How to Create a Mosquito Repelling Garden

If you have ever been to  Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary on Martha’s Vineyard during the summer, there’s a good chance you had an encounter with a mosquito...or 1,000. Turns out, these pesky insects love the wildlife sanctuary just as much as we do.

It’s one thing to have them on the trails, but each season they take over the Nature Center, where we host programs for kids and adults of all ages. The mosquitoes lurk in the tall grass that surrounds the front of the center, just waiting for the door to open so they can make their grand entrance.

Enough was enough, so the team at Felix Neck decided to do something about it. 

Scented Gardens Repel Mosquitoes 

Scientifically, we know that mosquitoes are attracted to the carbon dioxide we breathe out. So, unless we stop exhaling, mosquitoes will keep on coming. We also know that, in an effort to create a more “natural” mosquito repellent, many manufacturers have turned to nature’s bounty for scents that have been suggested to ward of these little buggers.

Taking a cue from Mother Nature herself, the team decided to go right to the plant source that provides repellent properties to all those off-the-shelf products. Our volunteers built raised beds and installed plants that are believed to have anti-mosquito properties. You too can incorporate this plant list into your home gardens to ward off mosquito-heavy areas. 

Scented Plants That Repel Mosquitoes 

If your goal is to keep mosquitos away from your yard and garden without harmful chemicals, be sure to incorporate these scented plants:

• Lemon Balm
• Eucalyptus
• Marigold
• Garlic
• Lemon Verbena
• Basil
• Sage
• Scented Geranium
• Nasturtium
• Catmint nepeta
• Sweet Annie
• Lemongrass
• Rosemary
• Fennel

Scented Garden Impacts

Shortly after planting we noticed a decrease in the number of mosquitoes inside Felix Neck's nature center. By incorporating these plants instead of opting for chemical pesticides, we were able to deter mosquitoes without introducing harmful chemicals into our habitats. 

If you incorporate these plants in your garden, you should see similar results! Keeping chemical pesticides out of your garden is a key component of fostering healthy habitats for people and wildlife. Check out our other resources on wildlife-friendly gardening solutions and how we incorporate these practices in Mass Audubon demonstration gardens and beyond. 

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