The Home Improvement Guide

Every gardener knows the pests that congregate in well tended plots and begin to devour vegetables and plants. The little nuisances that chomp through leaves, cut away plant stems and consume the fruits of labor. The aroma of certain plants acts as a deterrent to many insects. Not only are these plants protected but the aroma they exude masks the plants around them creating a malodorous barrier to predators. Certain species also enhance the growth of other plants.

• Anise is a common herb used for flavoring as its taste resembles licorice. The plant will repel aphids but attracts wasps.
• Bay leaves are used in cooking for their distinct flavor but placed in containers will repel weevils. The plant also repels moths and ladybugs.
• Chives are used similarly to onions for their flavor and plants will improve the flavor and growth of carrots but fruit tree and tomato pests are repelled.
• Garlic belongs to the onion family and has long been used for medicinal as well as culinary purposes. Plants will repel aphids, beetles, weevils, borers and spider mites.
• Geraniums are a common flowering house and garden plant that deters cabbage worms and Japanese beetles.
• Lavender is a common fragrant flowering shrub whose aroma has been widely used but ants are not fans of this plant.
• Marigolds are a common outdoor flowering plant that encourages growth in tomatoes, potatoes, strawberries, beans and roses but many insects including Mexican beetles stay away.
• Nasturtium is related to watercress and mustard plants and repels aphids, cucumber beetles, squash bugs, white flies and borers.
• Onion is a vegetable used in many dishes and should not be planted near beans and peas or growth will be affected. Cabbage moths, aphids, weevils, carrot flies, moles, rust flies, worms and red spiders are deterred.
• Parsley is used for seasoning and garnish in many dishes but carrot flies, rose and asparagus beetles are repelled.
• Pennyroyal comes from the mint family and has been used in folklore remedies as well as cooking. This plant will enhance the growth of brussel sprouts, broccoli and cabbage. Ants, aphids, ticks, fleas and cabbage maggots stay clear.
• Peppermint and spearmint are herbs known for their aroma and flavor which has widely been used for culinary purposes. Ants and aphids will stay clear.
• Rosemary is another common herb used for its flavor but it deters cabbage moths, beetles, mosquitoes and slugs.
• Summer Savory is an herb similar to and used in place of sage. This plant improves the growth of bean plants and deters bean beetles.
• Tansy belongs to the aster family and has been used as a topical embalming solution and for meat storage since the aroma deters ants, striped cucumber beetles, flies, Japanese beetles and squash bugs.

Many of these plants are used as seasoning in everyday cooking so not only will you keep pests away, but also some fresh herbs to use for cooking. Most aromatic plants will repel insects but some may attract bees or wasps who are attracted by their flavor or nectar, so keep that in mind.