How can insects such as mosquitoes and wasps be responsibly removed from the garden?
Choose natural insecticides (even if insecticide and natural are two words that are not very compatible) with mosquito and wasp control plants, and abandon chemical insecticides that will poison you in small or large doses. Insecticides are easily toxic in high doses and not very environmentally friendly, and can be replaced by so-called "repellent" plants whose foliage gives off an odor that effectively repels biting insects, including mosquitoes and wasps. Discover 8 eco-friendly insecticides and other little tricks to get around it.
Repellent and edible plants 2 in 1
In addition to being used for cooking, their very strong smell will have an effective repellent effect against mosquitoes and wasps.
1. Lemongrass
Belonging to the grass family and better known as lemongrass, this herb owes its lemony smell to its ability to keep mosquitoes away. If its essential oil is used as a repellent, planting it near your terrace will be just as effective. And to diversify your plantations, also think of lemon basil, lemongrass thyme, lemongrass verbena or lemon balm, whose lemon scent is just as pronounced and effective.
2. The aurone
Often used as a condiment in cooking, its smell effectively repels mosquitoes and wasps. The aurone, in small dried bouquets arranged throughout the house, will keep all kinds of insects away from your home.
3. The fragrant Asperula
Also used in cooking, the fragrant Asperula is well known for its diuretic, tonic and digestive properties in infusion. It will also keep mosquitoes and wasps away once planted in your garden or on your terrace and can be placed in small dried bouquets inside for the same repellent effect.
4. The Allies
With a particularly unpleasant odor, allies such as garlic, onion or chives also have this repellent property. They can be rubbed against the skin for maximum effect or placed in abundance on the terrace table.
Repellent and ornamental plants
1. The fragrance geranium
Also known as odorous pelargonium in professional jargon, geranium comes in a multitude of flavors, to suit all preferences. Predominantly pink, citronella or turpentine, it's strong, even heady smell is unpleasant to mosquitoes and wasps. Thus, it is preferable to plant it in the garden or on the terrace, away from any room used daily.
2. Ornamental tobacco
Depending on its variety, ornamental tobacco has a more or less pronounced odor, with the particularity of being stronger in the evening. Nothing like it to keep mosquitoes away on a summer evening on your terrace! This perennial plant can be grown in pots, planters or flowerbeds and its generous flowering guarantees an abundance of flowers all summer long.
3. Pyrethrum powder
Known as a vegetable insecticide, pyrethrum refers to the powder extracted from dried chrysanthemum flowers. It has the property of attacking the nervous system of all insects and inhibiting female mosquitoes by preventing them from biting while having a repellent effect.
4. Lavender
Ornamental and multi-purpose, if lavender attracts foraging insects, its very singular smell is highly disliked by wasps and mosquitoes.