Where there’s one, there are dozens of them, and no one likes dealing with swarms of mosquitoes ruining their time outdoors. Luckily, there are ways to craft your outdoor area to make it a mosquito’s nightmare without using dangerous chemicals. Reclaim your yard with these five landscaping tips that help you repel mosquitoes.
Make Sure There Are No Areas With Standing Water
Mosquitoes love to lay their eggs in any form of standing water, and if your yard is improperly graded, water isn’t flowing properly. This can cause pockets of water to collect and sit there until the ground absorbs them, making the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes.
To remedy this, watch where water collects in your yard next time it rains. Identify the cause, and remove it. It could be as easy as redirecting a downspout. However, a professional may need to regrade your yard.
Plant Mosquito-Repelling Flowers
Mosquitoes do not like strong smells, which is why citronella is such a popular mosquito repellent. Lemongrass is the ingredient used in citronella, so you can plant this ornamental shrub around outside gathering areas as a protective barrier.
If you’re looking for something more colorful, marigolds, lavender, and ageratum repel mosquitoes. Alternatively, if you want plants you can use in the kitchen, sage, basil, and mint are also natural deterrents.
Use Cedar Mulch
When planting all that mosquito-repellent greenery, use cedar mulch for an even stronger aroma. Cedar is another smell that mosquitos avoid. To get the most out of the scent, you can use this mulch around the perimeter of your home as well as wherever you entertain guests. Just remember that the smell won’t last forever, so you’ll want to re-mulch every so often.
Cut Tall Grass
Mosquitoes love tall grass because it blocks the sun and prevents the wind from bothering them. If you have tall grass in your yard, mosquitos are likely hiding out in it. Because of this, regular lawn maintenance is important. If you notice patches of tall grass, be sure to cut them before mosquitoes move in.
Remove Anything That Blocks Airflow
As mentioned, mosquitoes don’t like to be blown around by the wind, so you want to remove any obstacles that may be blocking the airflow where you like to gather outdoors. You’ll want to keep foliage and any small trees trimmed, allowing the wind to blow across the garden. You may even want to consider placing some fans outside.
With these landscaping tips, you’re sure to repel any mosquitoes that may come your way. If you don’t have a green thumb or don’t know where to start, Hernandez Lawnscaping has you covered. We have professional and knowledgeable landscapers in the Baton Rouge, LA area who are dedicated to taking care of all your landscaping needs.
