Noticing more flies, gnats, and mosquitoes around your home and garden? As we receive more rain and the Texas weather warms up, these unwelcome pests become more active—and they have no trouble settling into your space. If you’re ready to take control, now’s the time to act.
Fortunately, we have many creative solutions that work! At Calloway’s and Cornelius, you’ll find a wide variety of plants and products designed to help keep pests at bay. With these effective solutions, you can enjoy more of your summer—without the constant buzz of flies, gnats, and mosquitoes.
Why are insects attracted to your Texas Home & Garden?
Texas’s warm climate, frequent rainfall, and lush greenery make it a perfect haven—not just for people, but for insects too. From fruit flies in the kitchen to mosquitoes in the backyard, various pests are drawn to the moisture, food, and shelter your home and garden provide. Understanding what attracts them is the first step to keeping them out.
Are the Buzzing Sounds of Flies Echoing Through Your Home?
It can sometimes feel like flies are taking their summer vacation right inside your house. They show up uninvited, ready to snack and explore. Flies thrive in moist environments and on organic matter, making them especially drawn to fruit, spilled drinks, standing water, and trash bins—especially those near doors or windows that are frequently opened.
Dealing with Gnats? You’re Not Alone.
These tiny pests are both persistent and annoying. Fungus gnats are likely the culprits, especially during the summer. Outdoors, they prefer shady, damp areas, but indoors, they’re drawn to exposed food and excess moisture, making kitchens and bathrooms ideal spots for them to settle in.
Texas Summers = Mosquito Paradise
Mosquitoes love the heat and humidity of Texas summers. With rainfall and warmer temperatures, they thrive in areas with standing water, food sources, and shaded spots around your home and garden that offer shelter.
What plants keep the most bugs and mosquitoes away?
Choose a natural form of pest control with plants that repel flies, gnats, and mosquitoes. These insect repellent plants will prevent pests from invading your personal space and add beauty to your gathering spaces. Pair them with beautiful pottery to create eye-catching arrangements that enhance your patio, porch, or entryway—turning practical pest control into a stylish feature of your home.
Get started today with these 6 plants that keep bugs away indoors and outside in your garden.
1 – LAVENDER
Lavender is a beloved herb known for its soothing fragrance—but for summer pests like flies, gnats, and mosquitoes, that scent is anything but inviting. These unwelcome visitors tend to steer clear of this fragrant favorite. Lavender is also low-maintenance and well-suited to Texas heat, thriving in full sun. Try planting it in a container on a sunny patio or placing it near a bright, south-facing window indoors.
2 – ROSEMARY
Rosemary is a versatile herb known for its bold flavor and pest-repelling qualities. Common in Mediterranean cooking, it’s rich in antioxidants and perfect for soups, salads, and meats. Its strong scent helps keep flies, gnats, and mosquitoes away. Use fresh sprigs as natural table décor or plant in decorative pots for a stylish, functional centerpiece. Rosemary thrives in full sun and well-draining soil.
3 – BASIL
Basil is a flavorful herb that enhances meals—and helps keep pests away. Its fragrant oils repel gnats, flies, and mosquitoes, making it both delicious and practical. Basil grows quickly, loves full sun, and thrives in evenly moist soil. Place a pot near a sunny window to help deter bugs from coming indoors.
4 – MINT
Mint adds a refreshing scent to your space—and naturally keeps pests away. Varieties like Spearmint and Peppermint repel mosquitoes, flies, and gnats with their strong aroma. Fresh or dried, the leaves pack insect-fighting power. Mint grows best in full sun but can tolerate some shade. For container planting, use Calloway’s Premium Organic Container Potting Soil for best results.
5 – MARIGOLDS
For floral pest control, try Marigolds. Marigolds are extremely useful and one of the greatest allies in our gardens. The bright and lightly fragrant blooms invite friendly pollinators while deterring harmful pests. The distinctive scent works as an effective insect repellent, keeping flies, gnats, and mosquitoes from entering your outdoor entertaining areas. You will enjoy the colorful, bold blooms of Marigolds from early summer throughout the fall. They should be planted in sunny containers or flowerbeds, and they prefer moist soil conditions for the best growth.
6 – CITROSA
Citrosa, often called the Mosquito Plant, is a popular and effective natural insect repellent. Its finely textured, fern-like foliage releases a citrusy aroma similar to citronella, which helps deter mosquitoes and other flying pests. Known for its rapid growth, Citrosa thrives outdoors in partial shade to full sun, making it a great addition to patios, porches, and garden beds.
What are the best pest control products for your home & garden?
Protect your home and garden with top-quality pest control products. Discover these excellent solutions for a bug-free summer.
EFFECTIVE PEST CONTROL PRODUCTS
For adequate defense, use the best pest control products for your home and garden. Create a barrier to stop pesky flies, gnats, and mosquitoes in their tracks.
- Bonide® Mosquito Beater® RTS is an outdoor mosquito repellent. It is a ready-to-spray formula that should be applied around shrubbery, patios, decks, and other areas where mosquitoes congregate. It is people and pet safe with a pleasant scent.
- Skeeter Screen™ Yard Sticks™ are DEET-free essential oil incense for your outdoor enjoyment. It will help deter biting insects for up to 4 hours while it creates a peaceful “no-fly” zone around your outdoor gathering spaces.
- Summit Mosquito & Gnat Barrier is an effective bug spray with a convenient hose attachment. It can deter pests such as flies, gnats, and mosquitoes for up to 4 weeks. Use on fences, decking, and along the edge of your foundation.
- Summit Mosquito Bits® is an environmentally friendly form of mosquito control. It stops the larval population with corn cob granules coated in BTI, a bacteria toxic only to mosquito larvae. Mosquito Bits can be sprinkled in flowerbeds, containers, or anywhere mosquito larvae might be.
- Summit Mosquito Dunks® is one of the best-selling mosquito control products around. It is non-toxic and pet and family safe. Each dunk contains BTI and treats 100 sq ft of surface water for up to 30 days. Simply place one in any standing water or fountain.
- Nature’s Creation® CedarRepel Insect Repellent Red Cedar Granules offer powerful, natural protection against a wide range of pests. From mosquitoes, ants, and fleas to termites, grubs, and even scorpions, these cedar granules help keep your outdoor spaces safe and pest-free. They’re also effective against slugs, snails, snakes, and more—making them a versatile choice for all-around insect and pest control.
Spartan Mosquito® Pro Tech is an effective bait station. It doesn’t require batteries or electricity, just warm water! The mosquito population will drop dramatically, and it will be up to 95% controlled for up to 30 days. Place around the perimeter of your landscape to create an effective barrier of mosquito control.
Take Back Your Home
Don’t let pesky insects keep you from enjoying your home, patio, or garden this season. With the right plants and pest control solutions from Calloway’s and Cornelius Nursery, you can create a comfortable, relaxing outdoor retreat. Stop by your neighborhood location or shop online to find everything you need to reclaim your space—and make the most of your summer outdoors.
Shop with Ease
At Calloway’s and Cornelius, we have everything you need to enjoy a care-free, pest-controlled summer! Visit us today and explore our entire collection of pest and mosquito control products, insect repelling plants, and so much more! Shop one of our 29 neighborhood stores, serving our loyal customers for over 38 years.
Have questions? Ask our Texas Certified Nursery Professionals; they are here to help!