If you’re looking to enjoy your outdoor space without unwelcome buzzing guests, knowing what plants repel wasps and yellow jackets is a great first step. This natural pest control method is safe, effective, and adds beauty to your garden.
You can create a more peaceful yard by strategically placing certain herbs, flowers, and shrubs. These plants work by emitting scents that wasps and yellow jackets find unpleasant, encouraging them to nest and feed elsewhere.
Let’s look at the best options for your garden.
What Plants Repel Wasps and Yellow Jackets
This list focuses on plants with proven repellent properties. Their strong aromas mask the sweet smells that attract wasps and interfere with their ability to locate food sources.
Including a variety of these around patios, doorways, and eating areas can make a significant difference.
1. Wormwood (Artemisia)
Wormwood is a potent herb with a strong, sage-like fragrance. Its silvery-green foliage is beautiful in borders, but its scent is highly deterrent to many flying insects, including wasps.
Plant it in well-drained soil and full sun. It’s a perennial, so it comes back year after year.
- Best planted in garden beds rather than containers near seating, as its scent can be very strong up close.
- Can be dried and the leaves scattered in areas where wasps are a problem.
2. Mint
All varieties of mint—peppermint, spearmint, lemon balm—are excellent wasp repellents. Their intense aroma overwhelms their senses.
A crucial tip: always plant mint in pots. It is incredibly invasive and will take over garden beds if left unchecked.
- Place potted mint near outdoor sitting areas or on a picnic table.
- Crush leaves occasionally to release more of the potent oils.
3. Citronella Grass (Lemon Grass)
Famous for repelling mosquitoes, citronella is also effective against wasps. It contains strong citrus compounds that these insects avoid.
This plant thrives in warm climates and full sun. In cooler zones, you can grow it in a pot and bring it indoors during winter.
4. Marigolds
These cheerful annual flowers do more than add color. Their distinct smell repels wasps, nematodes, and even rabbits.
They are easy to grow from seed or starter plants. Plant them in sunny spots around the perimeter of your patio or in vegetable garden borders.
5. Eucalyptus
The powerful scent of eucalyptus oil is a known insect repellent. While often grown as a large tree, you can find smaller, shrubby varieties suitable for gardens.
You can also hang dried eucalyptus bundles or use the oil in outdoor diffusers for added protection.
6. Thyme
This culinary herb is another great choice. Creeping thyme is especially useful when planted between patio stones or in rock gardens.
When you walk on it or brush against it, it releases its scent. This creates a subtle, ongoing barrier.
7. Basil
Basil’s strong aroma is pleasant to us but not to wasps. It’s a win-win plant: you get fresh herbs for cooking and a natural pest deterrent.
Keep basil pinched back to encourage bushy growth and more scent production. It loves heat and water.
Other Helpful Plants to Consider
- Geraniums: Especially the citronella-scented variety, can help keep areas clear.
- Pennyroyal: A type of mint that is particularly potent, but use with caution as it can be toxic to pets.
- Lavender: While it attracts bees, its calming scent often repels the more aggressive wasps and yellow jackets.
How to Use These Plants Effectively
Simply planting them isn’t always enough. You need a strategy for them to work well.
Strategic Placement is Key
Think about the areas you want to protect. Focus on creating a “scent barrier” around those spaces.
- Cluster pots of mint, basil, and thyme on your patio table or around its edges.
- Plant marigolds and wormwood in beds that border your outdoor living area.
- Place citronella or eucalyptus plants near doorways and windows.
Maintain the Aroma
The repellent effect comes from the plant’s oils. You need to ensure the scent is present.
- Gently brush against or pinch the leaves of herbs regularly to release oils.
- Water plants in the morning so the sun can warm the moist soil and leaves, amplifying the scent.
- Consider making a simple repellent spray by steeping crushed mint or citronella leaves in hot water, cooling the mixture, and spraying it around (test on plants first).
What to Avoid in Your Garden
Prevention is just as important as repelling. Avoid planting things that actively attract wasps and yellow jackets.
- Overly fragrant flowers: Some very sweet-smelling blooms, like certain lilies or honeysuckle, can attract them.
- Fruit trees and berry bushes: Fallen, rotting fruit is a major attractant. Keep the ground clean if you have these plants.
- Open food sources: Secure compost bins and keep trash can lids tightly closed.
Also, avoid wearing strong floral perfumes or sweet-scented lotions when spending time outside.
When Plants Aren’t Enough: Additional Natural Strategies
For serious infestations or high-traffic areas, combine your plants with other methods.
Create Decoy Nests
Wasps and yellow jackets are territorial. They will not build a nest near another colony. You can purchase or make a simple paper bag, shape it to look like a nest, and hang it in early spring. This can deter queens from starting a new nest in that area.
Use Essential Oil Sprays
Mix a few drops of peppermint, clove, or lemongrass essential oil with water and a bit of dish soap in a spray bottle. Shake well and spray around eaves, railings, and other potential nesting sites. Reapply after rain.
Keep Food Covered Outdoors
During barbecues, keep food and sugary drinks covered until you’re ready to eat. Promptly clean up spills and crumbs. Wasps are primarily looking for a meal for there larvae.
Safety First: Dealing with Existing Nests
If you already have a nest on your property, removing the attractants and planting repellents may not solve the immediate problem.
For small, early-season nests, a natural soap-and-water spray (applied at night when they are inactive) can sometimes suffocate them. However, for large nests, especially those of yellow jackets which can be agressive, it is safest to contact a professional pest control service. Their stings can be dangerous, and they will defend the nest vigorously.
FAQ: Natural Wasp and Yellow Jacket Control
Do fake wasp nests really work?
They can be effective as a preventive measure in early spring when queen wasps are looking for nesting sites. However, they are less effective once a colony is already established nearby.
What smell do wasps hate the most?
Wasps strongly dislike peppermint, citronella, eucalyptus, and clove scents. These are the most common and effective aromas for repelling them.
Do citronella candles repel wasps?
Yes, they can help. The smoke and scent combined create a zone of protection. For best results, use them in conjunction with repellent plants placed around your seating area.
Will planting these harm bees?
Most of these plants will not harm bees. In fact, many, like lavender and thyme, are beloved by bees. The goal is to repel the aggressive social wasps and yellow jackets, not beneficial pollinators. Always target your efforts specifically.
How quickly will I see results?
When using plants, it’s a long-term strategy. You may notice a gradual reduction in wasp activity over a few weeks as the plants establish and you refine their placement. For immediate results, combine plants with the additional strategies mentioned above.
Creating a wasp-resistant garden is a process. By choosing the right plants, placing them wisely, and maintaining a clean outdoor environment, you can significantly reduce the presence of these stinging insects. Remember, consistency is key—the more you integrate these natural solutions, the more enjoyable your garden will become for you and your family.