Natural Mosquito Repellents for Your Yard

Just as we are on the brink of summer, you may be looking forward to days of sunshine, enjoying the breeze and smelling the aroma of flowers in bloom. Taking the good with the bad, pesky mosquitoes are also a sign of the season. Because we want you to enjoy your home and yard this summer, we have put together a list of natural mosquito repellents for your yard. These include various plants and garden decorations. We hope that these alternative options will help you avoid mosquitoes and allow you to enjoy the summer months in your yard day in and day out.

Mosquito Repelling Plants
Rose-scented geraniums: These attractive flowers have strong smelling leaves and contain the natural insect repellents citronellal and geraniol.
Lemon balm: This perineal plant is easily grown from a seed and is easy to manage. It contains the repellents citronellal, geraniol and geranial. 
Catnip: Research shows that the essential oil, nepetalactone, found in this plant can repel mosquitoes five to ten times easier than over the counter products.  
Basil, lemon thyme and lemon grass combo: The combination of these herbs, crushed and mixed together as a rub, can repel mosquitoes effectively for short periods of time. By crushing the leaves and rubbing on your skin, the mosquitoes tend to avoid you.  

Mosquito Repelling Home and Garden Decorations and Suggestions
Citronella candles: The use of these candles is one of the easier, natural mosquito control methods. Research shows that by burning these candles, mosquito bites are reduced. Keep in mind their effectiveness is only in the immediate area as long as the wind is low.  
Outdoor patio/deck fans: Mosquitoes locate humans by the carbon dioxide we exhale. By using an outdoor fan, researchers believe fans help dissipate the attraction of mosquitoes.  
Eliminate standing water: It is important to eliminate breeding places for mosquitoes. Mosquitoes thrive in anything and everything that has standing water. It is recommended that you dump anything that has standing water at least once each week to help minimize and prevent mosquito breeding at your home.
Outdoor lighting: Mosquitoes are less attracted to yellow light bulbs. Placing these in your outdoor lighting for use at nighttime will help eliminate mosquitoes while you enjoy a starry night.

If you have any questions on how to minimize these pesky bugs in your hard, contact Pondering Gardens today for more tips and suggestions. We hope that these tips on mosquito prevention will help you enjoy your summer, day and night!