By Jennifer Poindexter
Do you have a tick problem in your yard or garden? Why not plant things that will add beauty to your space while keeping these pests away?
If you need some inspiration to landscape your home in an effort to give ticks the boot, you’re in the right place.
I’m going to share a list of plants that are known as tick deterrents. Who says your yard or garden can’t be both beautiful and functional?
Here’s the list of plants to add to your landscape that ticks don’t like:
1. Garlic
Garlic could make a delicious addition to your strategically landscaped home or garden. This plant is a perennial which is frequently grown as an annual.
This plant is hardy all the way down to zone one. You should grow garlic in well-draining, evenly damp soil. Garlic is typically planted after the first hard frost, grown over the cooler portion of the year, and harvested in late spring once the foliage dies back.
2. Mexican Marigold
Mexican marigolds could make a great addition to your landscape since their beautiful blooms bring tons of color to the mix.
However, these plants are annuals that do best in planting zones eight through eleven. Be sure to grow Mexican marigolds in full to partial sunlight. These flowers aren’t particular about soil type as long as it drains adequately.
3. Lemon Balm
Lemon balm is a perennial herb. This plant is bushy and produces a fragrant lemon scent. If you’d like to add this plant to your landscape, it’s hardy in zones three through seven.
Also, it prefers to grow in areas with nutrient-dense, well-draining soil. Plus, lemon balm does best when receiving full sunlight.
4. Lemon Grass
Lemon grass looks like a small, grassy plant. However, this plant is frequently used for different culinary uses to provide the taste of lemon in a natural way.
When growing lemon grass, be sure to select a location with full sunlight and well-draining soil. It’s hardy in planting zones nine and ten but may be grown as an annual in lower planting zones.
5. Lavender
Lavender is a beautiful plant that produces small purple blooms. It’s also a great option for deterring ticks.
If you’d like to grow lavender in your landscape, be sure to provide a growing location with ample sunlight and well-draining soil. Lavender is considered a perennial in planting zones five through nine.
6. Wormwood
Wormwood is a perennial, leafy green herb. This plant sometimes goes by the name mugwort as well. It’s a hardy option for planting zones four through eight.
Not only is this a beautiful plant with its silver foliage, but it also produces a luxurious scent similar to sage. If you’d like to grow this plant, be sure to provide a growing area with well-draining soil and full sun.
7. Sunflowers
Sunflowers are gorgeous plants to grow. They come in various colors and sizes. Plus, they’re great at keeping ticks at bay.
Should you choose to grow sunflowers, be sure to provide a growing location with full sunlight and loose, well-draining soil. There are annual and perennial varieties of sunflowers. The perennial varieties are typically hardy in planting zones four through nine.
8. Mint
Mint is a bushy green herb that should be planted with care. This herb is great for keeping numerous pests away, including ticks.
However, it’s also known for becoming invasive. Therefore, it’s best to grow mint in a container. This is a perennial herb that desires a growing location with full to partial sunlight and quality, well-draining soil. Mint is hardy in planting zones three through eight.
9. Hostas
I love hostas. They’re bushy, green, and liven up the deadest of spaces. Not to mention, they serve a purpose when keeping ticks away.
Therefore, if you’ve decided hostas are right for you, pick a growing location with partial sunlight and well-draining soil. Hostas are perennial plants and remain hardy in planting zones three through eight.
10. Pennyroyal
Pennyroyal is a perennial herb that’s sometimes used for culinary purposes but is also enjoyed for its beautiful blooms. If you’d like to grow pennyroyal as part of your plan to deter ticks, be sure to provide what the plant needs.
This herb is hardy in planting zones six through nine. It also desires a growing location with well-draining soil that’s amended and evenly damp.
11. Rue
Do you need a hardy perennial to keep ticks out of your yard for years to come? If so, rue could be for you. This bushy perennial produces lush green foliage and yellow blooms. It’s also hardy in planting zones four through nine.
If you decide to grow rue, be sure to supply a growing location with well-draining soil and full sunlight. This plant is known for being drought tolerant and can grow in a variety of soil types including rocky areas.
12. Sweet Basil
Sweet basil is typically grown as an annual since it’s only hardy in planting zones ten and eleven. However, this luscious green herb has plenty of culinary uses and is great for deterring ticks.
If you’re interested in adding sweet basil to your herb or container garden, be sure to supply a growing location with quality, well-draining soil. Basil also does best when supplied with morning sunlight.
13. Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is frequently used for decoration, but did you know you may grow this plant indoors or outdoors? It grows quickly and can be used as an annual if grown outdoors. Plus, it helps keep ticks away.
