By Lauren Vork
While chemical mosquito repellents such as DEET, picaridin and permethrin are undoubtedly highly effective, these poisons are often unpleasant and can be hazardous to other plant and insect life. Fortunately, organic mosquito control is possible using tried and true pesticide-free methods and plant-based ingredients.
Discourage Mosquito Breeding and Movement
The best way to discourage mosquito breeding is to eliminate as many pools of standing water as you can. This method of organic mosquito control is so effective that it’s the first line of defense for none other than Disney World in naturally-swampy Orlando, Florida.
Even the smallest pools of water can be breeding grounds for tiny mosquito larvae, so look for things like pools of water in awnings or tarps, water gathering in buckets or planters, or wet patches under outdoor faucets.
If you have garden ponds or bird baths, consider switching to something with a motorized pump to keep water moving; mosquitoes require still water for breeding.
Small inflatable or plastic pools used for children or dogs should be emptied when not in use.
For any still water sources that can’t be eliminated, the bacteria bacillus thuringiensis may be added to ponds and swampy areas. This bacterium is available in dry, cake-like preparations where pest repellents are sold and will kill mosquito larvae without harming other pond life.
Make sure to check for new areas of standing water after any major precipitation.
Finally, keep grass and weeds in your lawn cut short, especially in low-lying areas. Long grass and tall weeds preserve water and humidity. Mosquitoes use the shade and shelter of these areas for protection from predators, winds, and for resting.
Mosquito-Repelling Plants
Many common garden plants have natural mosquito-repelling properties. Plant flowers like yarrow, scented geranium, lavender, lemon grass, and marigold for sweet and floral smells that also repel. Plant rosemary, mint, basil, chives, garlic and onion if you want food plants that can also ward off bugs.
Although it’s a short-term solution, mulching your garden with fresh cedar mulch can help minimize mosquitos in an area. The oils found in cedar act as a repellent. Over time, as the oils diminish, the mulch is not as effective as a repellent, but it still benefits your plants by keeping their roots moist and cool during hot weather.
Organic Repellents for Mosquito Control
Ingredients and essential oils from all the garden plants mentioned in the previous section can be used to make large area sprays to help keep your yard mosquito-free. In addition, try lemon, garlic, eucalyptus and vanilla, or any combination of these. Vanilla, in particular, makes for a strong area repellent because the smell not only repels mosquitos, but it also confuses their ability to navigate.
Encouraging Predators for Organic Mosquito Control
Which types of mosquito predators you have will depend on where you live, but generally speaking, the best predators of mosquitoes are dragonflies, mosquito hawks, bats, and birds, with the best bird predator of mosquitos being the purple martin.
Dragonflies thrive in small ponds, and you can encourage their numbers by planting things like coneflowers, black-eyed Susan, water lilies, and meadow sage.
Bats offer an excellent source of organic mosquito control. To encourage bats, build or purchase a bat house and place it on the side of a house or garage, or on a pole at least 15’ (4.6m) high with 20’ (6m) of clear flying space around it.
If you live within the nesting area for purple martins, you may be able to attract some to your property with a set of specialized birdhouses. Purple martins nest in communities so the houses contain multiple units. You can learn more about this from the Purple Martin Conservation Association website.
If you have sizeable water features in your landscape, such as a pond or a large container water garden, consider adding fish that eat mosquito larvae, such as goldfish, koi, guppies, or catfish. Keep in mind that overfeeding your fish with pellets may discourage them from pursuing natural food sources, such as mosquito larvae.
Managing Water in Your Landscape
Areas of waterlogged soil create prime locations for mosquitos to establish breeding grounds. Drainage can be affected by a variety of conditions including soil type, soil compaction, and excessive watering or rainfall. Get tips on how to help remedy these situations in our article, How to Improve Soil Drainage.
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