You’re not the only ones enjoying the garden this summer. Aphids, mosquitoes, rabbits and deer will also love your lush annuals, perennials, vegetables and herbs.
Watching pests destroy your yard is frustrating, not to mention expensive (Americans spent more than $36 billion on their lawns and gardens in 2015, according to the National Garden Survey, but they gave up gardening or sprayed tons of chemicals.Toxic chemicals aren’t the only ways to deal with pests.
For a garden full of beautiful flowers that bugs and furry foragers won’t touch, plant these four naturally pest-resistant plants:
Lemon Thyme: When the cats in If neighbors use your yard as their litter box, this citrus-scented herb will persuade them to look elsewhere for relief.The ASPCA classifies this annual herb as non-toxic, but cats don’t like the smell, so lemon thyme is a safe bet to keep Fluffy out of the garden Eye candy but not for deer Zinnias have stac sacred centers that avoid deer.
Easy Annuals The variety is native to Mexico and comes in a range of colors from red and pink to yellow and white. They grow best in full sun and well-drained soil, and bloom throughout summer.
Marigolds: The flowers of these bright orange and yellow annuals are edible and a delicious addition to salads, but rabbits dislike the bitter taste and will leave marigolds alone.Marigolds also repel mosquitoes and aphids, making this triple threat a great choice for the garden.
Marigolds thrive in full sun but also tolerate partial shade. Summer flowering annuals can be grown in garden beds or pots and tolerate poor (but moist) soil.
Columbine: The star-shaped flowers of this colorful perennial make a pretty addition to the garden. Native to wildflower meadows, columbine attracts bees, birds and butterflies but is deer and rabbit resistant.
Columbine thrives in partial sun and tolerates shade; Plants grow best in moist, well-drained soil and can reach eight feet in height. The flowers bloom in a variety of colors, from red and yellow to blue and pink.
Not only can you prevent pests from catching your plants, you can also keep them from bothering you.
Let’s face it: Nobody wants to spend time outdoors when mosquitoes, gnats and flies are buzzing, but staying indoors is as tempting as smearing your skin with toxic bug spray.
plants like lavender, basil, marigold, chrysanthemum and nasturtium naturally repel insects. Each of these plants has something that can help you create an (almost) pest-free garden.
Mothers: They have a natural compound called pyrethrum that is used to make pyrethrin-based insecticides.All mothers produce pirotrum, but some varieties have more than others.The annual plant has lacy green leaves and can grow up to a meter high. Citronella is drought tolerant and prefers partial shade.
Rosemary: Rosemary is a lush evergreen shrub that produces clusters of blue flowers in winter and spring. It is known to attract beneficial insects like bees and butterflies while repelling mosquitoes.
Rosemary plants can grow quite large, reaching up to 1.50m in some areas. So give them plenty of space in the garden or keep them back to maintain their size. Grow rosemary in full sun and in well-drained soil. grown in containers and brought indoors for wintering.
Catnip: Cats are crazy about this ultra-fragrant herb, but mosquitoes hate it.The researchers found that catnip was more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET, a common (and toxic) ingredient in bug spray. It also repels cockroaches.
This fast growing perennial blooms in summer with small white flowers and does best in full sun. Because catnip can be invasive, it’s best to grow it in a pot to prevent it from taking over your garden. Lavender
: The pretty purple flowers make a lovely addition to the garden, and the plant’s essential oils repel mosquitoes, flies, and moths. Plant it near outdoor seating areas to keep insects away, or rub it on skin to transfer the oils as a natural mosquito repellent.
Lavender is a heat and drought tolerant perennial that grows best in full sun and well-drained soil. It can also be grown in containers.
Keeping pests out of the garden isn’t just about choosing the right plants: wherever you plant annuals and perennials