Mosquito Repellent Plants

Pest Control in Austin is seasonal. Certain times of the year will produce specific issues. Right now, when it comes to pest control in Austin, people are concerned with the West Nile Virus. Cases of West Nile have been popping up throughout the central Texas area. With the ongoing concern for West Nile, we have been hearing from customers who want information. The conversation will always include questions about mosquito repellent plants.

I love mosquito repellent plants; I ALWAYS kill them, but purely by mistake. They are cheap, easily maintained, and can produce results without using chemical treatments. This is important to many home gardeners, especially those who are growing plants for consumption. There are actually a surprising number of mosquito repellent plants. You may already be familiar with some of them, and many of them are easily grown at your home. In my personal experience and through talking with gardening centers it seems that the most effective and easiest plants to grow at home are:

• Citronella: This is the one you have heard of. Citronella is the most popular of the mosquito repellent plants. The aroma of Citronella masks other attractants to the mosquito. This masking effect will basically make it more difficult for the mosquito to find you and your loved ones.
• Marigolds: Marigolds are great annual ornamental plants for your home’s flowerbeds. But wait, there’s more! They also happen to be a mosquito repellent plant. Who knew? Marigolds have what some might call an “offensive odor”. They also contain pyrethrum, which is commonly used in organic pest control products.
• Horsemint: Horsemint is another wonderful mosquito repellent plant. It works similarly to citronella. It has a strong odor that will make finding you more difficult for mosquitos. Horsemint is also a good choice because it is a tough plant. It has the ability to grow fast and is drought resistant. It can also thrive in regions with sandy soil. These elements make it a good choice for Texans who hate mosquitos.
• Catnip: Catnip is another plant you may already be familiar with. It also happens to be a terrific mosquito repellent. Catnip is reportedly 10 times more effective at repelling mosquitos than store bought repellents. Catnip is not only effective, but is also easily cultivated.

So, those are some good choices that most anyone can get a hold of and keep alive. Go find a good, reputable local gardening supply shop and you should easily find some of these plants. Then, try and remember to water them. One more thing, before you go out and purchase some new mosquito repellent plants, ask yourself one question. Am I ready for the responsibility of caring and nurturing a new plant? Be honest with yourself. If the answer is no, I will kill this plant for sure, go ahead and get a proper mosquito treatment. It is at this point during one’s inner dialogue that we receive a call from our customers.

Many of our customers are asking what we can do to address their issue with mosquitos. They tell us that plants are not going to bring enough punch, or will not live through the season. Luckily, there are commercial applications that will help to keep mosquito populations under control around your home. The treatments that we provide are not terribly invasive, and last about a month. A mosquito treatment can be done with traditional chemicals or an organic option. So if you can identify yourself as a plant killer, are having issues with mosquitos, or maybe just don’t want to take the time to experiment with natural remedies you should call a company who provides pest control in Austin.