The tutorials shared by Armstrong Garden Centers are very easy to follow and use widely available materials available at your local garden center. First, prepare a large, well-drained planter pot with enough room for multiple plants and a cactus blend soil mix. “The change in particle size increases pore space and improves drainage,” says Armstrong Garden Center. Once the soil is prepared, start with a healthy clump of lavender and fill in with mosquito repellent plants.
English lavender is recommended, but there are many varieties, so choose one that suits your climate. According to a study published in the Journal for the Society of Vector Ecology, linalool, a compound found in lavender, repels up to 93% of mosquitoes when placed in a diffuser, and the plant itself has similar properties. Next, plant the marigolds in the planter. The pyrethrum and thiophene found in marigolds repel and even kill many pests, including mosquitoes and mosquito larvae. The next element in this mosquito repellent planter is Actinidia. Catnip, a member of the Lamiaceae family, contains nepetalactone, which has been shown to be 10 times more effective than DEET. Spearmint is the last plant in this mosquito repellent mix and should be given its own pot to prevent it from taking over. “Menthol, an effective insect repellent found in mint and peppermint oil, has biocidal properties that help repel and control ticks, mosquitoes, and a variety of other pests,” Armstrong Garden Centers said in its TikTok caption. “There is,” he wrote.