What's that buzzing? Bees, flies or bumblebees: With these ten plants in the garden, it's definitely not a mosquito.
A mild summer night, a beautiful garden and a cozy spot on the terrace. It could be so beautiful. Unfortunately, small bloodsuckers like mosquitoes like to spoil the beautiful summer evenings. But instead of resorting to chemicals or fleeing into the house, you can easily and naturally drive away the stinging pests. Some plants naturally scare away mosquitoes with their smell. These ten plants are special mosquito repellents - that's why we like them even more.
1. Basil
Basil is not only a must in the kitchen: the Mediterranean herb also keeps annoying mosquitoes at bay. The reason for this is its essential oils, which not only delight the palate, but also exude a smell that mosquitoes cannot stand. So don't banish the basil to the herb bed, but give it a place of honor on the terrace. It will thank you with a mosquito-free summer.
2. Lemon Monarde
The lemon monard is a subspecies of the Indian nettle and is not only characterized by its colorful flowers. In English, the plant is called "Bee Balm" (bee balm), which probably goes back to its attractive effect on bumblebees, bees and other beneficial insects. Mosquitoes, on the other hand, do not like the lemony smell of the plant at all and make a long way around the flower bed. As a result, the colorful flower not only creates a beautiful atmosphere - it also ensures that it is not disturbed by biting mosquitoes.
3. Catnip
A feast for cats, a horror for mosquitoes - catnip is also a good protection against nasty mosquitoes. One of their essential oils, called nepetalactone, while attracting cats, bees, and bumblebees, is avoided by mosquitoes and is believed to be 10 times more potent than the most popular chemical mosquito repellent, DEET. So the green plant not only pays for itselfCat lovers out.
4. Lemongrass
We love lemons - but mosquitoes really don't like the fresh scent of the tropical fruit. So it's no wonder that the bloodsuckers also avoid the intense scent of lemongrass. The effect is particularly intense if you cut up the lemongrass or grind it in a mortar - the escaping oil is the real reason for the deterrent effect and fills the whole room with its fresh smell.
5. Tomato
Who would have thought? The tomato is not only a popular plant for the vegetable garden and a delicious ingredient for the kitchen - the plant also drives away almost all annoying insects with its intense smell. In order to optimally develop the effect, the tomatoes should not be spread out in the garden, but in pots in the place where they are supposed to protect. So you can not only enjoy the evening in a relaxed manner, but also pick a small snack from the tree from time to time.
6. Lavender
Lavender not only helps against bad sleep and moths in the closet - its strong smell also drives mosquitoes away. The sensual scent is extremely pleasant for many people and the purple flowers are not to be scoffed at as a decorative element in the garden. Since the effect is mainly caused by the essential oils of lavender, lavender oil is not only an insider tip for efficient mosquito protection, but also replaces perfume.
7. Garlic
Ancient legends say that garlic is an effective remedy against vampires. Even if protection from vampires sounds ridiculous today, there was a bit of truth hidden in the legend. The little blood-sucking relatives of vampires, also known as mosquitoes, hate garlic just like the famous fantasy figure and stay away from the bulbs whenever possible. That's why garlic is not only useful in the kitchen, but also an insider tip against mosquitoes.
8. Lemon Balm
The fresh smell of lemon balm is appreciated by many people. Mosquitoes, on the other hand, can't stand the smell and prefer to stay with the lemon balmremote. If you also want to be protected from mosquitoes outside of your garden, you can also crush the lemon balm and apply it to the uncovered parts of the body. But lemon balm is not only useful as a mosquito repellent: the green leaves are also used as a medicinal plant and in the kitchen.
9. Walnut
People recognized early on that the walnut tree has a deterrent effect on all kinds of insects. It used to be customary to plant the walnut tree next to the dung heap, as it drives away mosquitoes, bluebottles and horseflies. The essential oils of the tree are true guarantors for a mosquito-free zone. The walnut collects additional plus points in autumn: In addition to relaxing rest in the evening, the walnut also provides delicious nuts to nibble on.
10. Rosemary
Rosemary is not only a delicious spice for potatoes and meat - the Mediterranean shrub also contains a large amount of essential oils and is therefore a real miracle weapon against annoying bloodsuckers. In addition, the rosemary is extremely easy to care for and robust, which makes it a perfect match for the herb bed. If you want to increase its effect, you can also use a little trick: placed on a grid over a lantern, the rosemary oils evaporate and spread even further - mosquitoes don't stand a chance anymore.
It's not just mosquitoes that we find annoying, wasps can also be very annoying in the summer months. In this article we have put together which plants really help against wasps.