How to create a mosquito repellent garden

Tiger mosquitoes infest gardens even where there is no obvious stagnation of water. In fact, these insects love to stay in very specific places, especially during the hottest periods. Making your garden an unwelcome place for mosquitoes is a great start to enjoying the summer with a few buzzing nuisances.

Here are a series of tricks to use your garden to repel mosquitoes.

Eliminate wet areas

Everyone knows that a mosquito needs stagnant water and a suitable container such as an old tyre, abandoned children's toys or other small accumulations to lay its eggs. Not everyone knows that even wet and poorly drained areas of land can be used for reproduction. Even when the water does not remain for a sufficient number of hours, it still becomes a welcome area for mosquitoes as it is potentially reproductive. So keep an eye out for places on your property where irrigation is particularly important, mud puddles and poorly drained areas. Eliminate them by adding a layer of gravel or by covering them with soil and sowing again.

Remove what obstructs the wind

Although they have wings, mosquitoes have a hard time flying. These delicate insects love calm, humid days when the air is heavy and their tiny wings allow them to do exactly as they please. Even the lightest breeze can push them away and make traveling more difficult than ever. Many patios have features that inadvertently block the wind: shrubs, trees with heavy foliage, fences, and walls. To combat the onslaught of mosquitoes it is sometimes possible to remove these barriers to allow the wind to blow through your property without obstruction. The result will be more problems for mosquitoes and a drier environment, therefore less interesting for these insects.

Add mosquito repellent plants

The most colorful way to combat mosquitoes is to add plants that mosquitoes hate. These plants (including garlic, chrysanthemums, marigolds, mint and basil) can be placed around your patio, porch or gazebo. The aromas of these plants should disorient or at best repel mosquitoes. However, these plants don't always emit these unpleasant smells, so it's best not to rely solely on this remedy.

Helping mosquito predators

Many organisms feed on mosquitoes even if none of them have them as an exclusive food source. The legend that bats can eat up to 2000 mosquitoes a night was spread after experiments were carried out indoors where only this food source was made available to bats. In any case try to help all predators by offering them the habitat where they can survive. You can install bat boxes in the garden or place some artificial nests in the trees. Spiders are also very helpful, so don't go overboard with removing their webs.

Mulch with cedar

The aroma of cedar has long been used to repel insects including termites, ants, moths and other pests such as mosquitoes. The cedar smell comes from the oil contained in the wood. Remember that the scent will diminish over time as the oil dries out and once it is completely used up the repellent effect will cease. Distribute the material in outdoor collection points and flower beds to prevent mosquitoes from sheltering during the hottest hours of the day.

Add water recirculation systems

Mosquito eggs can only reproduce when immersed in stagnant or poorly circulating water. If you have a pond or other water feature on your property, add a fountain, filter, pump, or other device to make sure the water moves. In this way the mosquito larvae have no way to swim or protect themselves from the currents and the mother mosquito will choose another place to lay her eggs.

Mow the lawn and remove weeds

During the heat of the day, mosquitoes will retreat into the foliage to avoid dehydration. This means that weeds on the edge of your property could be a haven for mosquitoes. An unkept lawn with tall grass can be an excellent shelter for mosquitoes.

Use fans

For your outdoor entertaining areas and patios, consider placing a fan nearby. The strong current generated is sufficient to repel mosquitoes and prevent them from landing on their victims. The fans can be installed on the ceiling or with a floor stand. A fan with a swing mechanism is better than a stationary fan at repelling mosquitoes as it creates an uneven airflow making it even more difficult for a mosquito to move.