What Keeps Mosquitoes Away? Best Garden Mosquito Repellent
Are you dreaming to spend a pleasant summer evening in your garden? Perhaps you are worried that mosquitoes will disturb your peace? Learn how to fight them off – easily and effectively! Check what are the best and cheapest mosquito repellents and enjoy the summer in its full glory, spending the time outside without any limitations.
Can a natural mosquito repellent replace store-bought products?
Natural mosquito control methods might be as effective as some store-bought products. The only thing that needs to be kept in mind is the right preparation and proper usage of such remedies. The most popular method is using essential oils for mosquito repellent, whose strong scent scare the insects away. They are for instance:
- lemon grass oil – it also repels flies and gnats,
- clove oil,
- patchouli oil,
- eucalyptus oil, especially the one made from lemon-scented gum (Corymbia citriodora).
You can easily prepare a homemade mosquito repellent spray with essential oils, which is a natural equivalent of store-bought chemical products. To make a homemade mosquito repellent you need: a mixture of essential oils that have insect repellent qualities and base oil (i.e. vegetable oil, for instance the one you typically use in the kitchen: sunflower, almond or grapeseed oil).
A homemade mosquito repellent is very easy to make. All you need to do is combine essential oils of your choice with the base oil in the right proportion and mix them well. For 100 ml of your base oil you should use no more than 10 ml of essential oil (keep that in mind especially when using several various essential oils).
Keep the mixture in dark glass containers, for instance in small bottles.
For the best effectiveness, apply your homemade mosquito repellent every 2 hours onto spots that are the most vulnerable to bites.
What are the most effective mosquito repellent plants?
There are certain plant species that act as natural mosquito repellents. They are mostly flowers, trees and shrubs with strong scents. Fragrant plants and herbs are very unpleasant for mosquitoes, therefore they are great if you want to protect your garden from those insects.
A plant known as Plectranthus glabratus or Swedish ivy is an ornamental plant with long, loose leaves. It’s a great natural mosquito repellent. It looks best in a hanging pot, therefore it can be grown on balconies and patios.
Other popular ornamental mosquito repellent plants are geraniums. It’s a perfect species for rock gardens, slopes and flowerbeds.
Not only flowering perennials repel mosquitoes. Another brilliant method for natural mosquito control is planting certain species of trees and shrubs. One of the most hated trees among mosquitoes is staghorn sumac. The tree can help you get rid of mosquitoes from your garden. It takes very little space and requires minimal effort, so it’s a plant that anyone can manage – even if you barely started your gardening adventure.
Dissecta is an interesting variety of this species, and it also acts as a mosquito repellent. It’s characteristic feature is the wide crown. The tree grows up to four meters tall and even six meters wide. The leaves of a dissecta turn orange in autumn, which makes the tree even more ornamental.
What keeps mosquitoes away? Learn 3 proven mosquito repellents for your garden
Sprinkling your clothes or spraying your body with special mosquito repellent solutions is effective but short-lasting. This process typically has to be repeated several times a day. What are the best methods to keep the mosquitoes out of your garden and stop them from ruining your evenings? Check our suggestions that will help you win the battle with mosquitoes.
Essential oils and mosquito repellent sprays
The most popular method for fighting mosquitoes is using various mosquito sprays, essentail oils or a mosquito repellent candle. You can combine all those methods, which will make them more effective. You should, however, keep in mind that those remedies only hold back and repel the insects, instead of fully eliminating the problem.
Incense sticks, candles and torches, although effective, they are very limited timewise. Such products protect against the insects only when you are staying right by the source. The further you are from the mosquito repellent candle or stick, the more you are vulnerable to bites. For this reason, even if you decided to burn an incense stick, do not forget to use a repellent oil or spray as well.
Outdoor lighting – an effective mosquito repellent
One of the most popular mosquito repellents for gardens involves installing a special type of lighting. There are certain outdoor lamps that help you combat the insects. It does not only repel, but also completely eliminates the flying insects.
A lamp of this type emits subtle ultraviolet lighting, which pulls the insects regardless of the season. One of the most common types of lamps are the ones that eliminate the mosquitoes by electrocuting them. Another method makes the insects stick to the lamp and the device sucks them inside. The method of luring the mosquitoes remains the same in both devices, while the way they are eliminated is different.
