Plants that repel no see ums are essential to grow if these tiny bugs always invade your outdoor space and house. In addition to being annoying pests, their bites can be extremely painful and lead to skin inflammation and redness.
Our gardening team will suggest 11 plant species that you can grow in your garden to effectively repel these insects.
Contents
List of No See Ums Deterrent Plants
1. Citronella Grass
The Cymbopogon nardus grass is the source of essential oils that repel mosquitoes, in addition to other bugs like no see ums and wasps. This is why growing this grass in your garden will help keep your outdoor area pest-free, as it’s one of the best plants that repel flies and mosquito.
It’s a fast-growing plant that can be about six feet tall, and it grows insignificant light brown flowers in summer to fall.
When the leaves are crushed, they release a refreshing citrusy smell that people find refreshing, but most bugs hate. You can directly rub the leaves on your skin or crush them to release the oil and then rub it on the exposed areas of your skin.
– Plant Care
This grass thrives in warm climates and needs full sun exposure to stay healthy. However, it can tolerate some partial shade. Growing this plant in well-draining soil is required to prevent root rot, and regular watering is crucial.
To keep it under control, you need to remove the seed heads after the flowers fade to prevent this plant from taking over your landscape.
2. Camphor Trees
No see ums are attracted to human skin and the smell of blood, but some plants can mask this scent and keep them away from your garden. Camphor trees are a source of oil that you can use as a potent insect repellent, especially when mixed with other pest control oils like the oils of lemon balm.
The stems of the trees are green, but they look red in younger trees. The plant grows insignificant flowers, but most people grow these decorative trees to have some shade in their gardens.
The plants adapt to different soil types, but the ground should be constantly moist. The trees can tolerate some shade, but they thrive in full sun.
– What To Look Out For
The shallow roots of the trees can damage nearby structures, so they need to be given enough space to grow.
The plants can become invasive in some areas if they’re not kept under control. Be careful about picking the right spot to grow this plant because it’s toxic to pets and people.
3. Marigold
These vibrant flowers are known to be mosquito repellent plants and can also deter other pests like wasps, termites, and no see ums. In addition, they have a pungent smell that most bugs hate, so growing them will keep your garden pest-free.
These flowers shouldn’t grow in the shade, which affects flowering. In full sun, you’ll enjoy their colorful blooms, which can flower all season long with regular deadheading. The plants are tolerant of different soil types as long as the soil is very well-draining and should be watered regularly.
– Planting Ideas
Since these plants are fast-growers, you can grow them along the border or hedge of your garden to keep different pests away. They will add a pop of color, as the flowers come in various shades of yellow, gold, orange, and red. You can also grow a bi-colored variety on your patio or on the deck.
The flowers can repel tomato worms and squash bugs, so you can grow them in your vegetable garden to protect vulnerable plants. They’re among the best plants that repel bees, so you can grow them if you’re worried about your guests and kids getting stung.
4. Lavender
The soothing smell of the oil is one of the main reasons people love this plant, but this scent can also repel different bugs, including no see ums.
Moreover, growing this plant will repel different garden pests, like skunks that dig holes in your garden, and it’s considered to be one of the best plants that repel mosquitoes.
The plants prefer lean, well-draining soil and thrive in full sun. When the plants are first started, you need to water them regularly. Once established, the plants will become drought-resistant.
– Special Features
The green-gray shrubs grow purple flowers that bloom in the summer. These flowers attract bees and butterflies, so you can grow them in your pollinator garden. Adding fertilizers will make the plant less fragrant as it encourages unnecessary growth.
However, some compost added to the ground when the plant is first planted will boost its growth. It’s usually grown in flower beds and around veggies as a decoy or companion plant to keep different pests away from your garden.
5. Lemongrass
This is one of the most prized garden plants because it adds a fresh scent to your outdoor space, deters various pests, and can also be used to flavor different recipes.
Growing this plant will provide an all-year-round attraction in your garden because the green-gray foliage turns burgundy in the fall.
The plant thrives in rich, loamy soil and prefers to grow in full sun to multiply quickly. The plant can be shade tolerant, but it will look sparse and weak. It can grow to reach a height of four feet tall, so it can be grown as a hedge or along the garden’s borders.
– Issues
The plant is toxic to pets, so you need to think carefully before picking the right spot to grow it in your garden. It’s not cold tolerant, so if you can’t maintain warm and humid conditions in your garden, you might consider growing it in a pot.
This will help you move it around your garden to receive more sun, and you can even keep it indoors when the temperature drops.
6. Lemon Thyme
The fresh smell of this plant will help drive different pests away, so growing it as a border plant will be an excellent decision. Its aesthetic appeal is related to its vibrant green color and can also be used for medicinal and culinary purposes.
This is one of the best plants that repel insects and rodents, and it grows lilac flowers in the summer. This plant is an excellent addition to rock gardens, and works for inferior soil because too many nutrients will make it less fragrant.
