Pest Control Methods - How to Keep Mosquitoes Out of Your Yard

During the Spring, Summer and Fall months, mosquitoes tend to infiltrate the yard. No matter what you do, it seems one cannot get rid of these pesky little annoyances! From spraying disgusting repellents, to piling on layers of clothes, they seem to find their way in somewhere to start probing.

I don't know about you, but during these months, I would much rather be outside doing something than feel like I am stuck inside. Mosquito's put a serious damper on my outdoor activities. Mostly because, I am seriously allergic to their bites. One bite can sometimes swell up to the size of a golf ball!

Catnip Plants

I have tried several repellents and plants that are known to deter mosquito's from coming around while I am outside. I seems, though, that none of them work as well as I would like them to. Here are a few products or plants that are known to repel mosquito's...

Mosquito repellent with Deet: In my experience, these sprays work to an extent. But only last for a short period of time. Not to mention the fact that Deet effects included rashes, skin or mucous membrane irritation, transient numb or burning lips, dizziness, disorientation, and difficulty concentrating. Also, most of the time these sprays do not smell that great, and it just is annoying to have to re-apply the spray over and over again. Just seems like it is not very cost affective, right?

Citronella Candles: These candles also work to a certain extent. Some also find the smell of Citronella offensive. When burning these candles though, how is it going to work when the wind is blowing away from your outdoor activities? Rather pointless if you ask me....

Marigolds: Did you know that most insects cannot stand the smell of these flowers? Including mosquito's! Marigolds are not the most beautiful flower in the world and come in a limited variety of colors. But the smell is repulsive to mosquito's, aphids and several other pesky insects. They do a fine job of keeping them away. I plant them randomly in my veggie garden to help keep the aphids away. I also have had them planted on my porch to try to keep mosquito's away. But it just doesn't seem to do the trick completely.

Avon Skin So Soft: This oil, made by Avon, has gotten rave reviews for keeping away mosquito's and flies. I have also tried this product, and it works about as well as the sprays that contain Deet. Even horse breeders use it on their horses to keep flies away. The smell is not repulsive and it does work pretty well. But, because it is oil based, it makes your skin feel really greasy. A small price to pay? Well maybe...but I just want to enjoy the outdoors without lathering myself up with products like this.

Catnip: This is the stuff that cats will go crazy over....literally! But mosquito's hate it. They cannot stand it, in fact, it is said that catnip is ten times more effective than Deet. But it seems to me, that whether you have the plant, or just a random bowl of it just sitting around...is every cat in the neighborhood or beyond going to come meowing at your door? Not sure if I want to risk that....

Mosquito Traps: Now mosquito traps, I feel, is the way to go. Some are better than others. Some, are more Eco friendly than others. For example, some traps require the use of propane. I really do not feel that is safe. Propane is very flammable. Have one of these traps close to a camp fire? That would not be safe. Or, the smell of propane...not pleasant. Also releasing toxic fumes into the environment does not seem all that safe either. Some traps, however do not require propane. Some, have the optional use of Co2, which is completely safe for the environment.

So, all of these products or plants, all have their own value. They also have their disadvantages, like most things do. But maybe, just maybe, using Mosquito traps in conjunction with a couple of these plants would do the trick greatly! I myself have a trap sitting on my front porch right now. I use it there with no plants, and using no other products. I can sit on my front porch and have minimal problems with mosquito's. It draws them in, and kills them, keeping them away from me forever. And keeping me safe from the diseases that mosquito's carry.

Pest Control Methods - How to Keep Mosquitoes Out of Your Yard

Organic Recipes For Pest Control - 5 Organic Methods For Pest Control

If you pick a pest, you can usually find a natural counter for it, most often in the form of other insects. There are no reasons why you would need to use chemicals for your pest control, there are many very powerful methods that you can use. Here are five of them.

The first method is to attract beneficial insects with specific plants or to buy them from a catalogue. Brachonids, chalcids and ichneumon Wasps are good to get rid of leaf eating caterpillars. You can attract them with carrot plants, celery plants, parsley or caraway. The flowers form these plants attracts those wasps.

Catnip Plants

Ladybugs are very useful to your garden, as they consume aphids, mites, whiteflies and scale. They are usually attracted to daisies, tansy or yarrow. You can also purchase some in an online catalogue.

