How to repel pests with plants

21.08.2023 - 12:00 / theunconventionalgardener.com / Emma Doughty

Now that the arbor is up, I need to think about surrounding it with plants. I have climbing achocha and mashua which might (hopefully) provide some shade. Once you’ve eliminated the possibility of heat stroke, you’re left with that other perennial summer problem – pests. How do you stop bugs great and small from bugging you, or committing suicide in the jug of Pimms?

Obviously you can get candles and other products made with citronella oil, which comes from lemon grass species and does a nice job with flying insects. It may well be worth growing your own lemongrass (with the added bonus of having it on hand for cooking), although you’ll have to take it in over the winter as cold and damp weather will kill it.

(The ‘citronella plant’ is, apparently, Pelargonium citrosum, and can be planted to deter mosquitoes.)

You could also try planting the Shoo Fly plant, Nicandra physalodes, which is quite pretty:

Cats have always been a problem in my garden. It’s not their presence which causes the issue, but the deposits they leave behind. Planting Scardy Cat plants can help encourage them to ‘go’ elsewhere, and strongly scented plants will help them to forget which spot they chose for their toilet.

French marigolds keep whitefly away from your tomatoes and onions can help confuse the dreaded carrot fly – neither of which will bother you much on the patio, but both are a nuisance in the veg patch. Moths are said not to like lavender; ants are repelled by pennyroyal and other mints as well as other scented herbs.

And there’s the clue – all of these ‘pest-repelling’ plants are aromatic, strongly-scented plants. So if you’re planning on putting your patio to good use this summer, then surround yourself with scented plants and culinary herbs.