If you’re tired of finding stink bugs in your home and garden, you need plants that repel stink bugs. Using naturally pest-deterring plants is a safe and effective first line of defense against these smelly invaders.
This method works by using strong scents and natural compounds that stink bugs find unpleasant. By adding these specific plants to your landscape, you create a living barrier. This guide will show you which plants to choose and how to place them for the best results.
Plants That Repel Stink Bugs
These plants contain oils or aromas that stink bugs actively avoid. Planting them around your garden’s border, near doorways, or among vulnerable crops can significantly reduce your stink bug problems.
1. Garlic
Garlic is a powerhouse for repelling many pests, including stink bugs. Its strong sulfurous scent masks the smells of plants that stink bugs are attracted to.
- How to use: Plant garlic cloves in the fall or early spring. Interplant it with tomatoes, peppers, or fruit trees.
- Tip: You can also make a simple garlic spray by crushing cloves into water, straining it, and spraying on plant leaves.
2. Catnip
While cats love it, stink bugs hate it. The essential oil nepetalactone is the effective ingredient here. It’s a member of the mint family and can spread quickly, so consider planting it in containers.
- How to use: Place potted catnip near patio doors, garden entrances, or around the foundation of your home.
3. Marigolds
These bright flowers do more than look pretty. Their distinct smell repels stink bugs, nematodes, and even rabbits. French marigolds are often considered the most effective type.
- How to use: Plant marigolds as a dense border around your vegetable garden or between rows of beans and squash.
4. Radishes
This is a great companion plant. Stink bugs seem to dislike the peppery scent of radish leaves. Planting them can help protect squash and cucumber plants especially.
- How to use: Sow radish seeds directly around the base of susceptible plants. You get a double benefit: pest protection and a harvestable crop.
5. Mint
Mint’s potent fragrance is excellent for deterring stink bugs. However, it is extremely invasive and will take over garden beds if planted directly in the ground.
- How to use: Always plant mint in pots. Place these pots near seating areas, doorways, or in problem corners of the garden.
6. Lavender
Lavender’s beautiful scent is lovely to us but offensive to many insects, including stink bugs. It also attracts beneficial pollinators like bees and butterflies.
- How to use: Plant lavender in sunny, well-drained spots along walkways or under windows. The dried flowers can also be used indoors.
7. Chrysanthemums
These flowers contain pyrethrins, natural compounds used in many organic insecticides. Stink bugs will steer clear of them.
- How to use: Add chrysanthemums to flower beds near your home’s entry points. They provide late-season color when many other plants are fading.
How to Arrange Your Pest-Repelling Garden
Just planting these isn’t enough. You need a strategy. Think about creating layers of protection around your property and your most precious plants.
Create a Perimeter Barrier
Your first defense is a border. Plant taller, dense repellent plants like garlic and chrysanthemums around the outer edge of your garden. This can intercept stink bugs before they reach your vegetables.
Use Companion Planting
Intermingle repellent plants with those that are stink bug favorites. For example:
- Plant radishes and marigolds with your squash.
- Place pots of mint near your tomato plants.
- Grow garlic near your fruit trees or berry bushes.
Guard Entry Points
To stop stink bugs from entering your home, focus on the exterior. Plant lavender, catnip, or mint in beds or containers next to your home’s foundation, near windows, and around doorways. This can discourage them from congregating on your walls.
Additional Natural Control Methods
For a complete approach, combine your repellent plants with these other tactics. A multi-layered plan is always more succesful.
Encourage Beneficial Insects
Some insects are your allies. Predatory stink bugs, ladybugs, and certain parasitic wasps prey on the brown marmorated stink bug and its eggs.
- Plant nectar and pollen-rich flowers like dill, fennel, and cosmos to attract these helpful predators to your garden.
Practice Good Garden Hygiene
Stink bugs look for places to overwinter and hide. By removing their habitat, you make your garden less inviting.
- Remove garden debris, like piles of leaves and old boards, in the fall.
- Weed regularly, as weeds can provide shelter.
- Check for and remove stink bug egg masses (usually clusters of tiny barrel-shaped eggs) from the underside of leaves.
Use Physical Removal
When you see stink bugs, don’t crush them—that releases their famous odor. Instead, knock them into a bucket of soapy water. The soap breaks the surface tension so they drown quickly. This is very effective for small infestations.
What to Avoid in Your Garden
Just as some plants help, others can make the problem worse. Be mindful of what you’re planting and how you manage your space.
Plants That Attract Stink Bugs
Some crops are major stink bug magnets. This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t grow them, but you should be extra vigilant and surround them with repellent plants.
- Favorite targets include tomatoes, peppers, beans, corn, okra, and fruit trees like peach and apple.
Overusing Broad-Spectrum Pesticides
Chemical sprays can kill the beneficial insects that help control stink bug populations. They can also lead to pesticide-resistant bugs. Natural repellent plants and mechanical controls are safer long-term solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What smell do stink bugs hate the most?
Stink bugs seem to hate strong, pungent herbal scents the most. Garlic, mint, and catnip are among the most effective due to their powerful essential oils.
Will repellent plants completely eliminate stink bugs?
Probably not completely, but they can drastically reduce their numbers and damage. They work best as part of an integrated plan that includes physical removal and garden maintenance.
Can I plant these indoors to keep stink bugs out?
Yes, small pots of herbs like mint, lavender, or catnip on windowsills can help deter them from entering through cracks. Ensure the plants get enough light to thrive.
How quickly do these plants start working?
They begin working as soon as they have established foliage. The scent is always present, providing constant protection. For larger areas, it make take a full season for the plants to fill in and create a strong barrier.
Are there any other natural repellents?
A simple DIY spray of water and a few drops of essential oil (like mint or garlic oil) can be sprayed on window sills and door frames. Planting repellent plants is often easier and provides continuous coverage without you having to remember to reapply.