Preventing mosquito bites the gardener's way

The summertime and the living would be easier if it were not for those tiny nuisances that cause big havoc. Mosquitoes are not just pesky creatures that cause irritatingly itchy bug bites, but they are also a health risk, especially in the hot and humid area of South Florida.

Most people tend to grab a DEET-based repellent and smother their skin in its sticky, chemical-filled, anti-bug attack serum, but with organic gardening comes an organic lifestyle.

With the possibility of catching West Nile Virus and the newly-introduced Chikungunya virus, the Miami locals must protect themselves from the health risks.

Luckily, there are some easy-to-grow mosquito repelling plants that can fit very nicely in the organic garden.

One of the most common, and best way to get rid of mosquito bites is natural plants is Citronella. Many people recognize the name in the form of scented candles or torches, but the living plant is the most effective way to go because of the stronger aroma. The scent excreted by the plant makes it more difficult for mosquitoes to recognize the other scents that they are generally attracted to.

Horsemint, or Beebalm, is a multi-use plant that works much like Citronella. Besides giving off an incense-like odor that disguises scents that mosquitoes are attracted to, it also attracts bees and butterflies to the garden to speed up the pollination process and add some aesthetic pleasure to the gardening routine. Once they have fulfilled their garden duties, the leaves can be picked and dehydrated to create an herbal tea, as well.

Although their aroma is not known for extending an invitation to the human sense of smell, the distinctive scent of a Marigold inhibits that invitation to the mosquitoes as well. The Pyrethrum compound found in this ornamental plant is commonly found in bug sprays and has an added bonus of repelling insects that feed on tomato plants.

Ageratum, or Floss flowers, are low-lying annual ornamental plants that secrete coumarin, a natural repellent that is commonly used in commercial mosquito products. If the mosquitoes are abundant, the leaves can be crushed and dispersed through the garden to increase the amount of coumarin released.

In 2010, scientists at Iowa State University found that Catnip plants are ten times more effective than DEET at preventing an influx of mosquitoes. Like Ageratum, some people choose to distribute the crushed catnip leaves throughout the garden for an added protection.

The plants featured in this article are great additions to any garden. Living in South Florida has its perks, but mosquitoes are not one of them and the best way to avoid the nuisance is to prevent the problem.