Should you decide that eucalyptus is the right plant for you, be sure to supply a sunny growing location with well-draining soil. This plant will need, at minimum, eight hours of sunlight each day.
14. Fleabane Daisy
Fleabane daisies are small white or purple flowers with bright yellow centers. These plants are thought to help deter ticks. If you’d like to add small flowers to your landscape for this purpose, be sure to meet the plant’s needs.
To begin, fleabane daisies are considered biennials and remain hardy in planting zones two through eight. They thrive when provided a growing location with full sunlight and well-draining soil.
15. Pansies
Pansies are colorful flowers which produce layered blooms. These plants do best during the cooler portions of the year.
However, they’re also thought to deter ticks. When adding pansies to your landscape be sure to provide a growing location with nutrient-dense, well-draining soil and plenty of morning sunlight. These flowers remain hardy in planting zones seven through ten.
16. Geranium
Geraniums produce clusters of colorful blooms. They’re frequently planted in the ground or in containers. If you’d like to use this flower to add color to your landscape and to keep ticks away, be sure to supply what the plant needs.
To begin, geraniums come in many varieties. Some are perennial while others are annual. These flowers thrive in areas with full sunlight in the morning, dappled afternoon shade, and well-draining soil.
17. Sage
Sage is a beautiful herb that can be grown as either an annual or perennial depending upon your location. The fresh scent of this herb not only makes it useful in the kitchen, but it’s also good for keeping ticks away.
When growing sage, be sure to provide a perennial growing location (meaning a space the plant can be undisturbed when dormant) in planting zones five through eight. In other areas, provide an annual growing location. Sage thrives in areas of full to partial sunlight and well-draining soil.
18. Roses
There are many different types of roses. The good news is these flowers tend to keep ticks away. Therefore, pick the variety which works best for you and start adding them to your landscape.
Roses are perennial plants and remain hardy in zones three through ten, depending on the variety. Be sure to plant your roses in areas with full sunlight and well-draining soil.
19. Catnip
Catnip is a low-maintenance, perennial herb you may grow indoors or outdoors. This plant remains hardy in planting zones three through nine.
However, when growing the herb be sure to supply adequate growing conditions. Catnip thrives in areas with full sunlight and well-draining soil.
20. Beautyberry
Beautyberry is a bushy perennial which produces bright purple berries. This plant is hardy in planting zones seven and higher.
When growing beautyberry, it’s important to provide adequate growing conditions to help the plant thrive. These bushes thrive in areas with full to partial sunlight and well-draining soil.
21. Thyme
Thyme is a delicious, scented herb that is used regularly in the kitchen. You don’t need a lot of it as it doesn’t take much for most recipes considering the plant’s potency.
If you’d like a plant that keeps ticks away for many years, thyme could be it. Thyme is a perennial which remains hardy in zones five through nine and prefers a growing location with full sunlight and well-draining soil.
22. Chamomile
Chamomile is a gorgeous herb which produces small white flowers with bright yellow centers. This herb is frequently used to make herbal tea.
Should you choose to grow chamomile, supply a growing location with full to partial sunlight and well-draining soil. Chamomile comes in many varieties that can remain hardy in planting zones three through nine.
23. Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums are a staple for fall flowers. They can be grown in the ground or in containers and provide a plethora of color to their growing location. They’re also thought to keep ticks away.
When growing chrysanthemums, pick a location which receives six hours of direct sunlight and has well-draining soil. These are perennial flowers which remain hardy in planting zones five through nine.
24. Rosemary
Rosemary is another perennial herb that produces lush foliage which is great for culinary uses and keeping ticks away.
If you choose to add this herb to your herb garden or landscape, be sure to supply a growing location with full sunlight and aerated, well-draining soil. Rosemary remains hardy in planting zones eight and nine.
25. Venus Flytrap
Our last option for plants that ticks don’t like is a Venus flytrap. This plant is considered a perennial and remains hardy in planting zones seven through ten.
However, it must be supplied with a growing location that contains full sunlight, well-draining soil, and warm temperatures.
You now have twenty-five different options to choose from when adding plants to your garden or landscape in hopes of keeping ticks at bay.
Pick the plants that best suit your style and needs. Then ensure you live in the right planting zone and can provide adequate growing conditions. From there, take this general information and start creating beautiful surroundings which also help give ticks the boot.
More About Plants That Ticks Don’t Like
https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/catnip-nepeta-cataria/
https://cnr.ncsu.edu/news/2021/01/five-things-you-didnt-know-about-venus-flytraps/
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