10 Plants That Keep Bugs Away In Gardens & Field

Pest infestation in the garden or field is major problem food producers face during the process of cultivation. Several insect pests are affecting the healthy growth of plants. One of these is the bugs or leaf bugs.

Bugs are insect pests usually small in size and small-bodied. They can be identified with their bright color and four-segmented antennae and beak. Bugs damage a plant by sucking the sap juice at any stage or age of the plant. Sucking of sap juice by bugs reduces the plant vigor, and ultimately makes the plant wilt. The females lay eggs on the pocket of a plant stem, these eggs hatch during the spring and regenerate causing more damage to the plant community.

Important Bugs and Damages Caused

There are about 10,000 species of bugs. They are location and plant-specific. the yellowish four-lined plant bug, Poecilocapsus lineatus, feeds mainly on blueberries, currants, and gooseberries.

Another important bug is the tarnished plant bug (Lygus pratensis), the bug is dark in color and highly voracious as it feeds on many plant species, ranging from trees to grasses and cereals. The tarnished plant bug is a common pest in North America.

Another leaf bug that causes damage to the apple tree is the apple red bug (Lygus mendax). This apple orchard pest sucks the juice from apple plant sap and causes spots on the apple tree leaves reducing the photosynthesis and the quality of the fruit produced.

The bugs that cause damage to vegetable plants are the garden fleahopper (Halticus bractatus). The bugs are black in flower and can jump from one spot to another. The garden fleahopper sucks the sap of vegetables and make the vegetable wilt.

How To Control Bugs

Several pest control methods can be deployed to control bugs. The biological pest control method and integrated pest management are effective ways to control bugs. Some notable plants repel bugs naturally; these plants are biological agents of pest control and also fit for IPM.

There are several plants that can deter insect pests; here are few plants that keep bugs away from the garden if planted around the garden.

#1. Marigolds

Plant lice, mosquitoes, and even rabbits can be deterred by the scent of marigold. Marigold can be planted in flower beds near front or back doors, or even in the vegetable garden to keep rabbits and mosquitoes from harming your plants.

#2. Chrysanthemums

This might be the best plant to keep bugs away. Ants, Japanese beetles, roaches, bed bugs, spider mites, silverfish, and ticks will stay away if some chrysanthemums are planted around. Some bug repellents use an active ingredient in this flower because of how effective it is. This plant deter:

  • Ants
  • Japanese beetles
  • Roaches
  • Bed bugs
  • Spider mites
  • Ticks
  • Silverfish
  • Harlequin bugs
  • Lice

#3. Mint

Mint plants can repel spiders, ants, and mosquitoes. Care should be taken when planting mint because they spread easily.

#4. Citronella grass

Citronella grass is an ingredient in mosquito repellents, but a lot of people do not know it is grass. This grass can be planted in gardens, or in planters near the door to keep mosquitoes and flying insects from getting inside when the door is opened.

#5. Lavender

The smell most people love is despised by gnats and mosquitoes. Lavender can be planted near windows and doors so the scent wafts into the home. Lavender has been used for centuries to add a pleasantly sweet fragrance to homes and clothes drawers.

Although people love the smell of lavender, mosquitoes, flies and other unwanted insects despise it. Tied bouquets can be placed in the home to help keep flies outdoors. It can be planted in sunny areas of the garden or near entryways to the house to help keep these areas free of bugs.

#6. Chives

Japanese beetles and carrot rust flies would not want to stick around where chives are growing.

#7. Petunias

While repelling asparagus beetles, leafhoppers, various kinds of aphids, tomato worms, and a variety of other pests, color can also be added to the yard by planting petunias.

#8. Garlic

Garlic known for its health benefits and seasoning also deter Japanese beetles, root maggots, carrot root flies, codling moths. It can be planted near roses to repel aphids from eating rose flowers.

#9. Rosemary

Rosemary protects vegetable plants by repelling a wide variety of bugs that will want to feed on the plants being grown and planned to eat. These bugs can be kept back with rosemary.

#10. Sage

Sage is a perennial plant that can be grown in planters on a patio or planted into landscaped beds. If you are camping or making smokes in the backyard, a little sage can be tossed into the fire, the scented smoke helps keep away unwanted insects.

Having any of these plants around your garden, especially at the borders, will keep bugs and other detrimental insect pests far away from your garden and you can get quality produce out of your garden!

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