Summer is on our doorstep, and that means lots of time spent outside in our yards. With social distancing and the continuing closures of popular vacation destinations, many folks are staying healthy at home and creating their own backyard sanctuaries to enjoy all summer long. I’ve been working outside in the garden consistently for the last few weeks and I noticed last night that the mosquitoes are already out and being extra ridiculous for it being so early in the season. There’s nothing worse than having a gang of mosquitoes show up uninvited to your patio, so the goal is to make your outdoor space as unappealing as possible to the little blood-suckers in the first place. But don’t worry, an unappealing outdoor space for a mosquito doesn’t mean it has to be uninviting to humans. I’ve included my top tips for a mosquito-free yard, including a list of gorgeous, blooming plants that naturally repel mosquitoes to beautify your space. Being preemptive is your best defense, so without further adieu, here are 10 ways I’ve been successfully controlling the mosquito population in my own yard.
- Get rid of any standing water. Mosquitoes breed in water. Check you yard for any containers that may be holding water and empty them. One tiny flowerpot full of water can breed thousands of mosquitoes over a summer. So, as a rule of thumb consistently check your yard weekly for any standing water. If you have bird baths or decorative fountains, make sure you are changing the water frequently as well.
- Keep it breezy. Incorporate an outdoor fan into your outdoor space. Mosquitoes are notoriously weak flyers, and go out of their way to avoid strong breezes that hinder their ability to fly with little effort. Although a ceiling fan can be effective, standing fans placed strategically around your space will have a better effect.
- Go batty. Attract native bats to your yard. Although it seems that there is no love lost for our bat friends these days, I still welcome them with open arms to my yard. The brown bat is a mosquitoes worst enemy. A single brown bat can consume over 1,000 mosquitoes in one evening. Wooden bat houses are readily available at your local lawn and garden store, or you can make one of your own using this nifty DIY project plan*. Always use caution and wear proper protective equipment when attempting any DIY project. Safety First!
- Make a mosquito trap. Mosquitoes are naturally attracted to carbon dioxide. There are a variety of simple and safe traps you can make at home to trap and kill mosquitoes using recycled 2-liter bottles, sugar and yeast. Make your own mosquito trap*.
- Plant natural repellents. Not only are mosquitoes not very good at flying, they also have a very picky sense of smell. Mosquitoes are naturally repelled by strong smelling herbs, annuals and perennials. This is my favorite method of mosquito control, for obvious reasons. Planting a mix of these plants around your yard and outdoor space can not only keep mosquitoes at bay, but other pesky summer insects like gnats, no-see-ums and flies. Here are some of my favorite plants to use in my yard:
Basil 
Marigold 
Peppermint 
Scented Geranium 
Rosemary
Of course, you can always wear a good, natural insect repellent in addition to the items in this post. I find that repellents made with citronella, lavender, cedar and lemongrass oils are very effective, especially if you are out working in the yard and not confined to sitting in one area. I use the California Baby bug repellent on myself and my boys. It does a wonderful job and smells amazing, too!
Keeping those pesky mosquitoes at bay doesn’t have to be a long, daunting task full of dangerous chemicals. Starting the process early in the season and remaining diligent on making sure your yard doesn’t have any standing, stagnant water is your absolute best defense against these back yard pests. Incorporating even one of these tips can help keep your backyard sanctuary a bite-free zone!
Happy Digging!
Diane
frontyardfarmacy.com 