– Plant Care
The best soil for this plant is rocky or sandy soil that resembles the conditions of its natural habitat. It’s a low-maintenance plant that survives in dry conditions and can be a good choice for a beginner gardener. The plant can withstand some shade, but it will be most fragrant in sunny spots.
7. Rosemary
This evergreen shrub grows white or light blue-purple flowers. People grow it as a natural pest repellent hedge, and the leaves are used for medicinal and culinary purposes.
The flowers bloom at different parts of the year depending on the variety you’re growing, attracting different pollinators to your garden.
The plant thrives in dry conditions and should be planted after the last frost. The spot you pick for growing this plant should have sharp drainage and full access to sunlight. The plant is drought-resistant, and too much watering can lead to root rot.
– Why No See Ums Hate This Plant
The astringent scent of this herb is too overwhelming to bugs like no see ums, so growing it in your garden will repel different pests. You can also make a homemade spray to deter different pests and rub it on your skin to protect yourself from insect bites. It’s also one of the best plants that repel roaches.
8. Catnip
Catnip is an easy-to-grow herb and has a clump-forming habit that makes it an excellent addition to your garden. When it’s grown in the spring, this plant will reach its full mature size in a single season.
Cats enjoy the presence of this plant, but the oils can be toxic to them, so you need to be careful about the spot you pick for growing it in your garden.
Catnip seeds should be started indoors and then planted after the last frost. You can grow this plant in a container to be one of the most potent plants that repel gnats indoors . The smell of catnip also bothers no see ums, mosquitoes, and black flies.
– Growing Conditions
This plant thrives in sunny locations, and some shade will be tolerated in hot climates. Too much shade can make the plant leggy and sparse. As long as the soil has good draining, this plant won’t be picky about the soil conditions.
It’s drought-tolerant once established. Growing it in your containers is better because it can aggressively spread in your garden.
9. Mint
This plant’s scent is one of the most potent smells that deter different garden pests and drive them away from your garden. Bugs like no see ums hate the strong earthy smell, as well as mosquitoes and wasps.
As a matter of fact, preparing a homemade spray containing this oil is one of the best ways to protect yourself from bug stings.
This edible herb thrives in the sun, and it grows white and purple flowers that attract different pollinators to your garden. It grows in rich, well-draining soil and needs to be watered regularly.
– Issues
This plant is toxic to pets, so you need to be careful about picking the right spot to grow it in your garden. Without monitoring, this plant can become invasive in your garden and affect the growth of nearby plants, as the drooping leaves touch the ground to grow new roots. You can grow it in containers to be one of the best indoor plants that repel insects.
10. Petunias
The pretty petunias come in every color except true blue, so they will be a vibrant addition to your garden if you want a beautiful garden plant to drive no see ums away from your property. There are different varieties of petunias to grow in your garden, but most of them are fast growers.
The plants grow in light, well-draining soil and should be watered regularly as they don’t tolerate drought. At least six hours of sunlight are needed to keep this plant healthy, although some partial shade is recommended in the summer.
– Special Features
This plant emits a licorice-like scent that repels different pests, but they’re prone to slug and snail attacks. The flowers bloom in spring, summer, and fall, depending on their variety, and will come back every year, although they stay in bloom for three weeks or so.
However, in colder climates, petunias will continue their life cycle in a single season as annuals. The plants can last for three years with continuous self-seeding.
11. Garlic
The edible garlic plant is an excellent choice to grow as an all-purpose pest deterrent because it repels no see ums, wasps, bees, mosquitoes, termites, and biting midges. It also prevents voles, squirrels, and even snakes from attacking your garden.
The bulbs are sensitive to the cold, and they should be grown in the spring or fall when the temperature is colder. The plant needs to grow in rich, well-draining soil with adequate access to sunlight. It’s a heavy feeder and shouldn’t be grown near other plants from the allium family to be able to absorb the needed nutrients.
– What To Look Out For
The bulbs are prone to rot in poor-draining soil. Nematodes also represent a chronic problem as they can infest your garlic for several seasons without showing any damage. This is why you should inspect growing plants frequently to make sure that they’re healthy.
You should be careful about picking the right spot to grow your garlic because the plant is toxic to different pets.
Conclusion
Biting bugs are so annoying to have in your garden, but there are several plants that deter insects efficiently, so you can grow them in your outdoor space.
- Citronella grass is one of the best plants that repel no see ums, flies, and mosquitoes.
- The soothing smell of lavender oil is one of the main reasons people love this plant, but this scent can also repel different bugs, including no see ums.
- No see ums hate pungent and astringent smells, so strong-smelling trees, shrubs, herbs, and flowers will keep them away.
- Bugs hate minty and citrusy scents, so they’ll stay away from your garden if you grow plants that smell this way. You can extract the oils of different plants and rub them on your skin to protect yourself from pests.
Deterring various bugs is all about making the right planting decision, and with these amazing choices, we guarantee that your garden will be pest-free.
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