The wasps will stay away from these plants naturally, so you can enjoy your backyard without any trouble.
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If you have a lot of wasps in your yard, you might want to plant plants that keep them away. This easy-to-do method keeps these bugs away and gives your yard beautiful color at the same time. Their strong fragrance is effective in deterring these insects.
Among these are pretty marigolds, stylish eucalyptus, and creeping pennyroyal. Many of them are common garden plants and useful herbs. In addition to being great for getting rid of wasps, they are very good for us and should be grown in our backyards. They add flavor to food, drinks, and medicines.
We’ve put together a list of the best wasp-repelling plants for you to use in your flower beds, containers, or to keep wasps off your porch. ( credit: Gettys).
Sitting outside on a warm summer day sounds idyllic, but the buzz of wasps can quickly turn relaxation into stress. Getting stung is painful and dangerous for those with allergies. Unfortunately, common repellents designed to deter wasps also repel bees. Since bees are critical pollinators, this collateral damage is unacceptable. The good news is that it’s possible to make your yard wasp-free without harming helpful honey bees or bumble bees. By choosing plants that naturally repel wasps but welcome bees, you can enjoy pest-free gardening. Here are the top options for planning your bee and wasp friendly landscape.
Why Deter Wasps?
Before exploring specific plants, it helps to understand why wasps can be a nuisance. There are over 30000 identified wasp species but only a small percentage interact significantly with humans. Common culprits like yellowjackets, paper wasps, and hornets build large nests around homes. Their stings are painful, and they tend to be aggressive when defending nests.
For people with allergies, wasp stings can trigger life-threatening anaphylactic shock. Others may experience intense swelling, redness, and itching. Even for those who aren’t allergic, mass stings are hazardous. Wasps are also a threat to pets and small children who may accidentally disturb nests. Avoiding stings is crucial, but must be achieved without endangering beneficial creatures like bees.
Why Protect Bees?
Bees play a pivotal ecological role through pollination. Without their assistance, many beloved fruits, vegetables, and flowers wouldn’t exist. Both honey bees and native bees are already under threat from habitat loss, diseases, and pesticides. When choosing a wasp deterrent, it’s essential to avoid methods that could further stress struggling bee populations.
Honey bees are domesticated livestock, valued for their honey production and pollination services. There are also over 4000 species of wild native bees in North America. About a quarter of these natives produce and store honey. Others are solitary and nest in tunnels in dead wood or the ground. Whether domesticated or wild, bees are integral to ecosystem health. Finding ways to exclude wasps while welcoming bees safeguards nature’s delicate balance.
Plants That Deter Wasps But Welcome Bees
The following plants naturally repel wasps due to strong fragrances they find offensive. However, most are attractive to bees and provide nectar or pollen rewards Interplanting these throughout your landscape creates an aesthetically pleasing, bee-friendly zone that keeps wasps away
Marigolds
With their bright golden orange, yellow, and red blossoms, marigolds are cheery annual additions to any garden. They bloom from spring until frost and fill outdoor spaces with color. Their strong scent repels wasps, but entices bees. For maximum impact, choose pungent French marigold varieties over milder American types.
Mint
Cool and aromatic mint plants thrive in partial shade, spreading rapidly to form mats of foliage. The intense menthol fragrance of mint oils repels wasps but draws bees. Contain mint in pots to prevent its aggressive growth from overtaking other plants. Peppermint and spearmint have the strongest wasp-repelling powers.
Lavender
Lavender’s sweet floral perfume and purple-hued blooms make it a landscape favorite. The long-lasting summer flowers provide bees with abundant nectar. Lavender plants are highly drought tolerant when established, making them low maintenance additions to gardens and borders. Their pungent oils effectively drive away wasps.
Catmint
Also called catnip, this mint relative produces clouds of small lavender or white flowers loved by bees. It thrives in full sun with average soil and moisture. The aromatic foliage repels wasps, ants, and aphids. For best results, cut plants back after initial bloom to encourage reblooming. Catmint spreads rapidly, making it an excellent groundcover.
Basil
A staple of summer cooking, basil also helps repel wasps. Its pungent scent comes from aromatic oils bees find attractive. Pinching blooms helps prolong harvest of the delicious foliage. Plant basil in containers near patios and outdoor living spaces to create wasp-free relaxation zones. Move pots indoors before frost for an annual supply of garden-fresh flavor.
Scented Geraniums
Available in many enticing fragrances like lime, lemon, rose, and peppermint, scented geraniums offer versatility. The pretty flowers draw in bees while the essential oil-rich leaves deter wasps. Grow scented geraniums in containers to move around your yard as needed. They make excellent houseplants over winter in colder climates.
Bee Balm
Also called monarda, bee balm lives up to its name by attracting bees with dense, globe-shaped flower clusters. The colorful blooms come in shades of red, pink, purple, and white depending on variety. Hummingbirds also frequent these nectar-rich flowers. Meanwhile, the aromatic foliage keeps wasps at bay. Bee balm thrives in full sun with moderate watering.
