Anne D. is a woman from Midtown Atlanta, Georgia.
She lives near the BeltLine, one of the most popular neighborhoods in the city.
In August 2024, Anne contracted West Nile virus from a single mosquito bite somewhere around her residence.
Not from camping, or travel to some exotic country… simply her daily routine near her condo.
She was rushed to Emory University Hospital Midtown.
From her hospital bed, Anne told a local news reporter that from her mid-core down she was practically paralyzed.
She could feel her legs, but the muscle strength was gone.
She couldn’t sit up, stand, or walk.
Doctors told Anne that recovery would require intense physical therapy just to regain the ability to walk again.
Anne reached out to the media specifically to warn others to take mosquito bites seriously.
Most importantly, Anne learned that a single mosquito bite in her own neighborhood nearly took away her ability to walk.
This is why keeping mosquitoes away from your yard matters.
You don’t have to be deep in the woods to be at risk.
Mosquitoes carrying dangerous diseases are breeding in backyards across America.
In fact, West Nile virus deaths were up 32 percent in 2025 compared to previous years.
The good news is that there are natural plants you can grow in your yard that repel mosquitoes without chemicals.
Here are a few of the benefits and drawbacks of using natural mosquito repellent plants.
Lavender:
Lavender is more than just a pretty plant.
Mosquitoes hate the smell of it.
Grow it in your yard or put it in pots around the areas where your family gathers outside.
Lavender also repels flies and moths which is an added benefit.
It grows best in full sun and well-drained soil.
You don’t even need to add fertilizer because it doesn’t like rich soil.
Plus, you can steep the petals in hot water to make a calming tea.
Citronella grass:
There are two real types of citronella grass plants, and they are Cymbopogon nardus and Cymbopogon winterianus.
Don’t accept substitutes.
These two are the genuine article and the plants will help repel mosquitoes just by being in your yard.
It’s an annual in northern states but a perennial in southern states.
Citronella plants prefer filtered sunlight and need a lot of water.
Peppermint:
Peppermint is a strong-smelling plant that mosquitoes steer clear of.
It is very hard to kill, which is ideal if you don’t have a green thumb.
Be careful though because it can be invasive and take over a growing bed unless you keep it trimmed back.
You can also make peppermint tea from the leaves which is soothing to the stomach.
Studies have shown peppermint may help lower blood pressure too.
Drawbacks to natural mosquito repellent plants:
They work better when crushed:
Most of these plants do repel mosquitoes just by growing in your yard but they work much better when you crush the leaves and rub them on your skin.
This means you still need to do a little work to gain full protection.
They don’t replace repellent entirely:
Planting a few pots of lavender on your porch is a good start but it will not create a force field around your property.
For the strongest protection you should combine natural plants with other methods like removing standing water from your yard.
Standing water is where mosquitoes breed and even a small puddle in an old tire or flowerpot can produce hundreds of mosquito larvae.
Some plants are invasive:
Plants like peppermint and citronella grass can spread quickly and take over your garden beds if you are not careful.
Consider planting them in pots or in a contained section of your garden to keep them under control.
If you’re considering adding natural mosquito repellent plants to your yard, here are your top priorities.
Priority 1: Remove every bit of standing water from your yard.
This includes old tires, flowerpots, buckets, toys, and any place where water collects.
Do this at least once a week.
Priority 2: Plant lavender and peppermint in pots near your outdoor gathering areas.
These are the easiest to grow and maintain.
Priority 3: Add citronella grass around the edges of your property for a broader perimeter of protection.
Keep in mind that while natural plants can help keep mosquitoes away, you should also have a quality insect repellent.
Be sure to keep insect repellent in your go-bag, in your vehicle bug-out bag, and in your emergency provisions.
