GardenHelp.org

One of the top questions of the summer is, “How can I beat mosquitoes without using lots of bug sprays?”.  Last year, this was a popular topic when originally published in June of 2008, so I’m republishing today with a few added updates and tips.

Well, there are a lot of things to try, but those pestering little buggers are difficult to fully eradicate. One tiny bit of standing water — in your garden or on neighboring property — can turn into a breeding ground for these tiny vampires. Following are a few things you can do to help reduce their habitat and their populations:

• Remove standing water. This includes standing water features, old pet watering bowls, wadded up tarps and other junk, cleaning out gutters, emptying planting container trays, and anything else that holds even the tiniest amount of standing water
• Screen water catchment systems: If you’re catching water in a rain barrel, be sure there’s no way for the adult mosquitoes to get in to deposit their larvae. If they can get in, be sure to add screens so the emerging adults can’t get back out.
• Increase habitat for mosquito predators: Encourage bats, swallows, frogs, salamanders, hummingbirds and other mosquito-eatin’ critters to live in your garden. Add fish to your water features. Bring in carnivorous plants.
• Add plants mosquitos don’t like: Start gardening with strong scented plants like Australian Bush mint, Eucalyptus, scented geraniums (particularly Citrosa geranium) and others to seating areas to keep them at bay. (Some have reported that thyme, sage, and rosemary can deter mosquitoes, but I haven’t seen that to be true.)
• Mosquito dunks are your friends: Add mosquito dunks to your water features. Even if your water is trickling, mosquitos can try to raise their young in moving water. Mosquito dunks are pet, children, plant, fish and wildlife friendly. But they sure don’t invite mosquitoes into your space.
• Start a fire: Burning incense, citronella and even a fire can help keep mosquitoes at bay. Toss eucalyptus cuttings on the fire to ward them off. But, know that eventually they’ll sneak down to snack on your ankles. And, if you wander from the fire, you’re going to be under attack.
• Citronella and Bug Sprays: Yes, sometimes these are your last ditch efforts. One trick my Mom uses is spraying the nasty stuff a few areas before an outdoor party begins. Spraying the area rather than the people can keep them at bay for a few hours without coating people with sticky, stinky, nasty toxins.

If you have other handy tips or ideas to help keep the mosquitoes away — short of humanity evolving away from being warm-blooded mosquito banquets — please share!

• Updates for 2009:
  • Recently, friends who live in bug-infested Virginia, introduced me to an Avon product called “Skin so Soft”. It contains insect repellent as well as sunscreen. Plus, it has a blue tint, so you know if you missed a spot when you apply it. (Don’t worry, the blue does fade away.) Apparently, it helps repel gnats, mosquitoes and ticks. I doubt the ingredients are all natural, but after being nearly eaten alive by mosquitoes and seeing loads of ticks on my recent visit, I know I’d probably give it a shot if all else failed!
  • On the same trip, I learned that rose geranium oil can repel mosquitoes and ticks as well. Pick up a small bottle of rose geranium oil from your herbalist or natural food store. Your herbalist can probably help you determine dilution rates to create a spray bottle of herbal bug repellent!