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Gardening is a pastime steeped in Triangle tradition. From award-winning floral garden designs to award-winning vegetables grown and recipes derived from the fruits of North Carolina soil, we are fortunate to have incredibly fertile earth in Central North Carolina, and a moderate climate, supporting a wide variety of flora and fauna. With such diversity however come pests in the summer.
Throughout history, plants have been used in garden design, agriculture, and landscape design for certain properties, in fact, combining certain plants is commonplace for the benefits they confer. My NC Homes would like to offer practical tips for designing and adding plants that repel summer pests and add curb appeal. My NC Homes would be remiss not to mention the incredible curb appeal plants adds to a listing, so if you are also considering buying or selling in The Triangle, contact us today!
Lavender
Lavender is not only beautiful and low shrub but gnats and mosquitoes hate the smell that we all love. 
Additionally, it is small, durable, drought-resistant, and is of no interest to small animals like rabbits. Lavender is a perennial and prefers a warmer climate, in full sun. It makes an amazing accent to a patio, in a barrel, even, and thrives in North Carolina.
Marigolds
While you need to frequently renew the commitment to the Marigold by planting annually, this is a delightful 
and vibrant flower, important around the world. It comes in incredibly vibrant shades, is sacred in Eastern traditions and religious festivals, and blooms from spring to fall. Like lavender, small animals and mosquitos hate the scent of marigolds. There are over fifty varieties of marigolds that can be potted or planted in the ground in the spring to summer, they are drought resistant and heat resistant. Bonus fact, if you have chickens, feed them marigolds to get yellower yolks!
Chrysanthemums (Mums)
Chrysanthemums are one of the best plants to deter bugs. In the south we call them Mums, and 
they deter everything from ants, Japanese beetles, roaches, bed bugs, spider mites, silverfish, lice and ticks. While they bloom in the fall, they are perennials and they still work to deter pests. Plant in the spring and be sure they are planted in an area that gets plenty of sun, watering them often. An easy way to get the benefits of pest repellent mums are to grow them potted. You can then enjoy them wherever you like, without having to worry about them dying in the winter.
Petunias
Technically, petunias are perennials, and they grow wild in North Carolina. How lucky we are to have 
a wild flower that also repels insects! Petunias are one of the most popular flowers, ad incredible colors to any garden and repel asparagus beetles, leaf hoppers, various kinds of aphids, tomato worms, and a variety of other pests. Petunias are also excellent in potted arrangements. It is so common in North Carolina, that many consider it a weed and it can grow to 2-3 feet. Its flowers bloom from Spring to Summer to Fall. Petunias like full sun and lots of water.
Incredible Herbs
Herb gardens can pull double duty in North Carolina, as they are a fun way to start gardening and 
enjoying food more, but most herbs offer great flavors in addition to repel insects. Mint is beautiful in colour, repels spiders, ants, and mosquitoes, and is an amazing accompaniment to teas and essential to mint juleps. It grows readily in North Carolina and is low to the ground. Basil, grown in more shade, repels mosquitos and flies, and is a cornerstone of italian cooking. Chives also repel Japanese beetles and carrot rust flies. Garlic also repels Japanese beetles, root maggots, carrot root flies, codling moths, and will help repel aphids when planted near flowers. Finally, Rosemary protects vegetables by repelling a variety of bugs.
Citronella Grass
Citronella Grass is one of the key natural ingredients in natural mosquito repellent, but you ca
n plant it yourself! It is low maintenance and sun-loving, but be sure to buy the Cymbopogon Nardus or Citronella Winterianus Citronella variates.
We hope you found this information useful! This is one of our favorite parts about real estate one The Triangle. If you have a garden you would like featured on our social media, please tag us, and if you are considering buying or selling on The Triangle, please reach out to us.
Posted by Larry Tollen on
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