Living in Orlando comes with many perks, but bugs aren’t one of them. In addition to the insects that will attack your vegetable garden and ornamentals, biting insects such as mosquitos can carry diseases and make it difficult to enjoy being outside in your yard playing with your kids and pets.
Instead of using harmful pesticides, make bugs buzz off by growing plants that repel insects. This eco-friendly method is the best way to control pests because it’s safe for you and your family and won’t harm or deter beneficial insects that help keep your Orlando landscape beautiful.
Plant a Pretty Fortress to Protect Your Yard from Pests!
Most people know that citronella plants can repel insects such as mosquitos and adult whiteflies, but there are many other specimens you can grow in Central Florida that will do the same thing.
Check out the following list to discover flora and fauna that do wonders to chase away pests, attract pollinators, and increase the overall beauty and diversity of your landscape.
Borage (Borago officinalis)
This lovely annual repels cabbageworms and tomato hornworms while attracting bumblebees.
Calendula (Calendula officinalis)
Also known as pot marigold, calendula is despised by asparagus beetles, nematodes, and tomato hornworms, but attracts pollinators, so plant as much of this edible flower as your Orlando landscape can hold!
Catmint (Nepeta)
This beautiful perennial does a great job of chasing away aphids, cabbage loopers, Colorado potato beetles, cucumber beetles, flea beetles, Japanese beetles, and squash bugs. However, you may want to keep it confined to pots if you don’t have time to keep it in check as it’s an aggressive spreader.
Chives (Allium schoenoprasum)
This attention grabbing garden addition repels aphids and Japanese beetles. While gorgeous, you should harvest chives before the edible flowers go to seed or this perennial will take over your landscape.
Chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum × morifolium)
This beautiful flowering plant produces pyrethrins that repel beetles, mosquitoes, cockroaches, and silverfish.
It’s important to provide insect repelling plants with the proper amount of water to keep them thriving. To accomplish this, monitor your irrigation system on a regular basis to make sure it’s turning on and shutting off in accordance with the settings. Too much or too little water can make your garden a cozy place for unwanted insects. If you’re not sure your system is running like it should, call us or complete our request service form and we’ll come take a look.
Garlic (Allium sativum)
If you love cooking with garlic, grow it in your garden because it will keep away aphids, cabbage and coddling moths, Mexican bean beetles, peach borers, and Japanese beetles.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)
When you have lemon balm growing in your yard and garden, gnats and mosquitos will stay far away from your Orlando landscape.
Prince of Orange Geranium (Pelargonium citrosum)
Related to the citronella plant, this beautiful bloomer will keep mosquitos from visiting your property.
Rosemary (Rosemarinus officinalis)
This popular perennial chases away moths, carrot flies, Mexican bean beetles, slugs, and snails.
Sage (Salvia officinalis)
This helpful herb will keep flies, ants, and mosquitos away from your yard so long as it’s growing in a sunny spot.
Wormwood (Artemisia ludoviciana)
This gorgeous perennial is great at repelling ants, cabbage maggots, carrot flies, codling moths, flea beetles, and whiteflies. It even chases away mice!
Stop gazing at your garden from the window and start enjoying the outdoors!
When you let insects ruin your outdoor plans, you’re missing out on the best Orlando living has to offer. Furthermore, your garden will suffer when you don’t prevent nuisance bugs from taking it over while enticing beneficial insects to visit.
Do yourself and your Orlando landscape a favor by introducing several insect repelling plants to your yard. By doing this, you’re enhancing each individual plant’s ability to deter harmful and annoying pests. Many of these plants will come back stronger year after year to do their magic of keeping mosquitos and other problem bugs at bay. The best part is that you’re being kind to pollinators by avoiding pesticides!
Remember to keep your Central Florida garden and landscape properly watered, and if you ever need assistance with sprinkler repair or irrigation in the Orlando area, we’re here to help!