How can I minimize the mosquitoes in my backyard?

Question

I have two kids, and every time they go out to play, no matter how much bug repelent we put on them, they still get a million bites. How can I reduce the number of mosquitoes or biting bugs in the yard? I already removed everything that had standing water.

Answer 1

Now that you've removed standing water, check for any damp spots where they can hide & breed such as clogged roof gutters. Fill in low areas in yards to discourage puddles. Keep drains, ditches and culverts clear to allow proper drainage. Trim shrubs to discourage mosquitos from resting on foliage.Water early in the day to allow plants to dry out.

Using garlic sprays on bushes & shrubs should reduce the mosquito population.
"It would seem that the powerful compounds such as allicin which garlic releases are inimical to mosquitos. They have therefore evolved to avoid garlic. Another possibility is that the strong smell of garlic overwhelms the mosquito's sense of smell and prevents them from finding their prey (us!)." *

Blend well 1garlic bulb & 1 onion add 1Tbsp cayenne pepper & 1 quart water. Steep ingredients for 1 hr, then strain & add 1 Tbsp dish soap and your non-toxic spray is ready to use.

Besides Garlic, mosquitos also don't like Citronella, Catnip, Rosemary, Thyme, Lemon Balm, Mint, the oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, or Tea Tree Oil. Make a spray of one of these & add a tablsp dish soap to a gallon of water & spray your bushes with it when you're outdoors. You can also add a tablsp. soybean (vegetable) oil to a gallon of water if it's not cooler or cloudy.
OR ...
Use citronella torches &/or candles.

From a CNN article:
The CDC says " oil of lemon eucalyptus provides protection time "similar to low-concentration DEET products in two recent studies."

Iowa State U. researches have reported that an essential oil found in catnip (Nepetalactone)
is more effectivethan DEET. (Organic Gardening Aug/Sept '06)
http://www.who.int/malaria/docs/healthworkers/healthworkers.htm

Have you heard of a repellant made of soybean oil called "Bite Blocker for Kids" that's supposed to be effective? Also, some people rub lemon balm leaves over themselves & their clothing to repel mosquitos.

Avoid mosquito's most active time between the hours of dusk and dawn. On windy days you can usually move about outside with less mosquito confrontations

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Hi moisquitoes come with summer!

But there are plenty of over the counter products that may help you out.

They are attracted to certain sweet smelling flowers, they are attracted to really colorful (think patterns) clothing, they are also attracted to sweet smelling blood (the way your blood smells after you eat fruit, or cake or anything sweet).

Leaving juice boxes out or any other food will be an automatic draw! & Any flowers that are near where your kids play or sweet smelling produce that is growing, can also attract them.

Try putting a fan outside near where your kids play, the air will probably keep them away.

Or try some of the "OFF" products or other such brands. Some are less toxic than others.

As well, look into getting a pond with a pump (to stir the water) & then picking up a few frogs (they eat mosiquotoes).

Another way to go is to build a bat house as bats eat several times their body weight in moisquitoes and other such creatures EVERY night!

Answer 3

I have found that having a fire in our fire pit makes a big difference and works better than bug spray! I think it has something to do with the smoke, the bugs don't like it. My kids play outside until after 9 o'clock sometimes and I haven't seen a bug bite yet! We burn a lot of pine wood and maybe that is what the bugs don't like. I'm not sure, just know that when we have a fire going, the bugs don't mess with us! We live in IL.

Answer 4

You can use a product like Off! Yard Fogger. You spray the perimeter of your yard and it really does cut down on the number of mosquitoes that enter your space. Also, there are larger propane-fueled yard foggers in various sizes that also work quite well. Good luck!

Answer 5

Put up signs NO MOSQUITOES ALLOWED that should stop them.
I agree with the other suggestions but you can also call a pest exterminator or a lawn care company they have stuff that can cut down the number of mosquitoes.

Answer 6

Use those bug lites that lure them to the light and kills them.Just because you have removed any standing water doesn*t mean your neighbors don*t have any. Check with them and see. You may even need two bug lites if you have a big yard. What with West Nile Virus I sould have my kids wear long sleeves and pants. They may be unconfortable but they will stay healthy. Have you checked your gutters for standing water?

Answer 7

I live in S. Louisiana and the only thing that really works here is spraying. I also invested in the Mosquito Magnet....A huge lifesaver.

If you have pot plants in the area where your children are playing you may want to spray the plants with mosquito spray.

Answer 8

capnemo is right. Any standing water is a wonderful place to hatch mosquitoes. Bird baths need water changed everyday to avoid becoming a breeding place. Also check out downspouts and other places where water stands. Unfortunately you will need to eliminate all standing water in the nearby area too, and that is more difficult.

Answer 9

I am in the prossess of looking for answers to that myself. I am looking for some eucalyptus tree seeds. or blue gum. if you plant them in you yard they say that the mosquitoes gradually disappear. If you use1 teaspoon of eucalyptus oil mixed with acup and a half of warm water and rub it on you skin it keeps them away from you. There is a species of the tree that they say works best or really good is the tasmanianblue gum

Answer 10

The mosquito dolito (not sure about the spelling) by Coleman. Kept my yeard clear last year and ran on a tank of propane.