Ticks are blood-sucking parasites that can be anywhere, including in the garden. Though small and cannot fly, ticks can jump far enough. They can deploy into animals such as rats, birds, cats, and dogs. They also can deploy into a human. Thankfully, there are plants that are not only beautiful but can repel Ticks naturally. This article contains a list of plants that repel ticks
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How Do Plants Repel Ticks Naturally?
Before jumping to the list of plants that repel ticks, understanding how plants repel ticks is essential. Even though plants are the food sources of other living things, not every plant wants to be eaten. Instead, there are several plants that produce chemical weapons to fight off the attackers.
Chemical weapons produced by these plants usually in the form of essential oils. These essential oils are usually acted as effective natural pesticides. It drives away the insects, mites, as well as arachnids. The substances of these essential oils can kill, disturb metabolism, or repel insects. No need to worry; these essential oils will not harm the warm-blooded animals. In other words, these essential oils are harmless to pets.
Some plants have anti-fungal features, while others have antimicrobial features or anti-parasitic features. Thus, using plants that repel Ticks is an effective and cheaper way to reduce ticks.
7 Best Plants That Repel Ticks
Not only beautiful, but plants also have their own functions. Some plants use as decorations; others are the basic ingredients of the medicine. There are some plants that functioning to be repellent. Ticks are parasites that bring disadvantages to their hosts. Therefore, keeping the ticks away is a must. Driving the ticks away can be done by planting repelling plants. What are the plants? Check it out below!
1. Garlic
Allium sativum or garlic is a plant that can be planted easily. It comes from the genus Allium and had been used for over seven thousand year. This plant is mainly grown in Central Asia and had been known since the era of ancient Egypt.
Garlic has many uses, it can be used as a medicine, and also seasoning for many foods. Besides that, its strong smell can serve as pests repelling, including ticks. Plant garlic in several spots in the garden will help reduces the ticks. The smell of crushed garlic is also can be used as a tick repellent.
2. Catnip
Nepeta cataria or simply known as catnip is a plant that most popular to be used for the herb. Originated from South and East Europe, this plant is a member of the mint family. The name “catnip” comes from the fact that this plant attracted many cats. The Catnip flowers are similar to Lavender flowers, which are beautiful.
As one of the best plants that repel ticks, Catnip has a distinctive intense smell that can drive Ticks away. This plant can grow until three feet high and easy to plant. The flowers produced essential oils that contain nepetalactone. Many insects cannot tolerate this substance. Thus, this plant is effective for repelling ticks.
3. Rosemary
Rosemary is a popular kitchen herb. This plant is easy to plant in the garden, or even in a pot. It does not require complicated ways to take care of. Before uses as kitchen herbs, this plant mostly used as a healing plant.
This plant produces a smell that is pleasant for many people and animals. Yet, this smell is also effective for repelling ticks. Most insects such as ticks, fleas, and mosquitoes hate the smell of Rosemary. The essential oils from this plant also tick repelling.
4. Rue
Another one of the best plants that repel ticks is Rue. Ruta graveolens or mostly known as Rue is an evergreen herb plant. This plan is effective for repelling ticks Rue has the smell which can cast away fleas, bugs, and ticks from the garden, even cats do not like the smell. Combine Rosemary and Rue to repel ticks away, and protect the plants from cats.
5. Wormwood
Wormwood or Artemisia absinthium is an herb plan that commonly uses for medicine. It has a bitter taste, but potent to cure various digestion problems. It originated from Northern Africa and Eurasia. Yet, this plant has mostly naturalized in the US and Canada. It has a beautiful yellow-colored flower.
This plant usually made for herbal tea, yet, it also effective as an insect repellent. Wormwood has many substances to cast away ticks, bugs, and fleas. A cat or dog which passed by this plant will have oils that cover their fur, creating more protection from ticks.
6. Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum is a popular flower that usually plants in the garden or in a balcony. The beauty of this flower makes many people choose this as their favorite flower. It is easy to plant and does not require any special treatment. As a part of the daisy family, this flower has several colors.
Including as one of the best plants that repel ticks, Chrysanthemum contains insect repellent substances. It can drive away fleas, ticks, moths, and moths from the garden. Thus, it can be effective insect repellent options.
7. Pennyroyal
Pennyroyal can grow and spread easily, once it has been planted. This plant is still related to the mint family, and one of the best plants that repel ticks. Planting Pennyroyal in the garden along with another insect-repellent plant can reduce large numbers of ticks. Besides, it also effective to drive the mosquitoes away.
In conclusion, there are several plants that repel ticks naturally. Although it is effective to reduce ticks, it is harmless for pets. Not only used as a tick repellent, but these plants also can be used as garden decorations. Therefore, plant one or combine these plants for better repelling results, as well as a prettier garden.
