Gardening
10 Insect-Repelling Plants For Your Garden
Photo by Creative Vix, Pexels
Gardening
10 Insect-Repelling Plants For Your Garden
Take full advantage of your yard or balcony thanks to these plants that keep the bugs away.
We've rounded up the best plants to attract certain pollinators and predators while keeping away undesirables, such as mosquitoes, or feeding on them. It's time to get gardening!
1. Rosemary
Rosmarinus officinalis
SUN | PART SHADE
ANNUAL
HEIGHT: 60 to 100 cm
WIDTH: 40 to 70 cm
In Ontario, rosemary is considered an annual, although it's a perennial in its region of origin, the Mediterranean basin. Rosemary repels several species of flies and other unwanted insects anywhere you put it. It makes for a great companion to cabbage, carrots, turnips and parsley in your vegetable garden, or try one of the hanging varieties in a pot or planter. Rosemary looks beautiful placed between mugwort, lady's mantle and lavender, or in front of hollyhocks. It thrives in light, sandy and limestone soil.
2. French Marigold
Shutterstock
Tagetes patula
SUN
ANNUAL
FLOWERING: mid-June to the first frost
HEIGHT: 30 cm
WIDTH: 15 to 30 cm
Plant your marigolds between tomato plants to take full advantage of its nematicidal effect (it kills certain worms). The yellow, orange or red marigold varieties prefer fresh, light and well-drained soil, making it an easy choice for a container garden or flower bed.
3. Geranium
iStock
SUN | PART SHADE
ANNUAL
FLOWERING: June to September
HEIGHT: 30 to 50 cm
WIDTH: 35 to 50 cm
Geraniums placed near the rose bushes will keep the flea beetle away, and in the vegetable garden, near corn, it'll fight against earworm and the striped cucumber beetle. Citronella pelargonium is an ally on the balcony or on the terrace to keep away several species of unwanted insects.
Horticulturist's tip
To maximize the repellent function of zonal geranium, choose a variety with a strong odour when you lightly crush the leaves, like the sweet-scented geranium.
4. LEMON MUGWORT
Shutterstock
Artemisia abrotanum
SUN | PART SHADE
PERENNIAL
FLOWERING: late August to September
HEIGHT: 90 to 120 cm
HARDY ZONE: 3
This perennial prefers cool, light and well-drained soil, but it adapts easily to most areas. Although its yellow flowering season is short-lived, lemon mugwort has silvery, vaporous foliage which creates beautiful contrast against plants
with burgundy leaves, such as heuchera. This plant contains the essential oil coumarin, which makes it effective in repelling several insects, including diamond flea beetles, slugs, aphids and caterpillars.
5. Lavender
Shutterstock
Lavandula angustifolia
SUN
PERENNIAL
FLOWERING: Mid-July to October
HEIGHT: 45 to 60 cm
WIDTH: 55 cm
HARDY ZONE: 4b
Lavender likes poor, well-drained soil. In addition to smelling amazing, it repels several unwanted insects such as moths, fleas, flies and mosquitoes, while attracting butterflies and some pollinating insects.
6. Yarrow
Shutterstock
Achillea millefolium
SUN | PART SHADE
PERENNIAL
FLOWERING: Late June to October
HEIGHT: 35 to 70 cm
WIDTH: 50 cm
HARDY ZONE: 3
The white native has more active products against harmful insects than other varieties. It is very effective against flies and certain beetles, and it attracts pollinating insects, such as ladybugs, lacewings and hoverflies. Yarrow is also known for its anti-fungal properties that help vulnerable plants, such as cucurbits (squash, cucumbers, etc.), when prepared as a concoction to spray on attacked plants.
Homemade Repellent Recipe
Mix 1 tbsp of chopped yarrow stems, leaves and flowers in 1 L of water. Soak for 1 day. Filter, then dilute in 3 L of water. Add 1 tbsp of liquid dishwashing detergent per litre of water. Spray on harmful insects, such as aphids, in case of infestation.
7. Tansy
Shutterstock
Tanacetum vulgare
SUN | PART SHADE
PERENNIAL
FLOWERING: July to September
HEIGHT: 90 to 130 cm
WIDTH: 50 to 80 cm
HARDNESS ZONE: 4
Tansy produces beautiful groups of yellow buds. It thrives among Russian sages or as a background screen behind lavender, borage or nepeta. It likes dry, well-drained soil. It attracts ladybugs, lacewings and other predatory insects which help fight against several pests, such as aphids, mites and thrips.
8. Sage
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Salvia officinalis
SUN
PERENNIAL
FLOWERING: May-June
HEIGHT: 40 to 60 cm
WIDTH: 50 to 60 cm
HARDY ZONE: 4
These flowers bloom bluish, mauve or pink spikes depending on the species and the composition of the soil. It prefers to be planted in light, even poor, dry and well-drained containers or garden beds. Sage must be kept away from seedlings to prevent germination. It's one of the most effective insect repellent plants—it confuses the tracking system for pests, such as cabbage fly and carrot maggot.
9. Thyme
Shutterstock
Thymus vulgaris
SUN
PERENNIAL
FLOWERING: Late June and early July
HEIGHT: 30 cm
WIDTH: 30 cm
HARDY ZONE: 4b
We love the white, pale pink or mauve thyme varieties. Plant it in sandy, slightly calcareous and well-drained soil in a pot or garden bed, or in a vegetable garden with cabbage, turnips, broccoli, potatoes and tomatoes for insect-repelling benefits.
10. Russian Sage
Shutterstock
SUN
PERENNIAL
FLOWERING: All summer
HEIGHT: 90 to 130 cm
WIDTH: 100 cm
HARDY ZONE: 4
Russian sage has a lilac hue on silvery foliage and grows well in light, well-drained soil. Add it between shrubs or grasses, or plant it among tansy and yarrow. It keeps away a multitude of unwanted insects, as well as cats and dogs.
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