Usually, in the mornings, I spend a few minutes walking
around the yard - looking at plants and flowerbeds - deciding what I need to do
outside that day. It’s kind of a
relaxing way to start the day. During
March and April, the mornings were cool and nice, however May arrived with very
warm, humid mornings and the annoying pest we all hate!
Today when I walked outside I glanced down at my legs to find
not one but half a dozen small black mosquitoes ready to dive in for breakfast. I went inside.
Mosquito season here ranges from annoying to horrendous
depending on how much rain we’ve had.
So, far, we’ve had between 13-15 inches (a little more in some places, a
little less in others). And, I’m
thinking this year our mosquito problem will be horrendous.
Now, everybody knows mosquito sprays don’t actually kill
mosquitoes. They work by making people less attractive to them, so
they're less likely to bite you. And
depending on your outdoor activity, you may have some options about repelling
them.
There are a number of plants that make an effective
repellent when planted nearby, like
Basil emits its
aroma without crushing the leaves. Any variety of basil can repel mosquitoes
but it is advisable to use lemon basil, cinnamon basil, or Peruvian basil since
they have the strongest fragrances.
Lemon Balm also
keeps the mosquitoes at bay as its leaves contain citronella compounds in large
amounts. The citronella plant is popularly used in commercial mosquito
repellants and there is up to 38% citronella content in some varieties of lemon
balm.
Catnip also has
the ability to repel mosquitoes as a member of the mint family. Simply grow
catnip near the backdoor or patio of your house. Since many cats love the aroma
of catnip they’re apt to crush the leaves and release its fragrance to ward off
mosquitoes.
Rosemary contains
an essential oil which acts as a natural mosquito repellent. To keep them away from my face, I’ll put a
sprig of rosemary in the brim of my hat!
Lavender is loved
for its flowers and fragrance and mosquitoes don’t like it. I almost didn’t include lavender because it’s
difficult to grow in our area (that whole heat and humidity thing). However, try pots of lavender you can move to
more shaded areas during August and September.
Tansy can be used
as a bug repellent in general and that includes repelling mosquitoes. However, I wouldn’t rub it on your skin.
In fact, you should be careful rubbing any plant directly on
your skin. The essential oils from the
plant can irritate skin and eyes. You
can make your own version of mosquito spray though.
Vinegar of the Four Thieves Insect Repellent
1 32-ounce bottle of Apple Cider
Vinegar
2 TBSP of dried or 1
TBSP of fresh Sage, Rosemary, Lavender, Thyme, Lemon Balm, Basil, any of the Mint family – I’d recommend using at least 3 or 4 different herbs together for the
best result.
At least quart size glass jar with
airtight lid
Put the vinegar and dried herbs
into large glass jar. Seal tightly and store on counter or place you will see
it daily. Shake well each day for 2-3 weeks.
After 2-3 weeks, strain the herbs out and store in clean glass bottles,
preferably in fridge. To use on skin,
dilute to half strength with water, then, in a spray bottle use as needed.
Something else to keep in mind, if you live in an area that
is heavy with mosquitoes and you will be outside for a prolonged time or you
are prone to bites that turn the size of a quarter, you may not want to take
any chances. Conventional mosquito repellents containing higher concentrations
(23.8%) of DEET or picaridin offer the best protection. And, while you may hate putting chemical
repellents on your skin, it may be better than the alternative.
Planting mosquito repelling shrubs is a good way to help
discourage these pests in the yard in general with the added bonus of being
wonderful herbs to use in many other ways and being pretty to boot!
Take care
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