13 Herbs And Plants To Add To Your Garden That Help Repel Bugs

I’ve always said that I’d spend more time outside if there were less bugs. There are some people who can ignore or even embrace them, but I’m simply not one of those people. As the mom to an active toddler, however, I find myself spending more and more time with Mother Nature. Through all my research on how to make myself (and my yard) less attractive to pests, I discovered that plants are actually our secret weapon—more specifically, the scent of plants. The trick is that you have to bruise the leaves to get the valuable essential oils out, whether by rubbing, crushing, or even burning them. If you feel the same way I do about the outdoors, these are the ones you should consider growing. 

Marigold

• Botanical Name: Tagetes spp.
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Type: Well-drained
• Soil pH: 6.0-7.0

“A hardy annual, marigolds are easy to grow, showcase bright pops of color, and have a distinctive aroma,” explains Rebecca Sears, CMO & Resident Green Thumb at Ferry-Morse. In fact, they contain Pyrethrum, which is a compound used in many insect repellent products (marigolds specifically are good at deterring flies, mosquitoes, aphids, and black/whiteflies). According to Kelly Dyer, Plant Doctor and Horticultural Expert at Patch Plants, you can plant it in late April-early May after any risk of frost has passed. “They’re great in combined planters on a patio, along the front of borders, and interplanted amongst vegetables as a companion plant,” Dyer says.

Bay Laurel

• Botanical Name: Laurel nobilis
• Sun Exposure: Full, partial
• Soil Type: Well-drained, moist, sandy, rocky
• Soil pH: 6.0-7.0

Bay can come from a tree or a shrub, though according to Dyer, bay trees have a higher concentration of “the volatile oils like eucalyptus and terpenes that give them both a strong fragrance and taste.” This irritates, overwhelms, and repels pests like flies, moths, earwigs, cockroaches, and mice. Whether you opt for a tree or shrub, Dyer says they should be planted in spring or fall and pruned regularly to keep their growth in check and maintain their shape.

Basil

• Botanical Name: Ocimum basilicum
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Type: Moist, well-drained
• Soil pH: 6.0-7.5

A garden staple that’s easy to grow, Sears says basil’s a popular mosquito deterrent because of the natural compounds estragole, citronellal, limonene, and nerolidol. “It also repels tomato hornworm, making it the perfect companion plant for tomatoes,” she adds. “Basil seeds can be started indoors in a sunny spot six weeks before transplanting, or you can sow them directly in your garden when the last frost has passed and the ground is warm.”

Lavender

• Botanical Name: Lavandula spp.
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Type: Well-drained, sandy, rocky
• Soil pH: 6.5-7.5

Bees and humans enjoy lavender, but Dyer says the essential oil compounds—linalool and linalyl acetate—released in hot temperatures are “confusing, and even better, repelling to flies, mosquitoes, and moths.” Sears recommends starting your lavender seeds indoors near a sunny window in mid-March or early April, then transplanting it six weeks later. “It’s great planted in pots alone or in mixed planters, but does equally well in the ground at the front of beds,” Dyer adds. Cut back or harvest spent flower heads in the fall to encourage new growth.

Rosemary

• Botanical Name: Salvia rosmarinus
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Type: Well-drained
• Soil pH: 6.0-7.0

With its strong scent courtesy of a compound called eucalyptol, pests like cabbage moths, beetles, mosquitos, and snails are scared away. Alpha-pinene, camphor, and limonene are three more of rosemary’s compounds with magical insect-repelling properties.

Nasturtium

• Botanical Name: Tropaeolum majus
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Type: Well-drained, moist
• Soil pH: 6.0-8.0

According to Sears, this colorful plant produces edible leaves and flowers, as well as “an airborne compound that keeps pests like aphids, squash bugs, and cucumber beetles away from nearby plantings.” This makes it ideal for planting near cucumbers and squash to help keep them safe. “Once the last frost has passed, sow nasturtium seeds in open ground.”

Lemon Balm

• Botanical Name: Melissa officinalis
• Sun Exposure: Full, partial
• Soil Type: Well-drained, average garden soil
• Soil pH: 6.5-7.0

A dream for evenings spent outside, this lemony member of the mint family repels mosquitos and gnats thanks to a compound called citronellal. When it comes to planting, you have options: start the seeds indoors approximately 4-6 weeks before the last frost (think early-middle spring), sow them outdoors during the fall or late spring, or plant it outdoors in the late spring or early summer when you’re certain the last frost has passed and the weather has warmed up.

Mint

• Botanical Name: Mentha
• Sun Exposure: Full, partial
• Soil Type: Well-drained, moist, sandy
• Soil pH: 6.0-7.0

Between the menthone, menthol, and methyl esters in the essential oil, Sears says mint can keep away a number of pests like mosquitos, flea beetles, fleas, white cabbage moths, aphids, ants, and even rodents. The catch? “Mint is a highly invasive perennial, so I recommend planting it in a container to keep it from spreading.”

Scented Geranium

• Botanical Name: Pelargonium spp.
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Type: Well-drained, moist
• Soil pH: 6.0-6.8

A popular flower you might already have, the scented geranium is particularly effective at deterring mosquitos and flies. According to Dyer, the primary essential oil compound is geraniol, which creates a pleasant fragrance for us, but not certain insects—though long-tongued pollinators like butterflies love it. “This flower is not frost tolerant, so it either needs to be brought into a conservatory over winter and/or planted out after any risk of frost has passed,” Dyer advises. She likes to put them in pots on a balcony or outdoor seating area.

Thyme

• Botanical Name: Thymus vulgaris
• Sun Exposure: Full
• Soil Type: Well-drained, rocky, sandy
• Soil pH: 6.0-8.0

Mosquitos, whiteflies, earworms, maggots, hornworms—these pests all share a dislike for thyme. A bonus given the herb’s delicious role in the kitchen, this is all thanks to the citronellal essential oil compound inside the leaves.

Sage

• Botanical Name: Salvia officinalis
• Sun Exposure: Well-drained
• Soil Type: Well-drained, rocky, sandy
• Soil pH: 6.5-8.0

Rosemary and sage deter many of the same pests, so you might not necessarily need to grow both (though your home-cooked meals may disagree). Beetles, flea beetles, carrot flies, snails, and cabbage moths will all be deterred by the herb. That said, you’ll want to keep it away from rue, cucumbers, and onions.

Catnip

• Botanical Name: Nepeta cataria
• Sun Exposure: Full, partial
• Soil Type: Well-drained
• Soil pH: 6.0-7.8

Named for how much cats love it, catnip is a member of the mint family. “It contains a compound called nepetalactone that repels insects such as mosquitoes, flies, and deer ticks,” Sears explains. Just like mint, catnip is an aggressive grower, which is why she recommends planting it in a container as well.

Peppermint

• Botanical Name: Mentha x piperita
• Sun Exposure: Partial
• Soil Type: Moist, well-drained, rich
• Soil pH: 6.0-7.0

Peppermint is incredibly invasive, but it can also be equally effective in keeping fleas, flies, and spiders away. This is because the scent comes off very strong and is too much for them to bear. Because of its invasiveness, peppermint needs to be isolated in its own container.