The Popular Plant That's Used For Privacy But May Be Attracting Mosquitos To Your Yard

Privacy is very important in a home. No one wants others peeping into their everyday lives. One of the ways homeowners can block out neighbors and noise are by planting privacy plants in their yard. There are many concealing shrubs and trees to choose from, but bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) is a popular plant for privacy due to its fast growth, low cost, and blocking capabilities. However, this decorative and resilient plant also has some negative factors that may outweigh its aesthetically pleasing and eco-friendly qualities. Planting bamboo near your home can cause serious damage, like invading your yard and destroying your environment. Not only that, but it may be attracting mosquitoes. 

With their durable roots, bamboo plants have hollow stalks that easily collect and hold water, which the disease-spreading pests love. These small crevices are the ideal vessel for them to lay their eggs. But that's not all. You may think pesticides would do the trick of getting rid of these biters, but because of how small and deep some of these shoots are, mosquitos can be shielded from the spray and live on. To make matters worse, harsh chemicals from pesticide solutions can end up harming your other plants around the bamboo. However, you can still enjoy privacy on your property without pesky mosquitoes flying around by planting other plants, such as Chinese snowball bush (Viburnum macrocephalum) in your yard instead.

While Chinese snowball bush is a great alternative for privacy that doesn't attract mosquitoes, there are also many other major benefits, like its eye-catching look, ability to attract pollinators, and pest- and disease-resistant capabilities. Over multiple seasons, expect beautiful displays from your Chinese snowball bush. As a plant that's commonly mistaken for a hydrangea, it has similar-looking round groups of white or pink flower petals that add a decorative flair to your home in spring. In the fall, it has a visually appealing look with its deep autumn colors of red to burgundy foliage. 

Thanks to its beautiful flowers, expect pollinators like butterflies to hang around your Chinese snowball bush — instead of pesky mosquitoes. Luckily, you don't have to worry about your beautiful privacy screen being prone to many plant problems since it is disease-resistant. However, it is ultimately a plant, so it can still get powdery mildew and leaf spots. Ensure proper watering and spacing when planting this flower bush. These white flower-blooming plants are great if you're looking to not only keep people from looking in through your windows but also deter pests. Chinese snowball bush is also not super attractive to deer or rabbits, either. 

To add extra protection against prying eyes and mosquitoes, bee balm (Monarda spp.) is the perfect companion plant under snowball bushes. It has a visually appealing look with its vibrant red, pink, or purple flowers, which easily pair with the white petals on the snowball bushes. Together, the layered plants can offer privacy without the mosquito-attracting qualities of bamboo.