Natural Insect Repellents

General Gardening
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One thing that I feel is missing from this forum is a post about natural ways to repel insects.

Feel free to add what may have worked for you

I came up with this idea when I had watched a video about the topic, a repellent that appears to work great, and I think that the idea is brilliant, and it’s not the neem oil in the beginning. Here is that video

Another thing that works very well is planting a lot of French marigolds, the ones originally from France repel way better than the Mexican marigolds that most people grow do. Here are some varieties of French Marigolds

  1. Court Jester Court Jester French Marigold - Fedco Seeds

  2. Brocade Mix Brocade Mix French Marigold - Fedco Seeds

  3. Bambino Bambino French Marigold - Fedco Seeds

  4. Frances’ Choice https://www.oldoakhomestead.com/product-page/french-marigold-frances-choice

  5. Red Metamorph https://www.oldoakhomestead.com/product-page/red-metamorphic-french-marigold

  6. Harlequin Harlequin French Marigold | John Scheepers Kitchen Garden Seeds

  7. Dainty Marietta French Marigold Dainty Marietta Seeds For Sale - Enrich Your Garden – Gardeners Basics

  8. Legion of Honor French Marigold Seeds - Legion of Honor | Flower Seeds in Packets & Bulk | Eden Brothers

  9. Bolero French Marigold Seeds - Bolero | Flower Seeds in Packets & Bulk | Eden Brothers

  10. Harmony French Marigold Seeds - Harmony | Flower Seeds in Packets & Bulk | Eden Brothers

  11. Fiesta French Marigold Seeds - Fiesta | Flower Seeds in Packets & Bulk | Eden Brothers

  12. Fireball French Marigold Seeds - Fireball | Flower Seeds in Packets & Bulk | Eden Brothers

  13. Orange Flame French Marigold Seeds - Orange Flame | Flower Seeds in Packets & Bulk | Eden Brothers

  14. Queen Sophia French Marigold Seeds - Queen Sophia | Flower Seeds in Packets & Bulk | Eden Brothers

  15. Red Cherry French Marigold Seeds - Red Cherry | Flower Seeds in Packets & Bulk | Eden Brothers

  16. Tangerine French Marigold Seeds - Tangerine | Flower Seeds in Packets & Bulk | Eden Brothers

  17. Tiger Eyes French Marigold Seeds - Tiger Eyes | Flower Seeds in Packets & Bulk | Eden Brothers

  18. Cherry Red 200 Cherry Red French Marigold Flower Seeds – New Hill Farms

  19. Naughty Marietta TAGETES patula 'Naughty Marietta' (French Marigold, Single - Naughty M – MySeedsCo

  20. Petite Mix TAGETES patula 'Petite Mix' (French Marigold - Petite Mix) – MySeedsCo

  21. Sparky Mix TAGETES patula 'Sparky Mix' (French Marigold - Sparky Mix) – MySeedsCo

  22. Petite French Petite Marigold Wildflower Seed Mix for Sale (Bulk)

  23. Favourite Blend Favourite Blend French Marigold Seeds – Botanical Interests

  24. Lemon Drop Lemon Drop French Marigold Seeds – Botanical Interests

  25. French Fireball French Fireball Marigold Seeds | Gurney's Seed & Nursery Co.

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I love this topic, but when it comes to mosquitos in my area, I think it’s hype and not real. I can be literally standing amidst a patch of 5’ monarda and be attacked my mosquitos. I have quite a few of these areas. They just don’t care. I can’t do the same test with marigolds since they’re short, but I grow them at the ends of my vegetable gardens and I get eaten just as much there. I can’t fathom how they would make a difference being 2’ off the ground and I’m many feet above that exhaling/sweating/attracting them. I’m seeding French marigolds today for all the other reasons they’re great.

Side note, I had a friend last year consult with me about a little area by deck furniture where she wanted to plant a mosquito repelling garden. Her landscaper had drawn her up a plan that was mostly lemon thyme and mint in containers. It was totally absurd. She ended up not doing it.

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Great points, yet what I had in mind like the lady in the video, is insect repellents, to repel insects that harm our plants. Mosquitoes mostly look for people by sensing heat, and so no smell is going to distract them from finding people, also some plants like French Marigolds, like onions, and like garlic they repel insects from under the ground too, something that has no chance of repelling Mosquitoes.

The only things that I know repel mosquitoes good are repellent sprays like this one which so far is my favorite one (even though safe the Picaridin in it is synthetic) https://www.homedepot.com/pep/STEM-Insect-Repellent-Mosquito-And-Tick-Repellent-For-Your-Skin-Fragrance-Free-6-oz-SCJ368000/327714296, Citronella Torches work great (some of them are natural, and some are synthetic), and these insect repellent clothing works (even though safe the permethrin they are treated with is synthetic, and not natural, so a little off topic for this post) https://www.insectshield.com/collections/shop-insect-shield

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Oh whoops!! Sorry for not watching and misunderstanding

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No problem, I could have described what I meant better, and this post does not have to be for just repellents that protect plants

1 Like