavender is a Low-Maintenance Perennial
And this beauty will come back to your garden every year, for about 3-5 years, so it's a great investment. What is this? Before you make any plant purchases, however, I want to remind you to always choose plants that thrive in your plant hardiness zone.
Citronella. Citronella has long been favored as one of the most effective plants that repel mosquitoes. Outdoor candles and bug sprays are often made with its oils. You can plant citronella grass right into your garden, and optimize its efficiency by planting it near other repelling plants, like lavender.