The animal at the bottom of my love list…the mosquito!

It’s a fact of summer that mosquitoes will come. I know it’s technically not even summer, but this one is one for my record books.

Pond +shade and trees+tons of rain = Mosquito Fiesta

I have never seen so many mosquitoes in my life. We are trying hard to eradicate them without using harsh chemicals. So here are some things I have tried and suggest to you. Of course I cannot make a guarantee they will work, but all are affordable suggestions.

Try Plants to deter mosquitoes (in alphabetical order):

I am always a supporter of adding plants to your yard. Here are ideas of things to plant in areas where you my spend time outdoors, like on a patio. Some plants work better when leaves are crushed and rubbed on your skin while others supposedly work just by releasing their scent.

Basil

Bee balm

Citronella

Lavender

Lemon balm

Lemon thyme

Marigolds

Mint (peppermint, catmint, etc)

Rosemary

Sage

Homemade Remedies

This recipe is credited to Paul Harvey. I remember listening to him on the radio with my dad when I was a kid. It’s pet safe and we tried it in the garden. The kids each had their own squirt bottle to use around the perimeter and had a great time. It hasn’t kept the mosquitoes away long term, but it really did help that day!

Recipe:

3 cans stale beer

3 cups Epson Salt

1.5 L of cheap mint mouthwash (think eucalyptus)

Mix the ingredients until the salt dissolves. Shake well and spray around your yard.

Dynatrap Insect Trap

First of all, I have no affiliation with this company and do not receive any compensation from them….but I would be willing! 🙂 This was suggested to me by a friend who has a friend with a half acre and a pond. I immedietly searched and found this model at Costco. Purchased two the same day. It is suggested to be about 20 feet from your entrance and in a shady area. We hung ours on the garage. I told the hubby it looked full and asked him to clean it. He said it had a crazy amount of mosquitoes and a few other bugs that he actually released alive. The next night, it seemed full again so I asked him to check.

WARNING! Do not click on the picture to enlarge it if you are squeamish! This is 24 hours of bugs!!

The model we purchased is for a half acre. You can buy larger ones online also. Here is a link: https://dynatrap.com/

Again, results may vary but for now it’s my favorite tool.

More Ideas

I’ve also heard garlic is a great deterrent, but have not been able to find a product in local stores yet to try. In the meantime, you can follow some of these suggestions:

Remove standing water in your yard. This includes anything that can collect water such as pet bowls, wagons, buckets, etc.
Dress in light colors. Mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors.
Use repellent outdoors
Avoid shady areas and tall grass