Many people look at plants and flowers for landscaping with a negative reaction. They see them as eye candy, a distraction that takes focus away from the real yard work. In truth, plants and flowers for landscaping have very real benefits to them. Not only do they add charm and beauty, they can also keep pests away, help prevent erosion and enhance your landscaping. Let’s explore some of the ways plants and flowers for landscaping can be used to benefit you and your family.
Moles and other mammals can destroy your garden in a very short time period, if they find a way to get into it. Some clever animals have been able to trick farmers into planting crops too close together, which allows the animals to lay their eggs near the top of the soil. If you’re going to try plants and flowers for landscaping, you might want to consider using repellants on the plants and flowers to repel mosquitoes and other small insects. A mosquito-repelling flower bed will keep the little pests from laying their eggs in your garden.
Mosquitoes are one type of insect that can really ruin a perfectly good garden. Fortunately, there are many very effective plants and flowers for mosquito repelling. Basil is one natural remedy that has proven successful in keeping mosquitoes away from gardens. You can also build a small pond with some saltwater plants and cover it with a net to allow the mosquitoes to fall back into the water.
Essential oils are another option for repelling insects. When you scent a plant with essential oils, the insects automatically avoid that particular plant. Lavender, for example, is an essential oil that naturally repels mosquitoes. It can be sprayed around your vegetable garden, on your deck, or any other surface where you want to discourage insects from getting near your garden. When applied, the smell will linger for a few minutes but should dissipate within a few hours.
Some plants are more naturally repellent than others. Basil is one of these. It has been used as a natural repellent for many years. It is sprayed around the home on doors, windows, and other surfaces where it will deter pests. If you want to repel mosquitoes from your garden, mint, chives, and Rosemary are all good choices.
Juniper bushes, maple trees, and spruce trees are some of the other great plants and flowers for landscape insect repellents. Junipers and maple trees are especially good because they have aromatic oils that repel mosquitoes. However, there are other tree species that are also aromatic and good for landscaping, such as the cypress, oaks, and cedars. Cedar has long been a popular landscape plant for its foliage and for its insect repellent properties.
You might also be interested in flower gardens for landscaping in order to attract bees or other beneficial insects that eat pests, such as wasps and butterflies. There are several flower garden plants available that are particularly attractive to these beneficial insects, including marigolds, peonies, and irises. You can also grow many of the flowers that are used as mosquito repellent on your own garden by growing them yourself or picking them from a nearby garden.
Although it is possible to purchase specially packaged mosquito repellent plants and flowers, most experts recommend that you purchase those that are commercially produced. In addition, the commercially purchased items may have been treated with pesticides. While these pesticides may be safe, they are not necessary when planting flowers and plants that naturally repel mosquitoes. Another advantage of using plants and flowers for mosquito repellent is that you will not have to deal with the tedious task of cleaning up dead mosquitoes after they die. Rather than simply have them gather up along the perimeter of your home, you can simply remove them from your landscape altogether.