Gardeners commonly use groundcover plants to keep the bugs away. This includes the insects that are attacked by plants in a garden.
It includes insects that attack the humans in the homes. The fragrance of groundcover plants is known as the main deterrent.
Some ground cover plants attract insects that feed on the bugs. Others produce a fragrance that is not pleasant for the bugs.
The cover plants have worked perfectly in preventing damaging infestations in vegetable gardens.
Ground cover crops that keep pests away
The following is a list of some common ground cover plants in gardens.
Lemon Thyme
The lemon thyme is a creeping herb. It produces citrus oils and fragrance that repels insects. The fragrance is released every time you walk on the ground cover.
It works best as an insect repellent before it flowers. It is mostly used for repelling mosquitoes and some types of flies.
Basil
Basil is popularly used as a mosquito repellent. It is an easy-to-grow groundcover plant. The plant comes in different varieties. It also blooms quickly. Basil has a strong fragrance compared to a pungent smell. It helps to keep pests at bay.
Marigold
Marigold is also good at repelling mosquitoes. They emit smells that are unpleasant to the insects. They are commonly grown near home entrances. They do well when planted in pots.
The marigold also grows in borders across the garden. They work perfectly in repelling aphids, tomato hornworms, thrips, and whiteflies.
Mint
The mint is a groundcover plant commonly used to reel ants and flies. It produces an awful smell that these insects cannot withstand. There are expert opinions that mice and rats do not like mint smells.
It, therefore, also doubles for protecting the garden from rodents such as gophers. The only requirement is to control the mint. If not controlled, they can spread very quickly across the garden.
Chrysanthemums
The Chrysanthemums contain pyrethrum. This is good for repelling ants, ticks, fleas, spiders, beetles, and harlequin bugs.
The pyrethrum is also suitable for making home and garden insecticides. This is excellent for indoor sprays to kill the present bugs.
Lemongrass
The lemongrass is common for keeping away rodents from a farm. They have an elegant upright appearance. This allows the plant to release bug-repelling oils.
Lemongrass has other advantages besides repelling bugs. They are used as foliage when the leaves mature.
Lemongrass is popular with gardeners because it is easy to grow. But it does not do well in freezing temperatures. They quickly rot and can attract snails. The plant spreads aggressively and should also be controlled appropriately.
Lavender
The Lavender plant is also among the bug-repellent cover plants. It produces a fresh scent. But the scent is considered awful for some insects.
This includes flies and mosquitoes. The lavender plant also releases some oils that repel insects. The best way to release these oils is to rub the leaves.
The plant has a variety of types that gardeners use. It is essential to know how the different types work in repelling bugs.
Garlic
Garlic is a widespread plant among gardeners. It works best as a repellent when used in sprays. Experts advise planting gardens near vegetable gardens.
When they bloom, they repel insects from harming the vegetables. Among the common areas include gardens holding kale and broccoli.
Rosemary
Another excellent bug repellent is rosemary. They are considered effective in keeping away mosquitoes. It also keeps away some types of flies.
The plant also doubles up as herbs for human use. Its scent is considered soothing for humans. But very awful for carrot flies and cabbage moths.
The plant is preferred because it survives different weather. It can flourish even in winter conditions. The plant is also good-looking. This is especially when it is well pruned. They are considered significant for making borders in a garden.
Catnip
The catnip also serves well as a ground cover for repelling insects. It is most popularly grown by cat lovers. The plant has mosquito-repelling abilities.
This is why ca lovers consider it fit for protecting their pets from mosquitoes. The catnip also has strong scents that keep away other types of flies.
The catnip also releases oils that repel insects. It is considered more effective as a natural repellent than many commercial sprays. The plant is also easy to maintain. But it is good to know that they flourish better when indoors.
Overall, gardeners can use an extensive list of groundcover plants to keep away bugs. Experts advise that it is necessary to review these plants before choosing them. It is necessary to know what these plants do and what they require.
Natural pest repellant cover plants
The common feature among all these plants is their smell. They produce smells that are not pleasant for insects and bugs. They also produce different oils. These oils are excellent in keeping away insects.