A variety of plants can be used to naturally deter wasps from your outdoor spaces. Although these plants won’t necessarily “keep” wasps away, their strong scents and tastes can help to discourage them from nesting in or near your home.
Some of the best plants for deterring wasps include mint, eucalyptus, citronella, lemon balm, catnip, sweet woodruff, and lavender. Most of these plants contain volatile oils that wasps don’t like and therefore, they tend to stay away.
In addition, some nectar-producing flowers like Marigolds, Zinnias, and Bee Balm can be very attractive to beneficial wasps, thereby drawing them away from your home. Finally, consider picking up a wasp trap and baiting it with sugar water to attract wasps away from your home.
What plants repel yellow jackets and wasps?
Including coneflowers, lavender, mint, fennel, citronella grass, chives, and wormwood. Coneflowers contain compounds that have a mild insect repellent effect, making them a great option for keeping yellow jackets and wasps away.
Lavender, mint, fennel, and citronella grass also have strong scents that can help to deter wasps from getting too close. Chives and wormwood can also provide some protection from wasps due to their bitter taste and pungent aroma that can be irritating for most insects.
Planting any of these varieties near doorways, pathways and areas where people may gather can help to repel yellow jackets and wasps from the area.
Do wasps hate lavender?
Yes, wasps apparently hate the scent of lavender. Lavender has been used as a natural insect repellent since antiquity, and wasps in particular seem to be repelled by its scent. This is likely due to the fact that most wasps have very sensitive olfactory receptors, which can be irritated by the strong aromatic compounds in lavender.
Furthermore, lavender has antibacterial and antifungal properties which could be off-putting to wasps. While the exact relationship between wasps and lavender still remains to be seen, evidence suggests that lavender does indeed have a repellent effect on wasps, and is often recommended as a natural, organic way to keep them away from your home.
What do wasps hate?
Wasps have a few natural predators such as birds, spiders, and some mammals like bats, skunks, and raccoons. They are also generally repelled by the smell of peppermint and other strong fragrances. Wasps dislike strong odors such as garlic, onion, lemongrass, and citronella.
Some other techniques people use to deter wasps are plastic baggies or sponges soaked in a mixture of soap and water and placed near wasp nests. People have also used sound deterrents such as radios and electronic devices to keep wasps away.
Other techniques include hairdryers and vacuums. Finally, many people simply remove wasp nests by hand. While this solution is effective and safe, it should only be done when the wasps are inactive, as they are most active during the day and become more aggressive when disturbed.
How do you keep yellow jackets away naturally?
Yellow jackets are bothersome pests that can be difficult to keep away from your home, but thankfully there are some natural means of warding them off.
The first natural way of keeping yellow jackets away is to rid your yard of anything that might attract them, such as garbage or compost. It is also beneficial to keep pet food indoors and clean up any spills or crumbs that may fall outside.
Yellow jackets are especially attracted to sweet things, so cutting down on caffeinated and sugary drinks while outdoors can also help reduce their presence.
If you notice a yellow jacket nest in your yard, it is important to have it taken care of in a safe and humane way by a professional, such as an exterminator. Sprays and other chemical repellants should be avoided, as they can be harmful to humans, pets, and the environment.
You can also deter yellow jackets by planting herbs, shrubs, and flowers strategically around your home that they may be repelled by. Lavender, chrysanthemums, lemongrass, rosemary, and pennyroyal are all natural deterrents to yellow jackets.
Just planting these herbs alone won’t be enough to keep away yellow jackets, however; for the best results, consider implementing additional natural deterrents.
Creating a moat or island at your property can also keep yellow jackets away. This can be done by placing large rocks around the outside of your home to create a physical barrier between them and your living space.
Placing sculptures, wind chimes, and in general having more decorations in your garden is also said to confuse them.
Finally, wearing light colors and avoiding wearing any type of floral or fruity perfumes when outside can help keep yellow jackets away from you.
