YOU CAN BUY PLANTS THAT REPEL MOSQUITOS - Monday Myth Series

 

Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis)

MONDAY MYTH: You can buy plants that repel mosquitoes.

   MYTH: There are plants that will make your summer backyard gatherings mosquito free. Many mosquito‑repelling plants such as lemon balm, mints, and scented geraniums have a strong fragrance to humans, so it is assumed that mosquitos hate them. Feeding the myth are garden centers selling “mosquito plants” because who wouldn’t want an easy way to control them. Even some plants (like scented geraniums) are mislabeled as “citronella plants,” although they don’t contain true citronella compounds.

  TRUTH: Research shows that the plants themselves do not repel the insects. You cannot purchase a plant (or thirty) that will make your summer backyard gatherings mosquito-free.

You need to crush (or burn) some part of the plant to get it to release the essential oils that repels mosquitoes. Just having the plant around does not do the trick; and even then, the effect is brief and localized.

  THE TAKEAWAY: Grow the plants because they are beautiful, fragrant and pollinator friendly. Skip the “mosquito‑repelling plants” myth and focus on what actually works.

· Start by removing standing water — it’s the single most effective step you can take.

· Add a fan to your patio to keep air moving; mosquitoes are weak fliers and won’t fight a breeze.

· When you need personal protection, reach for EPA‑registered repellents like DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus.

· Treat water features with mosquito dunks (Bti) and use screened porches or fine‑mesh netting to create mosquito‑free zones.

· Even your lighting matters: avoid warm, incandescent bulbs and switch to yellow “bug lights” that attract fewer insects.

Reference and more information: Pollinator-Friendly Mosquito Control (https://extension.psu.edu/pollinator-friendly-mosquito-control)

Carol Kagan, Franklin County Master Gardener

Photo: Lemon balm (Carol Kagan)