5 Plants that keep spiders, cockroaches, ants, mosquitoes, mice (and more) away

Strongly scented herbaceous plants, such as mint and lavender, are natural spider deterrents, keeping them from invading your home. Spiders will move inside, especially with the onset of cold weather, searching for a warm place and insects to feed on. Spider-repellent plants include houseplants and outdoor plants grown in containers or outdoor beds. Spider-deterrent plants are most effective in critical locations near doors, windows, and other entryways. 1.Basil All basil (Ocimum basilicum) varieties—Genovese, cinnamon, lemon, and Thai basil—have a strong scent that deters spiders. Basil is a cold-sensitive herb that can be grown indoors as a perennial during cool months. Name: Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Size: 12–24 in. tall and wide USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 11 Sun Exposure: Full sun Soil Needs: Rich, moist, well-drained Water: Deeply and regularly Fertilizer: If harvesting continuously, fertilize about once a month with an all-purpose fertilizer 2.Lavender If you use lavender (Lavandula spp.) primarily to repel spiders, choose English lavender because it has the strongest scent of all lavender varieties. Lavenders are perennials, but they must be overwintered indoors in cooler climates. Lavender can be toxic to pets like dogs and cats.2 Name: Lavender (Lavandula spp.) Size: 2-3 ft. tall, 2-4 ft. wide USDA Hardiness Zones: 5 to 8 Sun Exposure: Full sun Soil Needs: Well-drained, alkaline, dry Water: Once established, water only sparingly Fertilizer: Not needed 3.Mint Peppermint is the cold-hardiest of all mints (Mentha spp.) and has the strongest scent, so it’s best suited to repel spiders. Note that mint is toxic to pets when ingested.3 Name: Mint (Mentha spp.) Size: 12-18 in. tall, 18-24 in. wide USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 11, depending on the variety Sun Exposure: Full sun, partial shade Soil Needs: Loamy, moist, well-drained Water: Only during dry spells to keep the soil slightly moist Fertilizer: Not needed unless grown in poor soil 4.Rosemary In most climates, rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) will only survive as a perennial if it is overwintered indoors. But if you give it plenty of light, you can grow rosemary exclusively indoors year-round. Name: Rosemary (Salvia rosmarinus) Size: 2-6 ft. tall, 2-4 ft. wide USDA Hardiness Zones: 10 to 11 Sun Exposure: Full sun Soil Needs: Sandy, loamy, well-drained Water: Only sparingly; soil should be moist at maximum Fertilizer: Not needed unless grown in poor soil 5.Lemon Balm Even people with yards often grow this hardy perennial in a container as it tends to spread. Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) needs plenty of sunlight to do well indoors. Fertilizing it will reduce the strength of its scent, so fertilizer is counterproductive to growing lemon balm as a spider-repelling plant. Name: Lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) Size: 1.5-2 ft. tall, 1.5-3 ft. wide USDA Hardiness Zones: 3 to 7 Sun Exposure: Partial shade Soil Needs: Moist, well-drained Water: Once established, only needed sparingly Fertilizer: Not needed