Controlling mosquitos in your yard and garden can be challenging, especially if you don’t want to use chemicals that could be harmful to children and pets. Lotions and sprays that contain DEET are effective natural repellents, but they’re intended for use on skin, not outdoor spaces. What can you do to keep mosquitos out of the backyard?
Controlling mosquitos in your yard and garden can be challenging, especially if you don’t want to use chemicals that could be harmful to children and pets. Lotions and sprays that contain DEET are effective natural repellents, but they’re intended for use on skin, not outdoor spaces. What can you do to keep mosquitos out of the backyard?
Mosquitos find standing water to be an attractive spot to breed and hang out once they grow. If you can eliminate excess water from your yard, that will take care of much of the mosquito problem. Keep eaves and gutters dry and clean. If areas of your yard tend to pool after irrigation, a change to the amount of water you give your yard can fix the problem. If you’re supplying the right amount of water, changes to your landscaping to smooth out hills and dips can stop the pooling. Long grasses and weeds are also mosquito hotspots. Keep your grass trimmed and weeds pulled.
Once the landscape is taken care of, external controls can begin. Mosquitos avoid smoke and flame. Even if you can’t stand the smell of citronella, other candles or torches can repel the little bloodsuckers just as well. Some plants also repel mosquitos, including catnip and eucalyptus, although these remedies work best in crushed or concentrated forms. Bats are another option. Many bat species feed on mosquitos, so installing a small bat house in the backyard can allow the natural predator to do its job controlling mosquitos.
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