Planting To “Repel” Bugs — The Myth That Won’t Die

If Plants Really Repelled Insects, Orkin Would Be Out of Business

🌿 Garden Talk | By Guy Saldiveri | June 18, 2026

You've seen the memes. You've seen the marketing in the garden departments. You have friends who swear that planting this with that keeps that from this.

Believe the hype? Nope, not me — never have and never will. 

Here's why:

While plants do give off odors — which are far more noticeable to insects than to us — the oils that actually repel them are locked inside the plant.

The only way to release those oils is to bruise or damage the plant. Unless you plan on standing there crushing leaves and waving branches every few minutes, that rosemary or basil sitting quietly in its pot isn’t doing much repelling. It’s just adding a little beauty to the space.

So what about all that talk about companion planting in the garden? You know — plant marigolds with your peppers to repel moths. Plant basil with the tomatoes to keep the worms away.

The same goes for those ideas as well.

Companion planting is great for using unused space — not for insect control. I plant basil in the same pots as my tomatoes all the time, but it has nothing to do with pest control. 

I do it because the tomato has deep roots that dig to the bottom of the container, and the foliage provides shade. The basil is shallow-rooted and bolts when it gets too hot. The combination works perfectly together — the tomatoes help the basil, and they don't compete for space. It's a win-win and I save myself the cost of a separate container and soil.

As for pests? I still have to be on my toes. Those hornworms, armyworms, and spider mites? Yeah, they still show up. I could have planted three times the marigolds, basil, and rosemary and still have the same problems. 

Unless I'm out there bruising those plants to get those oils into the air, they aren’t helping with anything except drawing in pollinators and looking pretty.

Now, I'm singling out rosemary, basil, and marigolds, but I'm really talking about everything in general. Like I've said, companion planting is great for using unused space. When it's done for pest control, it's pretty much useless — it just doesn't work.

Trap Crops:

There's another angle to this one as well — trap crops. 

When someone offers trap crops as a pest control solution, my first instinct is to ask: 

"Have you ever wondered if trap crops lure all the bad guys in the yard to the trap, or do they lure all the bad guys in the neighborhood into your yard?"

Okay, trap crops can and do work to an extent. The problem — and many don't realize it — is that trap crops need to be maintained.

If you don't "clean out" or "close" the trap every so often, you wind up with a pest nursery that seeds your entire yard with unwanted guests.

Examples:

• Vacuuming: Going out regularly to shake bugs off the trap and into a bucket of soapy water, or vacuuming them up with a Shop-Vac or handheld.

• Sacrificing the plant: Once the trap crop is full (heavily infested with eggs and larvae), you pull the entire plant out, seal it in a plastic trash bag, and throw it away (or burn it) to destroy the generation.

• Spraying: Heavily spraying only the trap crop border. This allows the elimination of up to 90% of the pests while keeping their main food crops chemical-free.

When is it worth the risk?

Trap crops draw pests into your yard, so they should only be used if you already have a severe, ongoing problem with a specific insect. If you don't usually get heavily attacked by stink bugs or leaf-footed bugs, planting a massive row of sunflowers might just introduce a bug problem you never originally had!

Bottom Line:

So does that mean I'm telling you not to plant those marigolds? Nope, not at all. By all means, plant away. Just do it because you want to attract pollinators or you like the way they look. Don't expect them to provide anything other than aesthetic appeal. 

Trust me, you'll be much happier going in with that expectation than you will be coming out with the other one.

As usual, drop me a comment if you have any ideas on this article and I'll see you around the coffee pot — well, unless I'm on the phone with Orkin…

Happy Gardening 🌱