There are many things on the market today to use as bug repellent for plants. The problems with these repellents are most of them are made with harsh chemicals that are dangerous not only to the pests but to humans as well. Today, people want an organic or natural solution to gardening problems, and few are as natural or effective as repellant planting.
Repellent plants give protection to nearby plants at up to a distance of three feet. Some plants will repel a host of pests while some work against only one or two. It should be noted that planting repellent plants won't get rid of bugs overnight, but it will lead to a pest free environment in time.
Garlic works against most insects and can be planted anywhere without invading the flavor of plants nearby, whether fruits or vegetables. Garlic chives also work with almost any plants. They work great at protecting trees and rose bushes and also look fabulous while doing it, with their white blossoms topping the plants.
The onion family is not alone in its pest repellent capabilities. Certain herbs and flowers serve as great repellent plants also. Tansy (also known as yellow buttons) has a strong fragrance that keeps most bugs at a distance. Mint makes a great companion plant next to cabbage, and it also repels mice. If you have any trouble with mice in your house, leave a few sprigs of fresh mint on your counters at night (or wherever the mice frequent).
Flowers also not only add beauty to a garden, they, too, are great repellent plants. Marigolds are extremely easy to grow and do wonders at keeping bugs at bay, both above and below the soil.
The white geranium lures the hungry Japanese beetle, but after eating the plant, they die.
Below is a list of repellent plants and the bugs they help get rid of.
Tansy: borer, cucumber beetle, cutworm, Japanese beetle, squash bug
Garlic/Onion family: borer, aphids, mites, rabbits, rose chafer
Pennyroyal: ants, aphids
Mint: ants, cabbage maggot, flea beetle, mice
Tomato: asparagus beetle, flea beetle, cabbage maggot
Rosemary: cabbage maggot, cabbage moth, carrot fly, Mexican bean beetle, slugs
Nasturtium: aphids, cabbage moth, squash bug, pumpkin beetle, white fly
Sage: cabbage maggot, carrot fly, nematode
Southernwood: ants, cabbage moth, fruit tree moth
Wormwood: cabbage moth, carrot fly, slugs
Marigold: eelworm, Mexican bean beetle, tomato hornworm, white fly
Petunia: aphids, leafhopper, rose chafer, Mexican bean beetle, nematode
White geranium: Japanese beetle, rose chafer, leafhopper
Castor bean: gophers, moles
Green beans: Colorado potato beetle
Potatoes: Mexican bean beetle
Buckwheat: wireworm
Catnip: cabbage moth, flea beetle
Asparagus: nematode
Borage: tomato hornworm
Knowing what bugs certain plants repel can help one plan and plant a garden. For example, if the potato beetle hates green beans and a bean beetle hates potatoes, it only stands to reason that one would want to put the two near each other. This holds true for tomatoes and asparagus also.
When selecting plants to use as repellents, it is important to study the plant as a whole. For instance, borage may repel the tomato hornworm but at the same time it will attract bees. So before purchasing plants or seeds to fulfill one specific purpose, know as much about them as possible.
By Sharon .M.
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