8 Effective Plants To Repel Pests

August 20, 2021

Finding pests in your home or garden can be such a headache. Trying to prevent them in the first place alone can be a nightmare, especially if you want to be organic.

Pests will munch and crunch on all your precious plants causing them to either be drenched in chemicals or potions you created in your kitchen. Whether you are a houseplant master, just bought your first plant, or have an outdoor garden you will at some point get pests – it just comes with the territory, unfortunately.

But what if I told you that by just keeping a few fresh herbs growing around your plants can not only help season your dinner, but also repel common plant pests?

There are many plants that are great at repelling certain pests, but I’m just going to highlight 8 effective plants to repel pests for your home or garden. I like to think of them like a plant bodyguard. I’m going to go over each one and what they are good at fighting against.

Dill

I don’t know about you, but when I hear the word dill, I think of pickles. Dill is an ingredient in making pickles and ranch dressing, but it can also can keep away pests.

The dill plant is amazing in repelling Aphids and spidermites. This is perfect since most plant parents have come a crossed an aphid or spidermite infestation at least once – and if you haven’t, you will. So, dill might be a good idea to have around your houseplants that are prone to these pests.

And no, you can’t just use pickle juice.

*It’s been said that dill can attract tomato hornworms, so make sure you’re keeping your dill plants far from your tomatoes.

Basil

Mmmm.

Basil is the perfect topping on pizza or sprinkled on top of pasta, but some pests will disagree with you. That fresh and clean smell of basil might send some pest packing.

Basil is great at repelling flies or mosquitoes. The oil that the leaf on the plant produces is too pungent to those flying pests that they wind up going elsewhere. Anyone who has had indoor plants that were ravaged with fungus gnats, may want to add some basil to their potting soils.

Basil can also help repel thrips, yes, thrips.

Brb, going to buy all the basil plants.

Rosemary

Rosemary is such a delightful herb, which is used in many ways in lots of dishes. It has such a fresh taste and smell to it, which most people love.

Not only is rosemary great in dishes, it’s also great at repelling pests such as moths and silverfish. Rosemary is also great at repelling flies, such as fungus gnats, as well.

Placing a sprig of rosemary, instead of a whole plant in a closet, in boxes, or even mixed into soil can keep those pests away.

Chrysanthemums

Commonly known as mums. These plants are pretty popular around the fall and wintertime. Chrysanthemums are staples for plant fall décor.

These friendly flowers are absolute pest repelling powerhouses. They repel pests such as: ants, fleas, cockroaches, and even spitermites!

Many commercial plant pests sprays out in the market include an ingredient called pyrethrum. This is made from the mums main element.

Marigolds

Marigolds are another friendly flower on this list that might look deceiving to a pest.

Their distinctive smell is great at repelling flying pests like gnats, white flies and mosquitoes. These pests don’t want to stop and smell the…marigolds.

But they smell pretty good to humans, and they’re super pretty, so win win.

Carnivorous Plants

Well, I couldn’t list out all these pest-fighting plants without naming the one plant that has its great ability, right in its name.

Carnivorous plants aren’t really effective plants to repel pests, and are more so attractors. These plants will attract flies and gnats, or any bug for that matter. These plants will devour any pest that’s in its path.

Plants that rely on bugs as a food source are great for someone who has a bad case of fungus gnats or flies around their homes. These plants will treat the problem and help combat it from coming back.

Lavender

Ahh, the calming scent of lavender.

Lavender is not only one of the kings of essential oils but pretty good at keeping pests away as well. Many types of flies, beetles and fleas don’t like the smell of lavender.

Lavender is a natural calming aid, so if your pest come back at least you’ll be treating them with a smile on your face and once your home or garden is pest free, take some of that lavender in a nice relaxing bath.

Sage

Many people believe that smudging room or home can keep bad energies away.

Did you know that those bad energies can come in the form as plant pests as well? Flying pests like gnats and flies stay away from the smoke that is emitted from the sage.

We all knew that those little guys were evil spirits, right?

Shoo Fly Don’t Bother Me

There are many ways to effectively repel pests from us and our houseplants without the use of harsh chemicals that come with pest treatment and prevention.

These methods are really used to help prevent the outbreak of these pests and not as a sole treatment, unless you have the venus fly trap.

Hope this helps, and make you consider adding some of these effective plants to repel pests into your garden or houseplant collection to give you a little piece of mind, and a little sidekick to help keep those nasty pests away.