Patio Preparation: 7 Plants that Naturally Repel Bugsfeatured

Patio season is coming and I want you to enjoy your patio without all the pesky bugs and harsh insect repellant sprays. I want to share my 7-favorite plants that naturally repel summer bugs without the chemicals. Adding these plants to your patio will make your outdoor time more enjoyable and bring in some color. 

The end of March/April is a good time to start transplanting so that the plants are settled into their pots or ground and growing into the summer. I was able to snag some of these plants at a local nursery which is my preferred option but they are also available at home improvement stores.

7 Plants that Naturally Repel Summer Bugs

1. Lavender - Oh how I love lavender! Lavender produces a fragrance that repels moths, flies, fleas and mosquitoes. Lavender has a sweet floral scent that is known in aromatherapy to be calming and relaxing. 
2. Marigolds - This is a new-comer for me. I just found out about the insect repelling abilities of marigolds.  The scent of a marigold will deter mosquitoes as well as some animals.  
3. Citronella - The most commonly used natural ingredient to repels mosquitoes. Citronella produces an oil that is a natural repellent. The citronella plants grows best in the ground or in a large planter pot. (picture from bonnieplants.com)
4. Rosemary - Rosemary is a herb with a woody scent that repels mosquitoes, flies and some moths. This grows great in a pot or garden bed and in hot, dry weather. Don't forget to take a few sprigs off for cooking! Rosemary Chicken anyone? 
5. Mint - Mint repels mosquitoes with its pungent minty aroma. Mint is a aggressive plant that will be all over your garden if you leave it unattended. Mind Your Mint. On the bright side mind can be used in teas and oh yes....mojitos. 
6. Basil - Repels against files and mosquitoes and is toxic to mosquito larvae. If you're an at-home chef you simply cannot pass up on basil. Its more fun when you have plants that can be used for multiple purposes. 
7. Lemon Thyme - The phytochemicals in lemon thyme can repel mosquitos. It thrives in dry, rocky soil and does best in full sun. The difference with this plant is the leaves have to be crushed in order to unleash the phytochemicals.(picture from mosquitonaturals.com)

Now get out there and get "Patio Ready". You Got This!  Happy Planting!