As a beginner to intermediate gardener, you know that mosquitoes are one of your biggest garden foes. As a home gardener with a few years of gardening experience under my belt, who is taking a social media class from Northwestern University through Coursera.com, I found two articles that explain various natural ways to rid your garden of mosquitoes.
The Union Times posted an article titled, Managing Mosquitoes in your Landscape by Melinda Myers. The article lists a lot of ways to keep mosquitoes at bay including inspecting your garden and draining any standing water where mosquitoes breed, changing out bird bath water weekly, attracting birds who eat mosquitoes by setting up birdhouses, weeding your garden regularly to remove their resting spots and using fans to create a breeze which keeps mosquitoes away. She goes on to mention that light colored loose, long pants and shirts are the best apparel to wear to avoid mosquito bites.
Madison.com also posted an article about mosquitoes titled, 5 Plants that Naturally Repel Mosquitoes by Cassie Sheets. The article focuses on plants that are known to repel mosquitoes, including: citronella, basil, lemongrass, bee balm and garlic. The article states that one citronella plant can keep an area of up to 10 square feet mosquito free. It also states that basil is toxic to mosquito larvae, so it’s a good herb to plant near ponds and water features.
Drawing on these two articles and my own experiences dealing with mosquitoes, I have listed three action items that you should take if you want to rid your garden of mosquitoes naturally:
- Drain Water – Remove any standing water in your garden to eliminate mosquito breeding zones.
- Set up Fans – Fans create a breeze that makes it difficult for mosquitoes to fly. They also help disperse carbon dioxide which attracts mosquitoes.
- Plant Mosquito Repellents – Keep mosquitoes at bay with citronella, basil, lemongrass, bee balm and garlic plants.
Starting today, find and drain any standing water in your garden, set up fans and plant mosquito repellent plants and you will rid your garden of mosquitoes.
Hello, my name is Megan and I am an avid home gardener who loves to try out new plants as well as stay true to my tried and tested favorites. I created this blog to give gardening advice and provide inspiration to beginner to intermediate gardeners. I am taking a social media course from Northwestern University on Coursera.com. Please feel free to connect with me on Twitter and Instagram.
The Plantiful Gardener 