How To Repel Mosquitoes Naturally From Your Backyard And Patio
Stay mosquito bite-free with our top tips for keeping mosquitoes away from your patio and outdoor space without harmful pesticides. We’re sharing 9 ways to naturally repel mosquitoes from your patio so you can enjoy your outdoor space pest-free.
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Mosquitoes can ruin an otherwise enjoyable summer evening outside. Aside from dousing yourself with insecticides, there are steps you can take to keep mosquitoes away from your outdoor space without harmful chemical exposure. We’re sharing 9 ways to naturally repel mosquitoes from your patio so you can enjoy your outdoor space pest-free.
Not only are mosquitoes extremely annoying to have buzzing around you, they carry diseases like West Nile Virus, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, Chagas Disease, Zika Virus, Malaria and more. West Nile Virus is the most common disease caused by mosquito bites in the continental United States.
Although strong chemical insecticides may be effective at controlling mosquito populations, you risk killing beneficial insect populations, and exposure to harsh insecticides can be harmful to humans and pets as well. Look below for 9 ways to naturally repel mosquitoes on your patio and in your outdoor space.
Remove Standing Water
Mosquitoes lay eggs in stagnant or standing water. Objects like children’s sand toys and kiddie pools, buckets, birdbaths, wheelbarrows, tarps and flowerpots can collect and hold water, and are perfect places for mosquitos to lay eggs. Check your yard for stagnant water and empty and drain any bins that have water sitting in them.
If you have standing water that can’t be drained, like a depression in your lawn that collects water, drop a few Mosquito Dunks in the water. They contain a natural organic ingredient that kills mosquito larvae, and they don’t contain poisonous ingredients. The Mosquito Dunks will continue to kill for 30 days.
If you have old, leftover coffee grounds, sprinkle some on the standing water to deter mosquitoes from laying eggs. Mosquitoes do not like coffee grounds and will not lay eggs in the areas you sprinkle with coffee grounds.
Tidy Your Yard
Clear debris so mosquitoes won’t have a place to linger and hide. This includes taming tall grass, weeds and overgrown vegetation, removing fallen branches and getting rid of piles of children’s toys. If you need a recommendation for an eco-friendly lawnmower, head to our post on the 6 best eco-friendly lawn mowers.
Mosquito Netting
A physical barrier like mosquito netting keeps mosquitoes away while letting the breeze through. This is a very effective method if you want to keep mosquitoes away from a baby or expectant mother without insecticides.
If you have a porch, install mosquito netting curtains on the sides.
If you have space in your yard, set up a Gazebo Tent With Mosquito Netting. This tent features zippered sidewalls and adjustable poles.
Turn On A Fan
Mosquitoes have a hard time flying against the breeze from a fan. A fan can reduce mosquito landings by 45%-65% depending on the speed of the fan and how close to the fan you’re sitting. Mosquitoes are also attracted to the carbon dioxide from our breath. A spinning fan breaks up the distribution of carbon dioxide and confuses the mosquitoes, making it hard for them to find the source.
This Lasko Elegant Living Outdoor Fan was made for the elements and also looks stylish on your patio or deck. It features 3 quiet speeds, oscillates and can be controlled remotely.
If you don’t have an outlet outside, place a battery-operated fan near your patio sitting area. This Rechargeable Battery Operated Fan produces a quiet and strong wind, and can run up to 20 hours after a full recharge.
Yellow LED Lights
Mosquitoes do not gravitate toward warm yellow LED light bulbs since the yellow wavelengths are beyond the insect’s range of vision. Switch out your white lightbulbs for yellow LED bulbs and you will notice that considerably less bugs swarm around the bulbs.
Install these Outdoor LED Yellow Bug Light Bulbs in all of your outdoor light fixtures to deter mosquitoes. These LED yellow light bulbs emit the precise wavelengths of light to efficiently keep bugs away and feature a dusk to dawn smart light sensor that turns the bulb on automatically at night and turns off when ambient lighting is sufficient.
Create a cozy atmosphere on your deck or patio with Outdoor LED Yellow String Lights. These string lights are weatherproof and shatterproof , and work up to 8 hours before recharging with an included solar panel.
Having a party? Hook a Hanging Solar Powered Lantern from a beam or tree branch for a warm yellow glow. This lantern is solar-powered and works up to 8 hours when fully charged.
Strategically Place Mosquito-Repelling Plants
Some plants naturally repel mosquitoes, and you’ll benefit from placing pots of these plants around your outdoor seating area or planting them near your patio or deck. If you need a refresher on how to pot herbs and other plants, refer to our post on tips for growing herbs in containers.
Mosquito-Repelling Plants:
- Citronella
- Marigolds
- Bee Balm
- Lavender
- Catnip
- Eucalyptus
- Peppermint
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Basil
- Lemongrass
LED Bug Zapper
Although LED bug zappers work for mosquitoes, be warned that they also work against beneficial insects. UV light attracts mosquitoes (and other insects) into the device, and an internal electric grid instantly kills the mosquitoes.
This LED Bug Zapper is weatherproof and unscrews for easy cleanup.
Burn Candles And Incense
Utilize the power of plants in candle and incense form to repel mosquitoes. Just as certain plants deter mosquitoes, so do the essential oils harvested from these plants. Light incense sticks or candles to ward off pesky mosquitoes.
Nantucket Spider Mosquito Sticks are formulated for outdoor use and are made with steam-distilled, cold-pressed pure essential oils, dried herbs, oranges and lavender. These repellent incense sticks are biodegradable and environmentally friendly and each stick provides over 90 minutes of protection from insects.
Did you know that oil of lemon eucalyptus sprays reduced mosquito attraction by 60%? Light these Lemon Eucalyptus Tea Lights and place them on your picnic table for protection from mosquitoes. The Aire Candle Co. Not Citronella Candle combines 100% pure, sustainably-sourced Lemon Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Lavender, Peppermint essential oils, each known to repel different insects.
Natural Bug Spray
As added protection against buzzing mosquitoes, spritz your clothing with natural bug spray. Lemon eucalyptus oil works better than citronella and almost as well as DEET to repel mosquitos.
Kinfield Golden Hour Repellent repels mosquitos with a unique strain of Indonesian citronella.
Ain’t No Bugs On Me Spray repels bugs naturally without toxic chemicals. Made with organic neem seed oil and a blend of essential oils that will repel mosquitoes, gnats and other flying pests. This spray will not attract bees and wasps and is safe for children and pets.
Murphy’s Naturals Lemon Eucalyptus Insect Spray is a natural plant-based bug spray contains 30% Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus, 70% Distilled Water and ethanol made from corn. It protects against mosquitoes for up to 6 Hours and protects against ticks for up to 4 hours.
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