Not everyone is comfortable spraying or sprinkling pest repellents in their yard. If you're in this camp, try these plants to keep bugs out of your yard.
These Plants Will Keep Bugs Out Of Your Garden
Updated on Jul. 02, 2025
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Lace Your Lawn with Lavender
Known to keep fleas and mosquitoes at bay, lavender smells great and can be used in many other ways. “Like citronella, lavender emits a scent that insects find unattractive,” says Joyce Corbett of Classic Courtyards. You should note, though, that bees are attracted to lavender (and these nine other plants).
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Plant Basil In Your Yard and House
Basil keeps away mosquitoes and flies. It can be grown in pots or in the garden. And you can keep a pot in your kitchen to keep any pesky flies away from your food.
Editor’s Tip: If you are an avid vegetable gardener, you likely battle garden pests regularly. Learn how you can try the huckleberry plant hack yourself to preserve your plants without pesticides.
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Grow Garlic
Growing garlic is a great way to ensure garden pests are under control. There are two benefits; you’ll be able to cook delicious meals with the garlic you grow, and it’s also a proven way to repel Japanese beetles and keep deer away from your plants.
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Fennel Fends Off Snails
“Snails, and their shell-free cousins slugs, will eat holes in leaves, flowers and even low-hanging fruit,” Sharon Yiesla, Plant Knowledge Specialist with the Plant Clinic at The Morton Arboretum says. Plant fennel for a natural repellent that also has many uses in the kitchen.
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Line Your Lawn with Lemongrass
Mosquitoes can ruin an outdoor party, so plant lemongrass because the scent is said to be a natural deterrent.
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Marigolds Combat Mosquitoes
Looking for a way to keep mosquitoes away that’s also nice to look at? Plant marigolds. There are a variety of different colors and heights available.
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Make the Most of Mint
Cost-effective and fast-growing, mint repels a multitude of bugs, including mosquitoes. Also, grow some indoors for pests that make their way in!
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Chrysanthemums Can Be Beautiful and Repellent
Pretty and potent to pests, chrysanthemums keep away some of the most despised bugs including mosquitoes, roaches, beetles, ticks and silverfish!
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Protect Your Produce with Alliums
Bugs are often attracted to fresh fruits and vegetables, whether it’s tomatoes, cucumbers, or any of the other delicious plants growing in your garden. Alliums keep away cabbage worms, carrot flies, slugs and other bugs that love to eat what you’re growing.
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Pepper Your Garden with Petunias
Petunias repel aphids, are bright, beautiful and easy to maintain. Plant petunias and enjoy their beauty and your bug-free garden. If you’ve never seen a flower tower, check out the petunias and other flower and herbs growing in these 12 flower tower examples.
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Venus Fly Traps Work Inside and Out
Plant Venus Fly Traps and bring some potted ones indoors. These aren’t just fun to watch, but they actually do trap flies and another despised bug, the ant. Check out these nine myths to stop believing about ants.
FAQ
What are the most common garden pests?
Aphids, cutworms, whiteflies and slugs are some of the most common garden pests.
How do I attract beneficial insects?
Plant a diverse garden with ground cover, shrubs, annual and perennial flowers and trees to attract beneficial insects to your garden. Also avoid pesticide use in the garden to avoid inadvertently killing beneficial insects.
About the Experts
- Sharon Yieslais a Plant Knowledge Specialist with the Plant Clinic at The Morton Arboretum.
- Joyce Corbett is the owner of Classic Courtyards in West Springfield, Massachusetts. She has over forty years of landscaping design and installation experience.
