Summer is just around the corner, which means the season for annoying little parasites in your garden is officially back. Just the thought of these tiny critters crawling around makes me squirm. Nobody wants fleas and ticks around their pets or kids.
A simple way to prevent this is by growing certain plants that repel fleas and ticks. You can grow these plants in your gardens and around the house.
Contents
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. If you shop through the links on YardThyme, we may earn an affiliate's commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you. For more information, read full disclosure here.
Why Is It Really a Big Deal?
What makes these insects particularly irritating is how they can move and get in different places. Did you know that although fleas are wingless, they still have the strength to jump a huge distance?
They can easily catch on any passersby or even animals like dogs and birds. They feed on their blood like little monsters mercilessly until they are removed somehow. These insects may also cause a lot of discomfort on their host. They make you scratch a lot. But another primary concern is that they may even lead to diseases like bacterial infections, flea allergy dermatitis, tapeworms, heartworms, and even anemia.
However, let’s not focus on the negative.
After all, prevention is always better than cure. The simplest way to keep you and your pets safe is to start growing plants that repel these insects. You might have always thought that plants attract more insects. However, certain plants do the exact opposite.
How Do Plants Repel Pests?
Plants are a major source of food for these tiny organisms. However, they also do not want to be eaten. Like all other living things, plants also have a way of protecting themselves from harmful attackers. They usually have some chemical weapons to do so. Some plants produce toxins or essential oils that fight off these pests. For example, tobacco plants produce a potent toxin called nicotine that kills all insects that try to devour it.
Most of the oils produced by plants act as a natural pesticide to help them grow strong in natural environments. These essential oils contain some chemicals that may poison any insect that tries to eat it. Or it may produce a strong scent that would keep those buggers away. These plants are usually able to fight off mites, arachnids, and other insects as well.
Then some other plants have antimicrobial features and can fight off any harmful bacteria. They are also used in medicines. Other plants can fight against fungus and parasites. These plants are nature’s defense mechanism against harmful insects. Thus, it is an effective way to keep your homes free of these bugs.
5 Common Plants That Repel Fleas and Ticks
Most plants that have pest repellant properties are, in fact, fragrant herbs. If you have a fresh smelling herb garden, the chances are that they are already working against these uninvited guests. If not, then they will be a great addition to your homes and will help you keep safe.
There is no need to buy that pest-repellant when you can plant a better and long-term solution. Let me tell you about some of these plants.
Rosemary
Rosemary is a common kitchen herb used in many food recipes. The primary benefit of rosemary is that it is very easy to plant. You can even grow it in a pot anywhere in your house.
What may surprise you is that although we enjoy the scent of rosemary, it is very repellant for most insects like ticks, mites, fleas, and mosquitoes. These insects like to stay as far from possible from the plant. Therefore, it is an excellent choice for you to have in your gardens. Rosemary oil also has some chemicals that repel ticks.
Catnip
All cat owners will love this option! It is no secret that cats love this plant. But what you may not know is that catnip produces an oil, which contains a substance called nepetalactone. This chemical has strong pest repellant properties. It drives away ticks and mosquitoes. Moreover, it will help remove any fleas from your cat as well.
Catnip has a very intense smell and is also easy to grow out in your garden. It can also add a pop of color to your home with the addition of pretty flowers.
Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum is one of the most popular garden plants because of their unique and beautiful flowers. Not only do they improve the aesthetics of your garden, but they also help protect it.
These flowers secrete a chemical known as pyrethrum, which has strong anti-parasitic properties. It tends to attack the nervous system of the insects. It deters fleas, ticks, and other bugs from coming near it. You can create a pretty barrier of chrysanthemums around your yard to keep away these pests.
Garlic
Another useful plant you should consider is garlic. Planting garlic in your garden is very simple. Its smell is very strong, that is why many insects repel from it. Moreover, you can always use the grown garlic while preparing your food to give it a flavor boost.
Besides growing garlic, you can also spread crushed garlic around your yard to help remove any ticks. Yes, it is that smelly!
Wormwood
Wormwood is an herb that is very bitter and has been used over the years to make tea. It has many healing properties. However, that is not the case with insects. This herb has a blend of properties that are highly repellant to bugs, fleas, and mosquitoes, etc. It can grow up to 3 feet and has yellow flowers. It can make all the difference in your yard.
Where Should You Grow These Plants?
The entrance of your house is an excellent place to start. It will keep any uninvited fleas and bugs from coming in. You can also consider growing them around your windows in small pots. If you have pets, it is better to grow them where your pets play and hang around the most so that they can be protected too.