Planting citronella grass won't keep mosquitoes away

Planting citronella grass or lavender in your garden isn’t going to repel mosquitoes like you think.

The oils that give these plants their smell are what bugs dislike, but they’re locked inside the leaves. You have to crush them, rub them on your skin, or burn them for any effect. Just having them sit there in the dirt does almost nothing—a mosquito will land an inch away from a citronella plant without hesitation.

Lavender is a little better because its scent is stronger, but again, you’re not getting a mosquito-free zone just from the plant existing. Studies show that lavender oil can deter mosquitoes, but not at the concentrations you get from a bush growing in your garden.

The real surprise: people usually overestimate these plants by a lot. If you want to use them, crush a few leaves and rub them on your skin. But actual repellents (DEET, picaridin, or even a fan blowing over you) work way better than anything you can plant.

You’re better off removing standing water and adding a fan.