Do marigolds keep yellow jackets away?
No, marigolds do not keep yellow jackets away. Yellow jackets, which are a type of wasp, are not particularly attracted to the scent of marigolds; in fact, they are usually more attracted to food sources like sugar and protein.
They will, however, sting if they feel threatened or disturbed. The bright colors of marigolds might be visually distracting to them and help keep them away, but there is no scientific evidence to back this up.
If you wish to keep yellow jackets away, the best practice is to remove or cover any food sources, use a trap to capture yellow jackets, and regularly spray with a spray specifically designed to deter yellow jackets.
Do plants really repel wasps?
Yes, in some instances plants do repel wasps. Wasps are repelled by the scent of certain plants, including mint, lemongrass, eucalyptus, citronella and wormwood. Wasps are also not fond of the smell of garlic, onions, lavender, cayenne pepper and tobacco.
The pungent smell of these plants act as a natural repellent for wasps. Additionally, these plants release oils into the air that are known to repel wasps. You can plant any of these plants in your garden and in the surrounding areas of your home to help naturally repel wasps.
Are wasps attracted to plants?
Yes, wasps are attracted to certain types of plants. Wasps are known to feed on sweet nectar from flowers, which helps them to store energy for their bodies. They also forage for food and pollinate plants to help them develop and reproduce.
While the majority of flowers that attract wasps are generally those that are brightly coloured, sweet-smelling and contain a lot of pollen, some wasps are attracted to more unusual plants, such as cacti and some carnivorous plants.
Some wasps will even seek out rotting plant material to feed on, such as overripe or damaged fruit. However, it is important to note that wasps are also attracted to foods and trash that people leave behind, such as wrappers, food scraps and sugary drinks.
As a result, when planting flowers and plants in your garden, make sure that you don’t leave any food or drinks lying around and keep your area clean, otherwise you could end up attracting unwanted wasps.
Does peppermint plant repel wasps?
Yes, peppermint has been known to help repel wasps. Many naturalists have reported that wasps and other insects are repelled by the strong scent of peppermint. You can use it as either an indoor or outdoor natural pest killer.
To repel wasps, you can plant peppermint around outdoor entry points, trim the plants so the leaves are in easy reach, and remove infested fruit and other items near the plants. Additionally, you can crush the leaves and use them as mulch or create a peppermint spray and use it on outdoor furniture or other entry points around the home.
If you don’t have access to a peppermint plant, you can also use its essential oil to help repel wasps. The strong scent of the oil is especially effective in repelling wasps and discouraging them from nesting around the house.
Simply place a few drops of essential oil around your home or in any area that you think wasps may enter.
Do mint plants keep bees away?
No, mint plants do not keep bees away. Bees may be drawn to mint plants because of the fragrance, but the plant alone will not keep them away. Keeping bees away is best achieved by avoiding perfumed products and wearing light-colored clothing.
Additionally, it’s important to keep open food containers and fallen fruits and vegetables away from potential bee nesting sites. Some plants and flowers may be less attractive to bees than others, such as calendula, lavender and bee balm, but there is no guaranteed “bee repellent”.
If bees become a problem, it may be necessary to seek professional help.
Do bees like peppermint?
Yes, bees like peppermint! In fact, many beekeepers use peppermint oil and extract as an attractant to draw bees to a particular hive or to keep them from leaving it. The pleasant smell of peppermint is believed to help keep bees in a particular hive or to help them stay longer in the hive while they are busy collecting nectar and pollen.
In addition, some beekeepers have noted that peppermint helps keep honeybees healthier. Research has found that peppermint oil added to the honey that bees eat helps ward off mites and other parasites.
Finally, some beekeepers use a drop of peppermint oil on the frame of a hive to keep some of the more aggressive bees at bay. All in all, it appears that bees enjoy the pleasant smell of peppermint and that it can be beneficial in keeping them healthy and happy.