How can I naturally keep flies and mosquitoes away from my patio?

Question

I live in Charleston, SC, and it is hot and humid here all the damn time. My patio gets direct sun for most of the day, but it is still always damp. The flies and mosquitoes love it. I don't want to buy a nasty bugzapping lamp, burn a bunch of citronella candles, or spray pesticides which may make my dogs sick. Are there natural ways (maybe certain plants or types of mulch or ground cover) which will keep these bugs away from the patio?

Answer 1

Here's some ideas:
Cinnamon oil shows promise as an environmentally friendly pesticide, killing mosquito larvae more effectively than DEET.

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) It is 10 times more effective at repelling mosquitoes than DEET.

Catnip, Lemon Balm, Rosemary & Mint are easy to grow & repel mosquitoes.

You can rub Lemon balm leaves over yourself & your dog to repel mosquitos. Lemon balm contains volatile oils, including citral, citronella, eugenol, and other components as well as flavonoids, triterpenoids, rosmarinic acid, polyphenols, and tannin. Several new antiviral and antioxidative flavonoids were discovered in lemon balm in 2002. http://www.answers.com/topic/lemon-balm?...

Art Tucker, research professor at Delaware State University and co-author of the Big Book of Herbs, confirms that rose-scented geraniums (Pelargonium x asperum, sometimes sold as P. graveolens) contain both citronellol, which is similar to citronellal, and geraniol. But, he says, the widely promoted 'Citrosa' geranium, which is the so-called "Mosquito Plant," appears to contain only small amounts of citronellal and is not likely to be any more effective as a mosquito repellent than other rose geraniums. He states that a better choice for a homegrown mosquito repellent may be lemon balm (Melissa officinalis). Lemon Balm is easy to grow from seeds and contains citronellal, geraniol and geranial.

The fan idea is good because, when it's windy, you can usually move about outside with less mosquito confrontations & protect yourself.

You might find this site on why garlic repels mosquitoes interesting:http://www.garlic-central.com/mosquito.html

Fly trap: fill a quart jar with this mixture.
3 cups of water
¼ (one quarter) cup sugar
¼ (one quarter) cup white vinegar
Mix, punch holes in the lid, and set it where needed.

More fly repellent ideas here: http://www.moniteausaddleclub.com/flyspray_recipes.htm
Good luck! Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Try putting out some marigolds in planters around your patio.
I had some in my garden (years ago) and one day I took some of the flowers in side to put in a vase. A couple hours later I noticed that there were dead flies around them.

Answer 3

Use a fan.