Pest Control through Landscaping: 3 Garden Plants for Keeping Mosquitos Away from Your Property
Posted on: 14 August 2015
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Australia's warm weather and strong tides have attracted hordes of mosquitos. The exploding mosquito population has caused central Australia to trigger warnings of mosquito-borne viruses in 2015. Although there are many pesticides available for eliminating mosquitos, you can easily and naturally keep mosquitos off of your property through landscaping by planting these 3 garden plants.
Take Advantage of the Warm Weather by Planting Basil
Basil is a wonderful herb commonly used in cooking. It can also double as a pest repellent, as the natural pungent smell of the plant drives many insects, like mosquitos, away. Thankfully, basil can be easily grown in Australia thanks to its warm climate, and it flourishes wherever there is sun. Plant basil along the perimeter of your property and your home to create a barrier. You can even keep potted basil indoors as a mosquito repellent as well.
To prevent mosquitos from entering your home, place potted basil near the windows. This will allow you easy access to the herb should you need it, and it will prevent mosquitos from entering your home even if you keep the windows open on hot, summer days.
Decorate Doorways with Lavender
Lavender is another garden plant that will easily flourish in Australia thanks to the warm climate. It's also commonly used for decoration. Plant lavender around the doorways for decoration and as a natural mosquito repellent. Although lavender is a relatively low-maintenance garden plant, it does require high levels of calcium and soil with a pH between 6.8 and 7.3 to grow.
There are a variety of different types of lavender that can be grown. If your main concern is to repel mosquitos, choose species that are more versatile in nature and can adapt to a diverse range of environments.
Plant Citronella Grass in the Yard
Those who love spending time outdoors in their yards are most vulnerable to mosquitos. Citronella grass can help repel mosquitos easily, as it possesses lemon-scented properties. These garden plants are low maintenance and grow in large planters. They can easily reach a height of 2 to 4 feet and will require regular pruning. Citronella grass grows well in wide range of different soils, as long as it is well-drained.
If you don't have a green thumb, speak with a professional landscaper from a business like Rowlands Horticultural Services to determine whether your property possesses the right type of soil or sufficient sunlight for these garden plants to grow and flourish.