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Organic Gardening

Mosquitoes Help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

16 years ago

I garden organically. But my backyard is full of mosq. I am having my garden club over on Monday. I have looked for asny breeding places without much success. Is there any answer? Will candles keep them at bay? I want this to be a good time but this problem may keep us all inside for our meeting and a plant swap.

Any suggestions will be much appreciated.

Martha

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Comments (5)

jenica
16 years ago
I had horrible mosquitoes in my backyard when I lived in Memphis. Tiki torches set up around our sitting area with citronella oil in them helped (If you have a Garden Ridge nearby, they usually have sales around this time and you can get the cheap ones for under a dollar). Or a strong fan outside where you'll be sitting will help too, it blows them away. You can also spray your lawn furniture with a deterrent like skin-so-soft or if you want Off, it's not as effective as spraying yourself but it does help. I hate putting that stuff on because it's so greasy.

I found that the mosquitoes loved my black-eyed-susans and I had to move them away from my patio. I think they like tall plants like that because they shade the ground and keep it moist. This probably won't help now since you don't want to be tearing up your garden right before the party but maybe for future garden planning.

Hope your party goes well.
tclynx
16 years ago
You could look into a garlic spray of some sort though it could be toxic to beneficial insects as well as the bad ones.

The fan idea is a good one!

The only real help I've managed to get from the candles personally is when I put one of those ones with the pad of material susupended over the candle right under my chair. It helps keep the skeeters off but I don't think breathing that much of the smoke is good for a person.

I hate putting on repellent I've had bad reactions to it before. Problem is mosquitos love me and will bite me through denim if I've sprayed everywhere else but forgot the pants. If I am well covered with repellent, they aim for the eyelids. Sigh. And I usually have to spray in the garden at dusk since it is so hot lately that spraying in the daytime would be hard on the plants.
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Who is responsible for the 'creek'? If your city is in charge of maintenance, then perhaps a call to them might bring about an application of mosquito larvicide, Bacillus thuringiensis-Israelensis. Bt-I is not harmful to non-target insects or animals (of any kind) but will take care of the mosquite wrigglers. Don't let them come out and do a malathion or pyrethrin spray.
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I am glad to read all this info because I have been contemplating buying a m-magnet but worried about if it worked. I have about 9 acres and part of it is swamp and I have a large deep pond. The mosquitos are TERRIBLE in the summer. I live in the south near the coast and have tried the bounce fabric softner sheets and also skin-so-soft. Neither worked. Here you need the strongest DEET you can get and it sweats off very fast. Plus, since it is hot and you are applying it your skin it makes me sick. I can't work outside with long sleeves and pants in the heat.:) I have heard not to eat banana's because it will make your blood more attractive to mosquitos as well. I don't expect to keep my entire yard free of the little suckers but I would love to have it mosquito free to sit on the porch or deck, especially in the evenings. What is the general expense for the DEMAND treatment and will it hurt animals such as deer or birds?(Or fish for that matter) Thanks for the info!
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I live in Winnipeg, Canada, and used to live in coastal Alaska. Both areas infamous for mosquito problems. Here, in the burbs they fog for them and release dragon flies to eat them. But for you, since you're next to this water hole that you can't do much about and the bugs are past their larvae stage and in the air now, the only things you can do are repel or catch/kill. Here are my suggestions: 1. put up a trap as others have suggested. I don't have a suggestion on which to use, because I don't live near a water hole and bug spray is good enough to at least harvest veggies. 2. I know most people don't have clothes specifically for gardening... but if you were to take say the top 3 shirts and pants you would most likely wear in the garden and soak them in a permethrin solution, that will not only repel, but kill any mosquito that lands on you. Satisfying, isn't it? lol You can get high strength for horse application online and dilute it, or pay a pretty penny for the stuff in a spray can for human use. Permethrin is meant for clothing, not skin application although it does not absorb in the skin (my husband is a chemist and told me this), and will last through something like 20 washes according to the label. No odor, no colour, will not ruin clothing. 3. Wear a bug hat with one of those nifty mesh cages that come down over your face. Sure, you'll look like a bee keeper, but it's satisfying to know they can't get to you through the mesh, try and try as they may. 4. Put out mosquito coils... you know those green incense things.... they always seemed gimmicky to me, until I moved north and found they worked great. Skeeters hate them. If you can, find a way to increase your dragonfly population. They're beautiful, they don't bother people and they eat the skeeters. Last summer, the city of Winnipeg decided to try a green approach to the mosquito control and had tens of thousands of dragonflies released in the city and the parks. I would walk through open fields of grass with my 4 year old daughter, and clouds of blue/green dragonflies would rise in our wake, and hover above us. It was quite fantastical, but even better, not a mosquito in sight! Even if you do find a solution, never deny yourself the occasional swat! in the air... it's immensely gratifying to squash one, mid-flight! Lol
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You have no choice but to get out there and clean up the yard of weeds, ivy, and other plant debris. Hire help, if you need to. Is there a body of water nearby, not in your yard? I had to have a chat with my neighbor who was leaving a baby pool outside for the dog, but never emptying it....just adding more water occasionally. Mosquitoes can breed in a very small amount of water, like the cupped leaves of ivy. I know that from experience. I had to quit in the middle of a consultation visit, which included a walkthrough of the property for a plant inventory and detailed measurements of the property and proposed design locations. It became impossible to work after about ten minutes and I called it quits. The clients called me back after they had accomplished a major yard clean-up and I was able to get back to work.
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marthaye
Original Author
16 years ago
Thank you for the tips. I will try them all!!
I ALSO HAVE A HINT. Spray the inside bill of your hat with repellent. It will keep insects from getting your face and getting in your eyes.

Thanks again.

I saw the tiki torches but did not think of the cent oil.
Demeter
16 years ago
A little hint for next year, but too late for this year unfortunately: Grow lemon balm. Lots of it. You can space it in among other plants. Bruise the leaves on the plants slightly to release the oils into the air, and pick some leaves and rub them on your skin and clothing to repel mosquitoes from your person. Smells wonderful.
anaerobic
16 years ago
Bounce dryer sheets rubbed on your skin and clothes will help repel mosquitos, yellow flies and fleas. Not at all messy and have a pleasant scent.

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