How to Plant Citronella Bushes

The citronella bush is a lavender-blooming geranium with the scent of citronella. Although citronella geraniums are often referred to as "the mosquito plant," these tropical annuals are unrelated to true citronella, a type of long grass grown for its insect-repelling oil. Citronella bushes can grow up to 3 feet tall, and thrive in zones 9 through 11. Plant citronella bushes in a sunny area after the danger of the first frost has passed.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel
• High-quality garden soil
• Compost
• 19-5-9 fertilizer

Instructions

1. Dig a hole double the size of the citronella plant's current container. Plant citronella bushes in an area with at least six hours of full sun.

2. Mix 3 parts of high-quality garden soil with 1 part of fully composted material.

3. Remove the citronella bush carefully from the container and place it into the hole. Fill the hole with the soil and compost mixture and pack it lightly around the plant.

4. Water the citronella bushes thoroughly. Keep the soil moist on hot, dry days, but avoid watering on cool days to prevent root rot.

5. Fertilize citronella bushes with a slow-release 19-5-9 fertilizer as directed by the manufacturer.

Tips & Warnings

• If you want to keep the citronella bushes year after year, dig up the plant during the fall and transplant it into a container until the following spring.

• Do not over-fertilize citronella bushes. Although the bushes require an adequate amount of nitrogen, too much fertilizer can result in excess foliage with few flowers.

References

• Geraniums: How to Grow and Propagate Them
• Organic-Growers: Citronella Geranium Plant