Many of my ideas hide out in the garden. I’ve been most inspired to write a poem when watching a butterfly perch on a daisy; the birdsong up in the trees above me rhymes more than anything I’ve been told to study for literature class.
For those of you who, like me, are gardeners as well as writers, here are five plants that naturally repel pests from this most holy of spots. After all, if you keep clean the place where your ideas take root, more will come to you.
(Also, gardening is a fun way to put aside the laptop and get some exercise. Trust me, it works.)
Wait—What Pests?
When you start a garden, you’re curating a little ecosystem. You often don’t realize how many mosquitoes are hiding near that pond where you made wishes years ago, or that the hole in the ground most certainly did not dig itself.
Many people will use chemical insecticides, but we’re writers; we know that nothing in nature is completely evil. Thankfully there are herbs and flowers that will keep these little nuisances from entering the Enchanted Garden at all.
1- Marigold
Who doesn’t love the vibrant marigold?
-They come in many sizes and can reach different heights.
-They are very easy to grow and, as sun loving plants, no shade no problem!
-They’re guaranteed to catch the eye of a casual pedestrian, stealing attention from the neighbor’s garden across the street.
Was that not enough? Here’s another reason to plant marigold: It repels aphids and mosquitoes.
Humans can enjoy these beauties; unwanted pests can’t. Plant them everywhere!
2- Peppermint
Christmas in July, anybody? Peppermint brings to mind the Christmas season, with its delicious sweets and those scented candles that usually wind up half-off on December 26.
Peppermint is more than the stuff of red and white candy. It’s an effective weapon against:
-Spiders
-Mosquitoes
-Ants
-Fleas
-Lice
-Mice
If I keep going, I’ll end up writing a poem. The point is, keep some peppermint in your garden; it’ll be safe.
Note: Unless you want the peppermint to spread all over the garden, keep them in ornate pots you can move around. Those fellows are such powerful weapons that they can take over!
3- Lavender
Lavender brings to mind beautiful plants in shades of purple with more candles (which don’t end up in the half-price basket quite as soon.)
Like marigold, lavender is more than just a pretty face. It’s a barrier against invaders, such as flies and—again—mosquitoes.
It’s a relief that some of these natural repellents are pretty, too; passersby will never know why you planted them.
4- Chrysanthemum
Speaking of pretty plants that repel bad guys, take a look at the beautiful chrysanthemum. Her colors are so vibrant, her presence so bold…
And lots of pests hate her.
Roaches, ants, Japanese beetles, lice, fleas, spider-mites, and more—all of them can’t bear to be near her.
It’s like her beauty is too much for their evil natures (I know, I contradict myself.)
5- Basil
You might have tasted basil in your food, but pests can’t stand to be near it, let alone taste it.
It repels asparagus beetle and the tomato hornworm. It’s also useful to season your dinner with. Why wouldn’t you plant some in your garden?
Conclusion
These are only five of the useful plants that repel pests. Get on Google and look it up; you’ll find longer lists with more varieties to choose from, depending on the sort of garden you want to keep.
When the pests are gone, then you can take your laptop and write outside. There won’t be as many mosquitoes to bite you while you’re distracted, and maybe you’ll finally finish that final draft.
Mariella Hunt 