In summer, everyone spends time outside swimming, cooking out, and gardening. These outdoor activities can be ruined by mosquitoes. If you’re having problems with these annoying bugs, use these tips to help keep mosquitoes off your property.
Keep Mosquitoes Off Your Property with Plants
Planting certain herbs and flowers is a great way to help keep mosquitoes off your property. Plants that repel mosquitoes include lemon balm, citronella, basil, marigolds, catnip, lavender, peppermint, garlic, pennyroyal, geraniums, and rosemary.
Both peppermint and lemon balm are invasive plants, so they’re best kept in pots on your deck or patio. They will grow and spread quickly to help keep mosquitoes off your property.
Outdoor Fans
Outdoor fans placed on your deck or porch will help keep mosquitoes away from your house. The breeze that fans produce makes it hard for mosquitoes to fly towards them. Fans also disperse scents, which further helps repel mosquitoes since they are also attracted to the smell of people.
Remove Stagnant Water
Stagnant water is a common culprit for a mosquito problem in your yard. You may not think you have much water collecting around your property, but even a small saucer under a pot can have enough water for mosquitos to lay eggs. Clogged gutters are another place where water can collect and become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
It’s especially important to empty any kiddie pools or other summer toys that may hold water. Walk around your property after it rains to make sure nothing has collected any water. Dump out any standing water you find and then put away or arrange items so they will no longer collect water. This will cut down on the mosquito eggs being laid on your property.
Candles Keep Mosquitoes Off Your Property
Mosquito candles come in a variety of sizes and formats. There are torches that burn citronella oil and insect repellent candles made of citronella and essential oils. Simply lighting one of these candles will repel mosquitos from your summer gathering.
Screened-in Area
If you’ve tried all the above methods and still can’t get rid of mosquitoes, you might consider screening in your deck or porch. Not only will this help keep the mosquitoes away, but it will improve your comfort and increase your property value.
Home Inspectors of Middle Tennessee provides inspection services to Nashville and the surrounding areas. Contact us to schedule an appointment.