Mosquitos suck….literally! Their presence can turn any outdoor living space into an unwanted area to be in. Recently I hosted my son’s graduation party in our backyard. After two days of torrential Austin downpours, I had a mosquito filled backyard. Needless to say, everyone went home with a few mosquito bites. With all of the research I have done on cleaning our clients’ homes with Eco-Friendly Supplies, I felt horrible when I grabbed the outdoor fogger and sprayed the backyard. Guess what….it didn’t even work! So, I’ve spent the last week experimenting with different solutions and I have a few proven ones that I’d like to share with you.
For Large Outdoor Spaces
Our outdoor environments become a second (and sometimes first) living room for most…depending on the season. So, while decorating I am sure you have decided to add some plants or flowers. Let’s not only add plants or flowers for an aesthetically nice look – but let’s add the types of plants and flowers that repel mosquitoes!
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- Citronella is a perennial grass which grows very large and can be a great filler for landscaping.
- Marigolds are colorful, flowering plants. Be careful where placing these as the bright colors may attract other uninvited guests to your party such as wasps and bees. They are commonly seen in borders in apartment complexes or your neighbor’s colorful, flowered front yard. The fragrance they let off is not too sweet – but for the color factor they are a winner!
- Horsemint, Basil, Lavender, Peppermint, and Rosemary are more fragrant than large but have more uses than just a mosquito repellant. Now you can have some fresh herbs for your tea or cooking and fight off mosquitoes at the same time.
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Natural Bug Repellant
Mosquitos aren’t just pesky…they can be harmful to your health. We’ve all heard the scary statistics related to the diseases that mosquitos can carry such as the West Nile Virus. We need to protect ourselves from these nasty little critters. But, who enjoys putting on all of those chemicals to try and keep the mosquitoes off? Let’s look at some essential oils to help out! Essential oils are essential for non-chemical bug sprays. These sprays can be sprayed on your body and cotton materials without damage.
I mix a solution of:
- Water
- Eucalyptus
- LemonGrass
- Rosemary
I use about 20 drops of each essential oil to a spray bottle.
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Then I pour a glass of wine, sit back, and enjoy my outdoor space. I suggest you do the same.
CHEERS!