Hey everyone! With summer just around the corner, I'm looking for some natural methods to keep those pesky mosquitoes out of my garden. I've heard about planting lavender, but I'm curious to learn about other effective techniques to manage these annoying insects. What has worked for you all?
6 Answers
I usually steer clear of the peak mosquito times and dress in long sleeves and pants. While bug spray helps, you probably can't fully eliminate them—it's tough. Even if you plant lavender, they might just fly around it looking for a meal!
I'm trying out mosquito dunks this year. There are a lot of myths about plants that repel mosquitoes, and most don't work that well. Your best bet is to eliminate any standing water you can control. Also, consider adding a bat house; bats love to munch on mosquitoes and their droppings are great for your garden!
Creating more airflow by pruning your trees and cutting the grass can help too—less shade means fewer places for mosquitoes to hide!
Clearing out standing water is crucial! You could also use lemon grass repellents when gardening. Just be ready to sweat in the summer heat if you're wearing long clothes, though!
If you're not close to any water sources, try to find and eliminate places where mosquitoes can breed, or consider using mosquito bits. They can help control larvae in stagnant water.
How do you actually use the mosquito bits?
Letting mosquitoes be can be a perspective too, since they're essential for the ecosystem. But I get it—they can spread diseases, especially here in Florida where invasive species thrive. It's a tricky balance!
True, but they can also carry dengue fever, which is scary!
Does lavender really keep them away?