Burn Sage to Keep Mosquitoes Away

If you live in a climate with even a little humidity, mosquitoes are probably one of the most annoying parts of your summer. Not only do they leave itchy bites but they also carry diseases. If you’re not excited at the prospect of dousing yourself with chemical-filled bug spray, don’t worry! There are plenty of natural solutions to keeping those hungry pests away. (1)

Sage is one plant that’s effective at repelling mosquitoes, especially when you burn it. The scent it gives off while it’s burning is offensive not only to mosquitoes but also to many other insects. (1)

Sage burns better when it’s dry, so try growing your own sage in your garden or purchase a plant from your local gardening store. Harvest the leaves and prepare them for drying. If you want to make sage bundles, wrap a handful of the freshly harvested leaves with string and hang them to dry. You can also burn loose sage leaves to repel bugs. You can either hang them to dry individually or dry them out on low heat in your oven. Growing and harvesting your own sage ensures that you’re not purchasing sage bundles that have been unethically harvested, putting a strain on the environment or being stolen from tribal lands. (1, 2)

When your sage is dried, it’s ready to keep pests away! Toss them into the grill or on a fire and let the smoke do its thing. Whether you’re camping or just enjoying an evening in your backyard, burning sage will keep insects at bay and make your time a lot more enjoyable. (1)

Plants That Repel Mosquitoes

Sage isn’t the only plant that repels mosquitoes. These five common garden plants will keep your yard pest-free throughout the summer. (1)

Rosemary

Rosemary is another herb that you can dry and burn to chase away insects. It has similar effects on bugs as sage does, and you can combine the two plants in your campfire or choose the one whose scent you like the best. (1)

Basil

Just growing basil in your garden will prevent a mosquito infestation. Basil is known to be harmful to mosquito larvae. If you grow it around water sources in your yard, like ponds, it can help minimize the number of mosquitoes that grow to the adult stage. (1, 3)

Lavender

Growing lavender helps repel mosquitoes, moths, and flies. You can also rub the flowers on your skin or make a spray that includes lavender essential oil to keep pests away from you. (1)

Peppermint

Peppermint essential oil is also effective at repelling mosquitoes. While you may be tempted to rub peppermint oil directly on your skin to ward off the insects, it’s always important to dilute essential oils before applying them topically. As with lavender essential oil, you could also make a spray that includes peppermint oil to prevent mosquito bites. (1, 4)

Lemon Balm

Once you plant lemon balm, it will start to do the work of driving off mosquitoes. This plant, which has a faint lemony scent, is part of the mint family and is sometimes used in herbal remedies. Like other mint varieties, it grows quickly and tends to take over. Keep it contained in its own container so it won’t monopolize your garden. (1)

Many of the plants that repel mosquitoes are common and multifunctional. You may already be growing them in your garden! If insects are putting a damper on your summer, these plants will help keep them away. (1)