Here in South Carolina, spring is almost in full swing. That means people are going to start planting their gardens and tending to their lawns again. At the same time, pests are returning in droves. So, what if you could plant your garden, tend to the lawn, and protect your property from pests all at the same time? That’s where pest-repelling plants come in. By adding pest-repelling plants to your garden, landscape, and around entrances to your home, you’ll be naturally preventing pests for months to come. Here are a few of the best pest-repelling plants to plant in your South Carolina garden and lawn this year.
Garlic
First up on the list is something your nose is certainly familiar with. The strong, pungent aroma of garlic acts as a natural pest repellent. It’s also incredibly easy to grow. Add a few garlic plants in your vegetable garden to prevent common garden pests like aphids, carrot root flies, Japanese beetles, root maggots, and more! Planting garlic helps protect the rest of the plants in your garden.
Chives
Another strong-smelling, pest-repelling plant to add to your garden is the chive. Chives have a strong, onion-smell that many pests find absolutely repulsive. You don’t have to add these directly into the garden, plant them in a pot or a planter so you can move it around the garden as you like. Chives help repel carrot rust flies and Japanese beetles.
Mint
Mint is a fast-growing and fast-spreading plant that smells and tastes wonderful to most of us but is terrible to pests. Because mint is so quick to spread, it’s best to plant these in their own planter. This protects your vegetable garden from turning into a mint garden. Mint repels pests like mosquitoes, ants, and spiders, making this a great plant to have near your doors and windows.
Rosemary
Spices, with their strong aromas and flavors, are often overwhelming to the senses of insects and other pests. Rosemary is one of those scents that pests just can’t stand. Add rosemary to your herb garden to help reduce the number of pests around.
Basil
Another aromatic herb that acts as a pest-repellent is basil. This wonderful herb is great in pasta and pesto, but terrible for pests. Basil is great at repelling mosquitoes, making it a great plant to grow in a window planter. For extra protection, break up a few leaves, allowing the oils to come out, and leave it around your windows and doors.
Citronella grass
One of the most well-known pest-repelling plants in South Carolina is citronella grass. We’ve all huddled around the tiny, smelly candles on a mosquito-filled night. Well, how about trying to grow it? Citronella grass is extremely quick-growing and will spread like a weed if given the chance. Plant it in its own planter and move it around the property, depending on where you’ll be hanging out. Citronella grass also works great as a border plant, offering up a fragrant front line against the mosquito threat.
Chrysanthemums
One of the greatest pest-repelling plants in the entire world is the chrysanthemum. These wonderful bushes have been used to make pesticides and pest-repellents for years and for good reason. The mighty chrysanthemum has a long list of pests it repels, including silverfish, roaches, ants, bed bugs, spider mites, Japanese beetles, and ticks.
Lavender
Finally, there’s lavender. Lavender is one of the most popular flowers on earth. There are even lavender festivals around the country that draw thousands of admirers from all over the world. Lavender is a common plant used in landscaping projects because they are beautiful and smell wonderful. However, they have another perk. Lavender is a key repellent against mosquitoes and ticks. With the threat of these two pests growing every year, now might be a good time to add lavender to your property.
Cramer Pest Control Can Help With All of Your Pest Control Needs This Spring
Planting these pest-repelling plants around your Carolina lawn is a great way to prevent pests around the lawn, but it could use a little backup. Luckily, Cramer Pest Control has some of the best pest control services near you. Invest in outdoor pest control or residential pest control to protect your beautiful lawn from hungry pests.
Get started with your spring pest control by calling us today at (704) 763-0204 in North Carolina or (803) 802-7540 in South Carolina. Head over to our blog for more pest control tips to protect your lawn, home, or business throughout the year. You can also follow us on Facebook to keep up with the latest offerings from Cramer Pest Control.