Alabama Garden Guide: Colorful Plants That Won’t Attract Insects
Spring is the time for color. All around leaves are sprouting and buds are blooming. If you’ve been to a home improvement store lately there were probably walls of colorful garden flowers, fruits, vegetables and shrubs waiting to be planted.
These colorful garden plants can immediately add an attractive element to your landscape, but they may also attract the attention of insects. After decades of helping Alabama homeowners keep their gardens free of insects, we’ve discovered a number of plants that offer visual appeal without the pests.
Marigolds and Other Plants With Natural Repelling Characteristics
Some plants attract pests with their aromas, while others seem to be a natural repellent. Marigolds fall into the latter category. As the name suggests, this flower has beautiful, large blooms that are a radiant gold hue. It also has an aroma that repels mosquitoes and aphids. They can be planted along the edge of your garden bed for extra protection.
Nasturtiums are unique in that they put off a chemical into the air that acts like an insecticide. The airborne chemical protects the nasturtiums as well as the plants around it.
Chrysanthemums are another colorful flower with an aroma that bugs hate. They are believed to repel a wide variety of insects from cockroaches to lice. Alliums are also popular garden additions that can protect vegetables.
Lavender and Other Herbs With Essential Oils
Fragrant herbs have a strong aroma because of their essential oils. The oil is held in super small globules that vaporize when the temperature is warm outside. Lavender is possibly the best-known herb for keeping insects at bay. While people love the look and smell of lavender, insects like fleas, flies, moths and mosquitoes can’t stand it. The best places to plant lavender are around your garden, outdoor living spaces and entries.
Basil has been praised for its ability to repel mosquitoes and houseflies. Basil leaves can even be mixed with water to create natural insect repellent. Lemon thyme and rosemary are two other colorful herb options that keep bugs out of the garden.
Evening Primrose and Other Night Blooming Plants
If you prefer to spend time outdoors in the late afternoon and evening, then this is the perfect flower for you. Evening primroses bloom at night when insects are usually resting. You can enjoy their beauty without being bothered by pests.
Other night blooming flowers include:
- Moon Flowers
- Night Gladiolus
- Four O’clocks
- Casablanca Lily
Celosia and Other Red Flowers
If bees have been a problem in the past you may want to examine the color scheme of your yard. Bees are attracted to certain colors – yellow, purple and blue are the ones they see best. However, red doesn’t register on the color spectrum for these pollinators.
Bright, rosy celosia is a great option because they are vibrantly colored and hardy enough to grow all summer long in the Alabama heat.
Other bright red plants to try include:
- Knockout Roses
- Peonies
- Zinnia
- Begonias
North American Pitcher Plants and Other Carnivorous Options
There are a few plants that don’t just repel insects – they eat them. Pitcher plants are one of the most interesting looking carnivorous plants. Their long tube-like leaves have a beautiful spotted pattern on top where bugs crawl in and don’t come back out. Pitcher plants put off aromas that bees, wasps, flies, snails, slugs and beetles can’t resist.
Being strategic with your gardening can help keep insects out of your yard, but it isn’t a stand-alone solution. For truly integrated pest management call our experts at Vulcan Termite and Pest Control Inc. We can help you put together a plan that uses a variety of solutions to keep your property pest free throughout every season.
Original Source: https://www.vulcantermite.com/garden-pest-control/alabama-garden-guide-colorful-plants-that-wont-attract-insects/