Home Garden Natural Repellants

Commercial garden pesticides contain lethal and toxic chemicals that impose many health risks; as an alternative, you can use many different plants as natural insect and pest repellents in the garden. The Lamiaceae plant family probably contains the highest number of plants that are widely available for many gardens. Plants such as lavender, thyme, rosemary, sage and mint naturally repel some of the more unwanted guests in the garden.

How Plants Repel Insects and Garden Pests

Plants are made up of complex chemicals such as alkaloids, terpenes, phenols and aldehydes; essential oils are extracted from plants and used for many different therapeutic purposes, including as an insect and pest repellent. Therefore, it is only logical that the source of essential oils, the plant, contains similar properties.

However, scientists and botanists are still not certain exactly how the complex make-up of plants works in repelling insects and other critters. Research studies are continually carried out, such as the work done by researchers at the University of British Columbia on botanical insecticides (source). According to Valerie Worwood in The Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, it is believed that the aroma of plants are the key to controlling unwanted insects, pests and critters in the garden. Whatever the scientific reason is behind plants and natural pest control, many gardeners believe in the concept and have success in controlling pests naturally.

Lavender and Insect Control

There are many varieties of lavender to choose from for the garden including true lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), lavandin (Lavandula x intermedia), spike lavender (Lavandula latifolia) and many lavender hybrids. Lavender is recommended for the control of:

• black fly
• fleas
• mosquitoes
• moths.

Mints and Pest Control

Again, there are various types of mint to choose from for the garden but the two most useful species of mint for pest control in the garden are peppermint (Mentha piperita) and spearmint (Mentha spicata); uses include:

• ants (spearmint and peppermint)
• aphids (spearmint)
• cabbage white ...