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How To Keep Mosquitoes Out Of Your Yard – Naturally!

Is it really possible to keep mosquitoes out of your yard without spraying all kinds of chemicals and harsh sprays on your lawn, clothes and body?

Mosquitoes can all but ruin a perfect evening outdoors. Especially as the heat and humidity of summer seem to multiply these harmful and painful pests by the thousands. Unfortunately, mosquitoes are not only a nuisance, but a health risk as well.

Their painful bites can carry a lengthy list of diseases, including encephalitis, West Nile virus, malaria, yellow fever and more. And then there are the welts they leave behind from their bites – causing non-stop scratching and itching battles that can nearly drive you crazy!

how to keep mosquitoes out
Mosquitoes love the warm, humid summertime conditions. Their populations can soar quickly, especially if care is not taken to eliminate their natural habitats.

Those painful bites usually lead to either eliminating outdoor time, or resorting to using a bevy of harsh sprays and bug bombs to try to keep the flying insects from infesting your outdoor spaces.

But here’s some good news, there are a few excellent ways to deter and help eliminate mosquitoes naturally. And they really do work! With that in mind, here is a look at three of the best all-natural ways to keep mosquitoes from ruining your time outdoors.

3 Natural Ways To Keep Mosquitoes Out Of Your Yard

#1 Eliminate Their Natural Habitat

It’s a simple fact, without still water, mosquitoes cannot breed and multiply. By simply eliminating any standing water near your home, you can instantly help keep mosquito populations in check.

Think you don’t have standing water in your yard? Unfortunately, you might be surprised at just how many perfect breeding spaces exist around your home for mosquitoes. Some are in plain sight, while others can be a bit more difficult to locate.

Bird baths, small pools, and standing buckets of water left outdoors are all perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes. As are old tires, uncovered rain barrels and even the small water trays placed under potted plants.

clogged gutters
A clog in your gutters can allow water to back up quickly. And once it does, it can become a breeding ground for mosquito larvae.

But mosquitoes can also find water sources to breed that are more discreet. One of the best examples of this are in downspouts and gutters. It is here where leaves and debris can back up, leaving plenty of standing water to collect.

How Quickly They Can Multiply

Mosquitoes can produce a new generation in a flash. In fact, in just 36 to 48 hours, mosquitoes can not only lay larvae, but hatch it. The only way to help stop the cycle is to eliminate the water they breed in.

If you have bird baths or small pools for kids outdoors, change out the water daily. Be sure to inspect gutters and downspouts for clogs and standing water on a regular basis. Remove any pails or small objects that can hold water from your outdoors.

Even more, if you have low lying areas in your yard that trap water, fill them in. By simply eliminating standing water, you can do wonders in controlling your overall mosquito population.

#2 Attract Natural Enemies – How To Keep Mosquitoes Out Of Your Yard

Now that you can keep the mosquitoes you have from multiplying, it’s time to get rid of the ones you have – naturally! And one of the best ways to do that is by attracting their natural enemies to your landscape.

bat house - keep mosquitoes away
Installing a bat house is an excellent way to help keep mosquito populations down. Bats are one of the most efficient mosquito hunters around, especially at night when mosquitoes are most active.

Birds love mosquitoes and their larvae! Bats, purple martins and bluebirds are all natural predators of mosquitoes. As are robins and chickadees. In fact, together, these birds can devour hundreds and hundreds of them on a daily basis.

To bring these insect fighting machines into your backyard, create an inviting habitat for them to enjoy. Start by filling your landscape with the plants they love. See: How To Attract Birds, Bees & Butterflies – 5 Perennials Pollinators Love!

By planting perennials such as black-eyed Susan, Coneflower and other bird-attracting flowers, it can bring our avian friends calling, and in the process, have a big effect on reducing your mosquito population.

And don’t stop with just plants, provide them the shelter they love too! Installing specific and inviting bird houses such as purple martin houses and bat houses work wonders for keeping these mosquito-eating birds on site. Product Link : The Ultimate Wooden Bat House for Outdoors

In addition, feeders and bird baths can be inviting to birds as well. But remember – keep them clean and change them often to prevent mosquitoes from using them too!

#3 Fill Your Outdoor Spaces With Plants Mosquitoes Despise – How To Keep Mosquitoes Out Of Your Yard

In addition to plants that bring predators into your landscape, there are also plants you can grow to keep mosquitoes out. Marigolds, nasturtiums, and herbs such as lavender, sage, and the entire family of mints are all despised by mosquitoes.

In fact, nasturtium plants produce a specific chemical marker that mosquitoes are known to avoid at all costs. Even better, all of these plants help to keep out other annoying pests such as aphids, whiteflies and squash bugs too!

Fill containers with these plants and place them on patios and porches where you enjoy your outdoor time. If you have flowerbed spaces around these areas, fill them with these flowers as well. Not only will they help keep mosquitoes away, they will also fill your patio with beautiful blooms and scents as they grow!

Don’t Forget Fire! How To Keep Mosquitoes Out Of Your Yard

Finally, while you are enjoying your patio time, don’t forget that a good fire can help repel these flying pests in a flash. Both heat and flames are excellent natural repellents for mosquitoes.

But to make that fire even more effective, add in a few herbs to the flames. The next time you light your fire pit or outdoor grill for the evening, toss a little sage, lavender or mint into the flames. It can be fresh or dried, but the resulting scent from the flames will send them packing!

Here is to keeping your outdoors free of pests, and enjoying your summer to the fullest!

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