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If you are an avid gardener or just deciding to start this year, there are certain flowers and plants to consider if you want to keep pesky bugs away and create a beautiful landscape at the same time.

Some of the best plants you can put in your garden or in a pot near the patio to keep pests away are covered below.

Flowers and Ornamental Grass

Allium

These tall beauties reach up to six feet in height. They repel common vegetable garden insect intruders.

Repelled Insects: Slugs, aphids, carrot flies, and cabbage worms.

Other Benefits: Good for vegetable plants like tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, cabbage, broccoli, and carrots. Repel aphids from Rose bushes.

Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums come in a wide range of bold, beautiful colors. Armed with a secret weapon, they are a smart pest control plant choice. Naturally producing pyrethrum, a common ingredient in insect repellant.

Repelled Insects: Roaches, Ants, Japanese Beetles, Ticks, Silverfish, Lice, Fleas, Bedbugs, Spider and Mites

Other Benefits: Chrysanthemums are well suited for container gardens on your patio, and have a long flowering period.

Marigolds

Bright bold colors and a distinctive smell make Marigolds a stand out companion plant for your garden.

Repelled Insects and Pests: Microscopic worms (nematodes) that attract vegetable roots. Specifically, root-know and lesion nematodes.

Other Benefits: This is one of the easiest to grow annual flowers for summer or fall gardens.

Lavender

Known for their charming purple color and comforting smell, Lavender offers a variety of home and health benefits.

Repelled Insects: Moths, fleas, flies, and mosquitoes.

Other Benefits: Used for many aromatherapy benefits such as encouraging calmness, headache treatment and as a sleep aid.

Petunias

An annual flower boasting bright color and pest control protection.

Repelled Insects: Aphids, tomator hornworms, and squash bugs.

Other benefits: Enjoy their licorice- like scent and deter pests at the same time.

Lemon Grass

Growing up to 4 feet tall and 3 feet wide, this plant is a wonderful all natural guardian for your patio or outdoor area.

Repelled Insect: Mosquitoes

Other benefits: Natural citronella make lemon grass a strong deterrent for mosquitos. While you may be common with candles and torches, lemon grass naturally produces the oil.

HERB GARDEN

Rosemary

If you have ever had the pleasure to meet rosemary, you will never forget the distinct smell and taste. While many cooking enthusiasts rave for rosemary, pesky pests do not share the same sentiment.

Repelled Insects: mosquitoes and common veggie plant destroyers

Other benefits: Use to create homemade insect repellant or to flavor a new dish!

Mint

Satisfying fresh taste when added to waters or summer fruit drinks, mint serves a dual purpose. They are not only great for for adding a fresh taste to your summer tea, but Mint also makes a strong insect repellant.

Insects Repelled: Mosquitoes

Other Considerations: Mint does best in potted containers or has the tendency to spread throughout a garden too quickly and invasively. Place potted mint plants around your most commonly occupied outdoor areas to keep away pests.

Basil

Another herb perfect for dual consideration. Basil is a favorite herb for summer dinners, and it also works to deter pesky insects.

Repelled Insects: Flies

Other Benefits: Keep your basil in a potted container to keep flies away from the area.

If you have one or more of these plants in your garden, it can help prevent pests. Keep them close to your home’s openings such as doors, patios, and windows to prevent them from getting inside your home.

If you don’t have a green thumb or if the bugs are still cleverly finding their way inside, contact May Exterminating Services. Remember we offer free estimates and consults. We can come to your home and see your problem first-hand, give guidance, and offer guaranteed solutions. In addition to our pest control services, we also offer mosquito control by the mosquito squad.