As previously mentioned, growing peppermint can be a good natural way to deter stink bugs. However, it is important to be cautious. While peppermint is an effective repellent, it can also be like an unwelcome guest who overstays their welcome – it can become a garden bully. Peppermint roots are known for being strong and aggressive, competing with neighboring plants for vital nutrients and water resources. What starts as a well-intentioned planting can quickly escalate into a turf war beneath the soil, weakening plants and making them more susceptible to pests and other stresses. This is certainly not what you had in mind when you decided to make your garden stink bug-free.
A smarter and less risky approach is to confine your peppermint plants to pots or containers. Doing this allows you to safely position the pots close to the specific plants you wish to protect without sparking a conflict for nutrients and water at the root level. In other words, you can use peppermint to repel insects without harming other plants. Additionally, placing potted peppermint plants around your patio, garden paths, or at the edges of your lawn creates an aromatic barrier. This invisible wall will deter stink bugs, with their sensitive olfactory systems, from crossing.