Lacewings are also aphid consumers, while their larvae will eat many other kinds of pests. Those insects are attracted to composite flowers, like goldenrod, yarrow and asters. You can also purchase them online. Hoverflies are pretty similar to the lacewings, as they eat mostly the same kind of pests and are attracted to the similar plants.

Another good insect is the praying mantis. These large insects have a pretty big appetite when it comes to garden pests. You can buy some praying mantis eggs online and set them in the garden, were they will hatch and prey on pests.

The second organic method that you can use is a special recipe using garlic. Yes stinking garlic can be used to repel pests. It is useful for controlling cabbageworm, leafhoppers, and whitefly. You can mix 3 garlic cloves with 2 teaspoon of vegetable oil and let it rest for 24 hours. After that you need to strain the liquid, then mix 1 teaspoon of dishwashing soap with 1 liter of water. Mix it well and spray it on the plants.

Next organic method is using some peppermint. Peppermint and other kinds of similar herbs, such as catnip and spearmint, are pretty good to get rid of your pests. You just need to mix it with apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle and start spraying. It will kill bug or make them go away and is pretty effective on a wide variety of pests.

For the fourth organic method you can use pepper. Pepper has a strong smell and bugs are not too keen on approaching an area that has pepper. The best concoction using pepper is to mix it with flour, then you can spray it around your garden.

Last method is similar to the garlic method, but will be using onions too. Here is the recipe: mix 4 onions, 2 cloves of garlic, 2 tablespoon of cayenne pepper with a quarter of water. Blend this well, then dilute 2 tablespoon of soap flakes with 2 liters of water. Mix everything together and blend it again. This will give you a potent pest spray and enough quantity to last a long time.

Organic Recipes For Pest Control - 5 Organic Methods For Pest Control

Natural Pest Control - Get Rid of Pests Without Using Harmful Chemicals

When an ant, cockroach, or flea decides to make an appearance at a barbeque or dinner party, it is enough to ruin the entire event. Pests like these can easily be controlled with pesticides, but the chemicals that these products contain can be detrimental to the health of you, your children, or your pets. With such risks involved, many people find themselves searching for other methods like natural pest control and prevention.

One of the most common problems in the summer time is the ants. They climb onto tables and decks, and frequent the cabinets in the home. To prevent ants from entering the home, try finding where the ants enter. Once this spot has been located, create a barrier by spreading cayenne pepper, citrus oil, or coffee grounds over the area. The ants will not pass over these items. If the ants are already in the home, try placing cucumber peels, garlic cloves, or spearmint leaves in the cabinets. These products are known to repel ants, chasing them out of your home. Once ants are under control in the home, you can focus on infestations that are outdoors. Sprinkle cornmeal in and around the entrance to the ant hill. The ants will bring the cornmeal home and share it with the colony. Cornmeal cannot be digested by the ants and the colony will be killed off within a week.

Catnip Plants

Cockroaches are one of the most repulsive pests around, but natural pest control does exist for them as well. Catnip will repel cockroaches, so place it in areas that you know the roaches will frequent. To kill off an existing population, place a piece of bread that has been soaked in beer in a plastic container. Place the container where the roaches will find it. As with the cornmeal and the ants, the roaches will not be to properly digest the beer, causing them to slowly die off. Keep a bottle of soapy water handy at all times. If a roach is seen out in the open, spray it with the soapy water, and this will kill the roach within minutes by breaking down its exoskeleton.

Natural pest control also exists for mosquitoes. As a preventative measure, remove all standing water from the yard, as this is the preferred habitat for mosquitoes. When planning on spending time outdoors, rub on a solution that is at least thirty percent eucalyptus. The eucalyptus has been proven to prevent mosquitoes from biting. Planting sage, rosemary, and marigold throughout the yard will also help repel mosquitoes. These plants have a natural deterrent quality. Another effective repellent for mosquitoes is anything that creates smoke. During a barbeque or other outdoor gathering, burn incense or other smoky item to help repel the swarms that may gather and annoy your guests.

With natural pest control methods such as these, there is no need to keep harmful chemicals around the house.

Natural Pest Control - Get Rid of Pests Without Using Harmful Chemicals