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People who like to garden and people who own their own homes often look for natural ways to get rid of pests, especially annoying bugs like wasps. One effective and eco-friendly way to get rid of these flying pests is to use plants that naturally keep them away.
Let’s look at some different plants and how they can keep wasps away, making the outdoors safer and more peaceful.
Not only does this well-known green taste great in summer salads, it also keeps bees and wasps away. It’s not very pleasant for bees and wasps to taste the bitter acid in cucumber leaves.
There are a few different ways you can use cucumbers in your yard. You can plant cucumber plants that will give you fresh cucumbers for snacks and drinks, or you can spread cucumber peels around the yard. If you do decide to plant cucumbers, keep in mind that they are tropical veggies and need warm weather and lots of water.
Basil is another great plant for your yard that can be used in the kitchen and to keep pests away. While people may enjoy the smell of basil in a rich tomato sauce, bees and wasps stay away from it. Basil grows best where it gets 6 to 8 hours of full sun every day because it needs heat to grow. The dirt should stay moist, but it needs to drain well so that the basil plants don’t get waterlogged or root rot.
It is possible to keep bees away from geraniums, especially red ones, since bees can’t see red. You might think it’s strange that a flower would keep bees away, but these flowers don’t have much pollen and smell bad to the biting pest. Geraniums need between 4 and 6 hours of sun a day, and they can be brought inside during the winter to stay alive.
Absinthe, which is found in wormwood, is poisonous to insects. Bees and wasps stay away from it because of its strong smell, which warns them of possible danger. It needs direct sunshine and soil that doesn’t stay soggy. If you put wormwood near other plants, be careful because it can kill them.
Mint is a pleasant smell for people, but stinging insects don’t like it. Mint trees can grow in some shade, but you should keep an eye on them. They can quickly take over a garden because they grow so fast.
Bees and wasps don’t like this plant as much as koala bears do. It’s possible to plant eucalyptus in pots or straight in the ground. It needs a lot of light either way. This plant can handle not getting enough water, so let it dry out a bit between waterings.
The marigold is a pretty flower that looks good in fields. Like most of the other plants on this list, it keeps bugs away with its smell. Wasps don’t like it, but honeybees that are looking for food might not be bothered by it. When grown in the ground, marigolds are very hardy and don’t need much care. Just like with geraniums, try using red types to keep bees away.
Most people know that citronella can keep mosquitoes away, but wasps and bees can also find its strong smell unpleasant. It can be grown inside or outside, but it needs at least six hours of sunshine every day, whether it’s in the sun or by a window. The dirt around the citronella plant should always drain well.
Since pennyroyal smells a bit like mint, bees and wasps don’t like it at all. Pennyroyal is a good plant for pots because it only grows to be 6 to 12 inches tall. It’s not too hard to grow this plant, but make sure you water it often so it doesn’t get thirsty.
These plants don’t work quite the same way as the others on this list. Bees and wasps don’t stay away from pitcher plants; instead, they help keep them in check. Because pitcher plants are carnivorous, they catch and eat insects for food. Insects are drawn into the flower, but the surface is slippery, so they fall into a pool of water and drown.
It can be hard to take care of this kind of flower because it only likes rainwater or distilled water and not tap, canned, or filtered water. Minerals that build up in that kind of water can be bad for pitcher plants because they have evolved to get their minerals from the bugs they catch. Also, pitcher plants need full, straight sun.
As much as possible, choose flowers that are not blue, violet, or yellow for your yard. These are the colors that bees like the most. For some reason, these colors will really draw bees. Also, trumpet-shaped flowers naturally make it harder for bees to get to the nectar, which is another reason why they are not attractive.
Wasps are scared away by plants because of the way they are naturally made:
Knowing these things about plants helps you choose and use them effectively to get rid of pests.
Wasps have trouble finding food and building houses when they are near plants that repel them. The smells that are given off act as hurdles, changing the way wasps behave and keeping them from getting into treated areas.
Wasps will be much less likely to bother you if you plant and care for these plants in appropriate places around your property.
To maximize the effectiveness of repellent plants:
Even though these plants naturally keep people away, it’s important to think about safety:
Some people have the wrong idea about repelling plants, like the idea that they make insects come closer. In fact, though, these plants keep some pests away while attracting others.
Making your own bug sprays with these plants is a cheap and environmentally friendly way to get rid of bugs. These sprays can be used effectively outside, and they work well with planting techniques.
Using plants that keep pests away is in line with eco-friendly pest control. Many people like them because they don’t hurt the earth much and last a long time.
Plants that keep pests away generally work as long as their smell or other properties are still there, which means they need to be cared for regularly.
With the right care and light, some plants that keep pests away can grow well indoors, but growing them outside is usually more effective.
There are some plants, like lavender and marigolds, that can keep away more than just wasps.
Insect protection plants don’t bring in more bugs, as many people think. Instead, they keep certain pests away.