A great advantage of such a lamp is the fact that it doesn’t affect people standing nearby. For this reason it’s a perfect solution for allergy sufferers, who cannot use popular mosquito repellent sprays.
Garden spraying – a sure mosquito control method
The last step in the fight with mosquitoes is spraying your garden. By using the right type of mosquito repellent, you can scare away and eliminate the insects dwelling in your garden.
If you want to get rid of several types of insects, you can mix two different mosquito repellent sprays. Remember to keep the proportions in balance.
Garden mosquito spray is nothing else than a concentrated insect repellent, mixed a moment before using it. Apply it mostly in dark, damp spots and on tall grasses. Due to the fact that mosquitoes are less active in the morning and in the late evening, the spray might help you decrease their population or completely hinder their reproduction. The larger area you spray, the more effective the method is. Nevertheless, use the spray responsibly, remembering about the right proportions. A chemical mosquito repellent is a sure way to win the fight with those insects.
What about mosquitoes by the water?
To prevent mosquitoes reproduction in your garden, you need to make sure that the water in the reservoir is constantly moving. It’s very important because fresh, standing water is a place where the insects lay eggs. You can produce water movement very easily, for instance by adding fountains, streams or a cascade to your pond. It’s an easy way to prevent the mosquitoes from reproducing, by stopping them from laying eggs.
Because mosquitoes typically choose foul, dense and shallow water bodies, you should take care of the water plants and clean the pond regularly.
Some fish and frog species feed on insect larvae. Keeping them in your garden pond might prevent mosquitoes from reproducing.
Do you want to enjoy a peaceful time in your own garden? Make sure to use appropriate mosquito repellent immediately afer you notice first insects. This way you can avoid a mosquito invasion. Check also, how to get rid of aphids from plants or kill ants in the house.
Vacation without insects - best mosquito repellents for summer holidays
Mosquitoes can be a real nightmate during summer break. Not only they are irritating but also they leave unasthetic marks that are very painful on tan skin. Those who plan to visit tropical areas are particularly prone to those insects. There’s also another issue - mosquitoes can spread serious diseases.
Are you wondering how to repel mosquitoes and which products are the most effective during a summer trip? In this case, people who produce a lot of oxygen dioxide or lactic acid - so those who perform physical activities - are most likely to be attacked by mosquitoes. So, if you know that you are going to be physically active, take extra measures to protect yourself against insects.
It doesn’t mean that those who choose all-inclusive holidays and spend evenings by the pool sipping drinks are safe. As it turns out, mosquitoes are more likely to attack people who have alcohol in their bloodstream. It’s basically an invitation for them.
Cigarette smoke is a good mosquito repellent. But if you don’t smoke (and we don’t encourage it as it’s unhealthy) - pick chemicals. Although find this mosquito repellent method harmful, you can use it once a year during a trip - for your own comfort.
Which mosquito repellent should you pick? Products with DEET on their ingredients list are the most effective. The higher the concentration - the better, especially in case of tropical countries where mosquitoes are particularly active. Make sure to always have a mosquito spray with you if you are planning to visit the following places:
- India,
- Sri Lanka,
- Nepal,
- Pakistan,
- Thailand,
- Argentina,
- Brasil,
- Madagascar.
Those are just a few example destinations, as mosquitoes pose a threat in many African countries and in Dominican Republic. It’s best to make it a rule that you always have a product with DEET in your first-aid kit - during every trip.
đź“Ť What is a natural mosquito repellent?
Certain plants release scents that repel mosquitoes. Plectranthus, geranium or a dissecta are great natural mosquito repellents. Plant them in various spots in your garden, most importantly close by the place where you usually spend time.
đź“Ť What essential oils are good for mosquito repellent?
Lemon grass oil, patchouli oil, clove oil and eucalyptus oil are great mosquito repellents. It is a good idea to mix them all, along with some base vegetable oil. You can apply such mixture to your skin every time you need to go out. Remember to reapply it every two hours if you are outside for a longer time.
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