Wasps are a nuisance that everyone dreads. Although they can be beneficial to the environment, they can easily become a problem when they build nests in and around your property. Fortunately, there are some plants that you can use to keep wasps away from your home.
10 Plants That Will Repel Wasps and Keep Your Home Safe
These plants contain natural insect repellents that wasps find unpleasant and stay away from them. In this blog post, we will explore 10 of the most effective wasp-repellent plants that you can use to reduce the number of wasps around your home.
Read on to find out which ones you should plant and how they work!
Citronella
Plants that contain citronella can be used as a natural wasp repellent. Citronella is a plant oil that has a strong, lemon-like scent. When the oil is released into the air, it creates an unpleasant smell for wasps. This can deter them from entering your home or backyard.
Lavender
If you’re looking for a natural way to keep wasps away, lavender is a great option. This plant has a strong scent that deters wasps, making it a perfect addition to your garden or patio. Plus, lavender is known for its calming properties, so having it around will help you relax as well.
Peppermint
Peppermint is a great plant to have around if you’re looking to keep wasps away. The strong minty smell of peppermint is offensive to wasps, so they’ll avoid areas where the plant is growing. You can grow peppermint in your garden or in containers, and it’s easy to care for.
Just make sure to keep it well-watered, as dry conditions will cause the plant to produce less oil, which is what gives it its powerful scent.
Rosemary
There are a few different ways to use rosemary to repel wasps. The first is to grow rosemary plants near wasp-prone areas in your garden or yard. The strong scent of rosemary will keep wasps away. You can also make a spray by boiling water and adding a few sprigs of rosemary.
Let the mixture cool, then transfer it to a spray bottle and use it as needed. Finally, you can make a rosemary oil by mixing equal parts rosemary essential oil and olive oil. Store the oil in a dark glass bottle and apply it to your skin before going outside.
Tea Tree
There are a few different types of tea tree, but the most common one used for wasp repellent is Melaleuca Alternifolia. This variety of tea tree grows best in humid climates and has a strong scent that deters wasps.
To use it as a repellent, either plant it near your home or place a few drops of essential oil on a cotton ball and set it near areas where wasps are a problem.
Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a genus of trees that are native to Australia. There are over 700 species of eucalyptus, and they are found in every state except for Tasmania. Eucalyptus trees are characterized by their tall, straight trunk, and their large, oval-shaped leaves. The leaves of eucalyptus trees are covered in a sticky resin, which makes them unpalatable to many animals.
However, this resin also makes eucalyptus leaves an effective repellent against wasps. When the leaves are crushed, the oil is released and creates a strong-smelling barrier that wasps will not cross.
Lemon Balm
Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) is a perennial herb in the mint family. It is native to Europe, North Africa, and West Asia. The lemon balm plant has yellow flowers and emits a lemon scent. Lemon balm is used as a flavoring agent in foods and beverages, as well as for its purported medicinal properties.
Lemon balm has been shown to be effective at repelling wasps in laboratory studies. A 2012 study found that lemon balm essential oil was more effective at repelling wasps than DEET, a common insecticide ingredient.
In the study, lemon balm essential oil was applied to one side of a sheet of paper, and DEET was applied to the other side.
The paper was then placed in a cage with wasps. The wasps landed on the side of the paper with lemon balm more often than the side with DEET.
Studies have also shown that lemon balm can reduce stress and anxiety in humans, which may also help to keep wasps away. In one study, participants who took a lemon balm supplement before taking a stressful test had lower levels of stress hormones than those who took a placebo.
If you’re looking for a natural way to keep wasps away, consider planting some lemon balm in your garden or using it as an ingredient in homemade pest repellents.
Catnip
Catnip (Nepeta cataria) is a plant in the mint family that is well known for its ability to make cats go crazy. Some say that catnip has a similar effect on wasps, making them angry and more likely to sting.
There is no scientific evidence to support this claim, but it is worth trying if you are looking for a natural way to repel wasps.
Basil
Basil is a great plant to have around if you’re looking to keep wasps away. The strong scent of basil is known to repel wasps, so having a pot or two of these herbs near your outdoor seating area can help keep these pests at bay.
If you do find a wasp buzzing around your basil plants, simply pluck a leaf and rub it on the insect to send it packing.
Marigold
Marigolds are one of the most effective wasp-repellent plants. Wasps are attracted to the strong smell of marigolds, so planting them near your home or garden can help keep wasps away.
Marigolds can also be used as a natural insecticide, so if you do have a wasp problem, spraying marigolds around the affected area can help get rid of them.
