Is a mosquito and bug free garden possible?

Mosquito and bug free garden? Any tips on how we should design our garden to minimize these mutant BK mosquitoes? No trees is one I’m sure. And what non-toxic sprays, candles, etc are effective to use while using the garden? Thanks so much.

JJDPE

in General Discussion 9 years and 1 month ago

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SoSlope | 9 years and 1 month ago

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If you are willing to use chemicals, I strongly second what asimplenoise said: the bug control that goes on the end of a hose and gets sprayed works very, very well (cutter is one brand, but there are others). Without that, any Brooklyn backyard is going to have a lot of mosquitoes.

resident2 | 9 years and 1 month ago

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Burn lots of Citronella candles.

nsloper | 9 years and 1 month ago

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We keep ordinary oscillating fans outside and aim them at us whenever we are out there. They survive the rain w/ a recycling bag thrown over them and work fantastically – mosquitos hate wind and won’t land when the fans are blowing! For parties, I position 2 or 3 fans around the yard and we are all quite comfortable.

bliz | 9 years and 1 month ago

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We always use a Thermacell mosquito repeller. It emits a chemical called allethrin (from chrysanthemum) which I don’t think is bad for you but does deter mosquitoes. Off also makes lanterns that emit the same chemical. Works really well for us.

asimplenoise | 9 years and 1 month ago

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We undertook our extensive backyard reno partially to solve this issue. We started with a weedy moist backyard which was filled with mosquitos. The entire thing was cleared, drainage installed, deck installed, paved and had flower beds installed for shrubbery. We didnt get it landscaped the first summer…..eventually we did.

I ramble on, but whats my point? Well…….at every single freaking stage of this process it was impossible to set foot in the yard without being bitten to death by tiger mosquitoes. With or without weeds, drainage, or landscaping these things just own the summer….they even get us on the deck raised a floor off of the garden. It is a hopeless battle.

I finally tried yesterday just spraying a bottle of Cutter backyard control (attaches to hose and sprays mixed with water)….so far it seems to have worked wonders.

DouglasAlan | 9 years and 1 month ago

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Google “natural oils that repel mosquitoes”. I’ve had luck with cinnamon and eucalyptus by spraying it on the perimeter of my backyard before a barbecue. Also, Google “plants that repel mosquitoes”. Lots of good suggestions.

daveinbedstuy | 9 years and 1 month ago

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Anopheles passive-aggressive green approaches. Get yourself a can of Yard Guard and just fog the place

shaller | 9 years and 1 month ago

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We have a lot of mosquitoes that aggregate under our stoop, there are typically at least a dozen there in the summer when I get home or more. We decided to get battery powered rackets that zap whatever they hit. It’s not a passive fix, but we’re hoping that over time they learn not to spend time there

Augustiner | 9 years and 1 month ago

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Get rid of any standing water, even very small
Avoid bamboo, it’s an Asian tiger mosquito’s favorite
Motivate your neighbors to do the same
Get mosquito dunks for any standing water that can’t be eradicated
Get or build mosquito hatch traps (they ly their eggs in there and they can’t escape when they hatch)

This is an ongoing battle, and I don’t think you can completely get rid of them, but reduce the population at least

daveinbedstuy | 9 years and 1 month ago

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There is a new repellent out that is supposed to be good but I have not tried ot yet. You apply it to non-flowering shrubs. http://www.lifeandhome.com/atsb200-terminix-allclear-mosquito-bait-amp-kill.html?gclid=CIDP4OScqs0CFVclgQodnFwJ1g [Shopping](//muut.com/u/brownstoner/s1/:brownstoner:q5b3:shopping.jpeg.jpg)

NeoGrec | 9 years and 1 month ago

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Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but it’s impossible to completely eradicate mosquitoes. The issue is that they occupy a larger ecosystem than just your backyard. However careful you are, they will breed in standing water in your neighbors ‘ yards. I have found that using a strong fan on the deck discourages them — they hate wind!