- Citronella grass<\/a><\/li>
- Lavender<\/a><\/li>
- Marigolds<\/a><\/li>
- Rosemary<\/a><\/li>
- Catnip<\/a><\/li>
- Basil<\/a><\/li>
- Peppermint<\/a><\/li>
- Bee balm<\/a><\/li>
- Sage<\/a><\/li>
- Scented geraniums<\/a><\/li>
- Chrysanthemums<\/a><\/li>
- Allium<\/a><\/li>
- Fennel<\/a><\/li>
- Eucalyptus<\/a><\/li>
- Thyme<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
Citronella grass<\/span><\/h2>
![\"Citronella](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/citronella4-WL-1024x683.jpg\")
Citronella. Photo Credit: Whitney Lehnecker \/ Lawn Love<\/figcaption><\/figure> Citronella grass ranks high on the list of insect repellants, which is why it is distilled into citronella oil and used in more than a dozen commercially available pesticide products.<\/p>
Colton Bond, Natural Resources specialist at Oregon State University, says, \u201cOil of citronella repels target pests rather than killing them by masking scents that are attractive to insects. Thus, insects find it difficult to locate their target to feed.\u201d<\/p>
There\u2019s bad news for those of you in Northern climates: Because citronella is native to Africa and Southeast Asia, it is a warm-weather plant that only does well in the Deep South. <\/p>
Plant type: <\/strong>Ornamental grass
Size<\/strong>: 5 to 8 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet wide
Bloom time<\/strong>: Summer
Sun<\/strong>: Semi-shade, partial sun
Soil<\/strong>: Moist, well-drained loam
Soil pH<\/strong>: 5.8 to 6.3
Maintenance<\/strong>: Low. Water during drought to prevent yellow leaves. Weedy if unmanaged.
Toxicity<\/strong>: Can irritate skin; causes digestive problems if ingested by humans and pets.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>Lavender<\/span><\/h2>
![\"Closeup](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/lavender1-WL-1024x683.jpg\")
Lavender. Photo Credit: Whitney Lehnecker \/ Lawn Love<\/figcaption><\/figure> Lavender\u2019s mosquito defense is linalool, which is overwhelmingly unpleasant for mosquitoes. It\u2019s hardy, drought-tolerant, and versatile.<\/p>
Lavender is a bushy, ornamental shrub with hairy, silvery, smooth-edged, pointed leaves. Flowers are small, tubular, and 2-lipped and arranged in a whorl-like pattern. Flowers are in clusters of 6-10 along a spike that pokes out from the foliage. Blooms are typically purple, but can also be blue, pink, or white.<\/p>
Unlike citronella, lavender grows well in most places, except the very coldest Northern regions near the Canadian border.<\/p>
Plant type:<\/strong> Perennial shrub
Size<\/strong>: 1 to 3 feet tall and wide.
Bloom time<\/strong>: Early to mid-summer
Sun<\/strong>: Full sun
Soil<\/strong>: Moist, well-drained loam, chalk, and sand. Tolerates rocky soil. Doesn\u2019t tolerate soggy, waterlogged soil.
Soil pH<\/strong>: 6.5 to 7.5
Maintenance<\/strong>: Low once established. Supplement with irrigation in times of drought, and fertilize once per year. Requires pruning to half size after flowering is done. Susceptible to weeds, Phytophthora root rot, grasshoppers, and deer.
Toxicity<\/strong>: Toxic to dogs and cats in large quantities.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>Marigolds<\/span><\/h2>
![\"Closeup](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/marigold3-WL-1024x683.jpg\")
Marigolds. Photo Credit: Whitney Lehnecker \/ Lawn Love<\/figcaption><\/figure> Marigolds serve two great roles: they boast gorgeous spring and summer blooms available in yellow, orange, and red, while also repelling mosquitoes with their strong-smelling pyrethrum.<\/p>
I plant them after the first frost around the perimeter of my vegetable garden to deter pests and critters from eating my plants. And clustered around outdoor seating areas, they create a pretty effective barrier against mosquitoes.<\/p>
Plant type<\/strong>: Annual
Size<\/strong>: 1 foot tall and 1.5 feet wide.
Bloom time<\/strong>: Late spring to first frost
Sun<\/strong>: Full to partial sun
Soil<\/strong>: Most soil types, including occasionally dry clay, sand, and loam, with good drainage.
Soil pH<\/strong>: 6 to 7
Maintenance<\/strong>: Low. Occasional supplemental water; remove dead blooms; and apply little to no fertilizer. It is resistant to disease and pests, but can be susceptible to powdery mildew, Botrytis, leaf spot, and rots, as well as spider mites and thrips.
Toxicity<\/strong>: Edible in moderation, but overindulgence causes stomach discomfort. The sap can cause dermatitis. It\u2019s not toxic for pets.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>Rosemary<\/span><\/h2>
![\"Long](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/rosemary1-WL-1024x683.jpg\")
Rosemary. Photo Credit: Whitney Lehnecker \/ Lawn Love<\/figcaption><\/figure> Rosemary contains cineole, camphor, and limonene, which repel mosquitoes. It\u2019s deer, rabbit, salt, and drought-tolerant. It has dark green, needle-like leaves with silvery-white undersides that generously form along woody spikes. The flowers are small clusters of pale blue, pink, or white blooms. <\/p>
While rosemary is very low-maintenance, I recommend you trim it. I neglected it last year, and while it thrived without care, it became woody and difficult to cut.<\/p>
Plant type<\/strong>: Perennial shrub, evergreen in southern regions.
Size<\/strong>: 4 to 5 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet wide.
Bloom time<\/strong>: Spring and summer.
Sun<\/strong>: Full sun
Soil<\/strong>: Sandy or loam with high organic matter and good drainage.
Soil pH<\/strong>: 6 to 7
Maintenance<\/strong>: Low. Requires minimal watering and occasional pruning. It is highly pest and disease-resistant. Susceptible to aphids, mealybugs, whiteflies, and spider mites, and can develop powdery mildew and root rot.
Toxicity<\/strong>: Causes stomach upset if consumed in large quantities by humans and pets.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>Catnip<\/span><\/h2>
![\"Catnip](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Catnip7-1024x683.jpg\")
Catnip. Photo Credit: Photo Credit: Amy Stenglein \/ Lawn Love<\/figcaption><\/figure> Catnip repels mosquitoes with nepetalactone, a substance that triggers the pain receptors in mosquitoes, making them avoid the area. Studies suggest catnip can be even more effective than DEET. It\u2019s drought-resistant, hard freeze-tolerant, and adaptable.<\/p>
To make your own bug spray, I recommend combining 2 cups of chopped catnip, 2 cups of boiling water, and 1 tablespoon of vodka. However, these homemade sprays are short-lived, and you should always patch-test before applying all over your body.<\/p>
- Lavender<\/a><\/li>
![\"Closeup](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/basil3-WL-1024x683.jpg\")
![\"Closeup](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/peppermint3-WL-1024x683.jpg\")
![\"Closeup](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/BeeBalm5-1024x683.jpg\")
![\"Long,](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/sage2-WL-1024x683.jpg\")
![\"Purple](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Geranium7-1024x683.jpg\")
![\"Yellow](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/mum1-WL-1024x683.jpg\")
![\"Thin](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/Allium2-1024x683.jpg\")