Chrysanthemums
These classic fall-blooming flowers provide a feast for bees when many other nectar sources are waning. The daisy-like blossoms come in a rainbow of colors and thrive in full sun. Certain chrysanthemum species produce natural pyrethrins, compounds that repel wasps and other insects but are harmless to people and pets. Plant mums near outdoor gathering areas to create bee-friendly, wasp-free zones.
Clove Pinks
Also known as dianthus, these hardy perennials bloom from late spring through summer with pink, white, red, or purple flowers. Their sweet, spicy fragrance comes from clove-scented oils in their foliage and petals. This aroma attracts pollinators but repels wasps. Plant clove pinks in containers or borders and cut back spent blooms to encourage reblooming. The low, mounding plants are pretty additions to any yard.
Extra Tips for Wasp-Free Gardening
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Remove fallen, overripe fruit from yards promptly to avoid attracting pests.
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Install wasp traps away from areas frequented by bees to catch wandering wasps without harming pollinators.
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Inspect eaves, walls, bushes, and trees for large wasp nests and call a professional to remove them.
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Keep kitchen and outdoor eating areas clean to limit access to food sources that could draw in wasps.
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Plant wasp-repelling herbs like mint, thyme, dill, and fennel in vegetable gardens to protect ripening produce.
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Consider supplementing plants with natural repellents like essential oils if wasps persist. Avoid spraying blossoms bees visit.
With some careful plant selection, you can delight bees while repelling wasps. A well-planned landscape allows enjoyment of the outdoors without pesky stinging insects interfering. Do your part to support pollinators by choosing plants that deter wasps yet nurture nature’s diminishing bee populations. The flower-filled result will be a relaxing, pest-free outdoor living space you can savor.
Pennyroyal (Image credit: Victoria Moloman/Getty Images)
This strong plant that forms mats has a strong mentha smell that wasps and other insects can’t stand when it is crushed. It has unique whorls of lilac in the middle of summer and does best in poor soil and wet conditions, but it tends to spread outwards without stopping. From 5 to -4℉, it can handle it, and it grows best in US hardiness zones 6 to 9.
There are two main kinds: European and American Pennyroyal. The scent of the European Pennyroyal is stronger. You can also rub crushed leaves on bug bites to help with irritation.
Find pennyroyal seeds online, like these pennyroyal seeds from Walmart.
Basil (Image credit: Ali Majdfar / Moment / Getty Images)
‘As humans, we may enjoy the aroma of basil in a rich tomato sauce, but bees and wasps are put off by the fragrance,’ says Ehrlich Pest Control.
In the US, you can grow basil from seeds inside or outside in zones 3 through 11. These Amazon basil seeds are a good example. For best results, sow seeds at regular intervals throughout spring and summer.
Basil needs constant heat to grow and doesn’t like being in wet compost because it will rot quickly if you leave it there. Leaves that are soft and tasty can burn quickly, so keep your crop out of direct sunlight.
Instead of cutting several plants in half with scissors, pick off individual leaves. This will encourage fresh, new growth. And learn how to prune basil at the right time to prolong its life.
10 Natural Ways To Repel Wasps
FAQ
How do you get rid of wasps but not bees?
What do wasps hate most?
Do peppermint plants repel wasps?
Does Basil repel wasps?
Plant it in moist soil with well-draining properties. You can buy basil for cheap, so even if it doesn’t work in repelling wasps, you can still use it as an herb. Basil is also a plant that seems to only repel wasps but not bees. This plant grows well in zones 10 and above. There are just a few plants that work against bees- but not many.
What plants repel wasps?
Marigolds: I’ve planted both French and American marigolds along the borders of my garden. They have vibrant colors that brighten up the space and a powerful scent that wasps find off-putting. Lavender: It’s a favorite among many gardeners not only for its calming scent but also for its ability to deter wasps.
Does a plant repel bees & wasps?
Yes. It actually works. The answer is simple- you just set up a bunch of plants that bees and wasps hate. If they hate the plant, then they’ll stay away. There are multiple ways a plant can act as a natural repellent: Does using plants really work? Yes- they work. Are you still in doubt that such a natural and simple solution can work wonders?
How do I get rid of bees & wasps naturally?
However, incorporating non-flowering plants into the landscape, placing flowering plants away from frequented areas, and using plants like garlic, chives, basil, mint, pennyroyal, and petunias to deter other insects can be effective. Ultimately, there is no easy way to completely repel bees and wasps naturally.
Does citronella repel wasps?
Citronella If you have a wasp problem in your backyard, it can be a good idea to plant wasp repellent plants. This simple but effective method helps keep these pests at bay while also adding spectacular color to your yard. Their strong fragrance is effective in deterring these insects.
What plants attract wasps?
Finally, avoid flowers like calendiva, calla lilies, Chinese money plants, and dahlias which are attractive to wasps. It’s important to utilize the natural power of plants to deter these stinging insects – without the use of toxic sprays or any other harmful means.