Being outdoors is a staple of summertime, but bugs and weather can ruin your plans for relaxing in your backyard this summer. Of all the critters that can ruin your time outside, mosquitoes are among the worst. No one likes having itchy bites all over, and if spending time outside is synonymous with scratching mosquito bites, you’ll be put off completely from enjoying the summer weather. Luckily there are things you can do to control the mosquito population in your backyard.
Staying safe this summer is important. With the Zika virus on the loose, keeping mosquitoes out of your backyard is especially important if there are pregnant women living on your property. And while the risk of contracting the virus is very low Tennessee and other southern states, it’s always best to acquaint yourself with the symptoms, just so you know what to look out for.
Check for Puddles
Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, so don’t allow water to puddle in your backyard. But don’t only check your lawn and garden for areas where water is puddling, areas like kiddie pools, toys and plastic pool covers can also be a problem.
Even the smallest amount of water can help mosquitoes breed in your backyard. If you have something like a fishpond, you might want to consider adding a fountain so the water isn’t stagnant. Keeping a good population of larva-eating fish in your pond can also help to reduce the amount of mosquitoes in your backyard.
Natural Insect Repellents in Your Garden
Some plants naturally repel insects such as mosquitoes from your garden. However, these plants will only work if you tear some leaves of trim them a while before you plan to spend time outside.
Plants with natural mosquito repelling properties include:
- Citronella
- Lantana
- Lemon thyme
- Lemon balm
- Myrrh
- Stone root
So, if you’ve got an open spot in your garden close to where you normally spend time outside, planting something to repel mosquitoes is a great option. You could also keep a potted plant on your deck or patio to help keep the mosquitoes away.
Planting a lemon thyme could be a great option if you like cooking. In that case, you could harvest some herbs while repelling mosquitoes! Don’t worry about using the herbs you harvest straight away. Simply leave it out to dry and store it in a bottle on your spice rack.
Repelling Mosquitoes Outside
Even if you do your best to make your garden as uncomfortable as possible for mosquitoes to live, there will always be a stubborn few that refuse to leave. To prevent mosquito bites while you’re spending time outside, there are a few things you can do to keep them away:
- Burn citronella candles
- Keep eucalyptus and lemon oil in the area where you are
- Use store-bought mosquito repellents and sprays
Your local drugstore might also have some creams and sprays you can use on yourself to repel mosquitoes. This way you can move outside the area where the scent of mosquito repellent is in the air without too much fear of getting a bite.
Check What You’re Wearing
The more of your body is covered, the less places are open for the mosquitoes to bite. Also consider wearing light colors like whites and pastels, as mosquitoes are less attracted to them than dark colors.
Lastly, be sure to always keep your feet and ankles covered up. Mosquitoes have a tendency to bite this area. This is especially true for mosquitoes carrying harmful diseases, such as malaria and the Zika virus, making it all the more important to avoid bites in these areas of your body.
Consider Closing Off2 an Area
Unfortunately the best way to avoid mosquito bites is to stay indoors. You’ll also have to check that there aren’t cracks where mosquitoes can enter your house.
But always staying indoors is no fun, especially not during summer. To enjoy the best of both worlds, you could consider closing off an area outside where you can enjoy some sun and have a barbecue from time to time.
The best way to enclose you patio to keep mosquitoes away is by having a sunroom installed. This can also be an ideal place to enjoy the afternoon sunshine with a book over the weekends.
However, if you can’t commit to installing a sunroom just yet, your next best option is to hang mosquito nets around your patio. To make these nets more effective, you could put some citronella oil into water and spray them every now and then while you’re outside. This option isn’t as permanent a solution as getting an enclosed patio, but it’s good to fall back on if you still need to save up for a proper enclosure.
Knoxville Patio Enclosures
If you’re in Knoxville, TN feel free to call Sunrooms Express Knoxville about having your patio closed up. Our team can help you install a sunroom so you can enjoy a mosquito-free summer, and a sunnier winter.
