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NATURES MOSQUITO REPELLENTS
Urban legend or truth? Are there really plants that repel insects that can be planted in your garden or around the patio to prevent mosquitoes from hanging around where you wish they didn’t?
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nfortunately, the answer is no. Simply planting juniper shrubs, rosemary, or citronella grass or any other plant at the back door won’t stop mosquitoes from buzzing around the patio during the dinner hour. What will keep insects like mosquitoes and gnats away are the essential oils contained in the plant’s leaves, which are obtained by crushing the leaves. There are a variety of both wild and cultivated plants that repel mosquitoes. Almost anywhere you go, it is reasonable
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to find several plant species that you can use to ward off these pesky critters. Plant-based mosquito repellents are especially useful for people who spend a great deal of time outdoors. It is important to note that it is compounds found within the plants that do the repelling. These compounds need to be released from the plant to unlock the mosquitorepelling qualities. Depending on the species of plant, they can be released by, either crushing, drying, or infusing the plant into an oil or alcohol base that can be applied to skin, clothing, or living spaces. Others are best used as a smudge, which releases the compounds in a smoke. Just
August 2020
