How to Plant Citronella
The citronella plant is a warm weather favorite for porches, patios, decks, and flower beds. It's known for deterring mosquitoes and other pesky insects. Citronella is an annual plant with lavender blooms, and it has a vibrant fragrance of citronella when the leaves are rubbed or crushed. It can grow to up to two feet tall, and it is the distinct fragrance of citronella that purportedly repels mosquitoes and other insects. The following instructions are for planting citronella in a flower bed. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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How to Plant Citronella
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Plant citronella in the spring after all danger of frost. Although citronella is a hardy plant, frost exposure can kill citronella even when well-established.
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Select an area where the soil is well-drained and receives at least six hours of full sun each day.
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3
Dig a hole twice the size of the container that the citronella plant is in.
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Place the citronella plant in the hole and cover with one part dirt and three parts potting soil that have been well combined. Promix potting soil (available at most garden centers) comes in an organic mix (Promix Ultimate Organic Mix) if one wishes to avoid synthetic ingredients.
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Water thoroughly.
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Remove yellow leaves as they occur. Citronella does not require a lot of extra care. However, watering may be necessary if dry periods are experienced.
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Remove citronella in the fall before frost. Return it to the indoors in a pot or other container.
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Tips & Warnings
Citronella grows best in nitrogen rich soil. Yellow leaves are symptoms of low nitrogen levels. If this occurs, treat with an organic fertilizer.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Photo by: Creative Commons: www.melbournemigrant.com/2007/12/getting-acqu..
