Outdoor Plants, Trees, and Shrubs to Repel Bugs This Summer

Summer days are all about backyard cookouts, sipping iced tea on the porch, and watching your kids play in the sprinklers or chase fireflies. At least, that’s the dream. The reality isn’t always as idyllic, especially here in Atlanta. Mosquitoes, gnats, and other pesky insects have a habit of crashing the party, and their itchy bites sure can take the fun out of your summer!

Fortunately, you don’t have to resign yourself and your family to hiding out in the air conditioning all season while the bugs enjoy free reign of your outdoor living spaces. You can actually use outdoor plants to repel bugs. These bug-repelling plants will not only help keep pests away, but many of them are also wonderful additions in their own right, adding beauty, fragrance, and even food to your garden.

Best Outdoor Plants to Repel Bugs

Herbs: Rosemary, Mint, Thyme, Basil, Garlic, Catnip, Lemon Verbena

Mosquito repelling herbs are some of the best plants to add to your porch, patio, or yard this summer. They can be grown in beds, planters, and pots, making them convenient even for those with limited space. Rosemary, mint, thyme, and garlic also discourage ants, although we recommend our fire ant treatment service if ants are a persistent problem in your yard. Stepping on a fire ant hill is one of the most painful insect run-ins you can have in Georgia.

Grasses: Citronella and Lemongrass

When it comes to mosquito repelling landscaping plants, citronella and lemongrass are the heavy hitters. Citronella grass (not to be confused with citronella plant, which is often marketed as a mosquito repellent but doesn’t actually do the job) can grow to be up to 6 feet tall and equally wide, so make sure to plan accordingly when planting.

Citronella’s close cousin, lemongrass, also repels mosquitoes, and can grow to a height of up to 5 feet. However, with a maximum width of only 2 feet, it has a much smaller footprint, making it a better choice for compact spaces.

Flowers: Marigolds, Geraniums, Chrysanthemum, Wild Bergamot, Floss Flower, Lavender, Feverfew, Pitcherplant

If you’re hoping to add some vibrant color to your landscaping in addition to keeping bugs away, there are plenty of beautiful options to try. Scented marigolds are the superheroes of the garden, keeping mosquitoes and ants away, as well as parasitic nematodes. Geraniums (specifically Pelargonium citrosum) are another popular choice to repel mosquitoes, ants, and other insects. Lavender (which could also have been placed in the herb category) not only grows beautiful purple flowers, smells incredible, and discourages bugs, but also makes a wonderful addition to your cooking or baking. Just combine with rosemary, thyme, basil, tarragon, marjoram, and oregano to create your own homegrown herbs de Provence.

Trees: Eucalyptus, Tea Tree

While humans generally like the fragrance of eucalyptus and tea tree, their strong scents are a major deterrent to mosquitoes. The CDC has even approved eucalyptus oil as an ingredient in mosquito repellent.

Make the most of your summer landscaping with these mosquito-repelling plants, and get in touch with us if you’re looking for residential or commercial lawncare services around Atlanta.

About Simply Green Lawn Care

Picture of a Simply Green Spray Technician treating a lawn

Simply Green aims to provide the highest quality lawn care, mosquito control, and lawn pest control services to Georgia residents.

 

We are locally owned and operated which allows us to be accessible, attentive, and responsive for customers in Georgia.

 

Our well-trained team is easy to work with and determined to exceed expectations.

 

All our plant health care specialists are Georgia Department of Agriculture Certified and maintain their Category 24 applicators license.

Simply Green Lawn Care
4.6
Based on 125 reviews
powered by Google
gloria richardsongloria richardson
12:50 12 Dec 22
Ben is wonderful! He always answers all of my questions, please don’t take him away from our route!!!Also the office always texts few days before they are coming so we always know what date they are coming. Great customer service!!!
CJ BrieskeCJ Brieske
17:16 11 Nov 22
Have used Simply Green for over a year now for weed control & fertilization. Their service & products have helped improve the appearance & health of my grass in this short time. Taffari has been the technician the last few visits and he is great - super knowledgeable & able to answer my questions. On the last visit Taffari had the service manager reach out on a concern and it was addressed & resolved the same day.
Mitch FergusonMitch Ferguson
16:54 04 Nov 22
Taffari the lawn treatment person was professional and knowledgeable of all aspects of the service that he gave me. I would highly recommend him and Simply Green.
Andrea MooreAndrea Moore
14:19 04 May 22
Simply Green is the friendliest and most professional company I have dealt with. Always on time, and quality work. My yard has never looked better. If I have any questions the response is quick and efficient..I would recommend them to anyone looking for lawn care company
Elder Ron Brown Sr.Elder Ron Brown Sr.
23:43 17 Sep 21
Simply Green Lawn Care has really done a wonderful job with my yard. They keep the weeds out and it always looks crisp and green.
js_loader

Latest From the Blog

Planting a Pollinator-Friendly Garden

Planting a Pollinator-Friendly Garden

  What makes those Georgia peaches and pears so sweet? It’s likely the power of...
Humming Bird flying around flower

Natural Pest Control: Balancing a Healthy Lawn Ecosystem

  A healthy and balanced ecosystem results in various plants, insects, and animals living together...
Lawn biodiversity

Lawn biodiversity: The Importance of Varied Plant Species

  Lawn biodiversity refers to the variety of plant and animal species present in the...