Life hack: Westwing share tip for getting rid of mosquitoes
More than almost any other pest, mosquitoes can ruin the enjoyment of the outdoors.
If repellents aren’t appealing to you, consider growing garden plants that repel mosquitoes naturally due to the scent of their natural oils.
Sweat and the carbon dioxide given off by breathing are key attractors for mosquitoes, but some garden plants that have strong scents can help to camouflage the scents that these insects use to target their victims, thereby confusing the bugs and providing protection from bites, according to pest control experts at Rentokil.
However, it’s rarely enough to simply fill a garden with growing plants of these types and hope that mosquitoes will vanish.
In most cases, gardeners will need a more concentrated form of the plant’s scent, which can be obtained by burning or crushing the leaves to release the essential oils that produce the odour.
READ MORE: Britons urged to ‘act now’ against fruit flies using the ‘most successful’ tip
Plants to use for organic pest control
1. Basil
Basil is a herb that can also double as a pest repellent. The pungent smell the basil gives off is what keeps pests at bay.
Since all kinds of basil work to keep flies and mosquitoes at bay, feel free to explore and find the right types of basil to mix into the garden.
The experts claimed that basil emits its aroma without crushing the leaves, so gardeners can grow basil in pots and put them in their backyard to “control mosquitoes and other insects”.
2. Lavender
According to pest experts, although people love the smell of lavender, “mosquitoes, flies and other unwanted insects hate the smell of it”.
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It is even argued that lavender can help to hinder a mosquito’s ability to smell.
To control mosquitoes, keep potted lavender plants around seating areas on the patio, backyard, and garden and in a sunny location.
3. Mint
Mint is an excellent nontoxic option for keeping mosquitoes, flies and even ants away as they “hate the smell”. The more pungent the aroma, the fewer bugs gardeners will have.
However, the experts urged gardeners to “never plant mint in the garden”, as it is “dominant and will take over”. Instead, they suggested planting it in pots and plugging in the drainage hole to keep the mint contained.
4. Rosemary
Another great mosquito repellant is rosemary. This is a herb that many are very familiar with and its woody scent is exactly what keeps mosquitoes as well as cabbage moths and carrot flies away.
They do best in hot and dry climates and thrive in containers, which may be ideal right now given the UK’s burst of hot weather.
Mosquitoes often strike while we are barbecuing outside. When grilling, the pest gurus suggest throwing some stalks of rosemary on the hot coals to give a “mosquito-repelling aroma”.
They said: “This simple trick will turn your barbecue into a natural mosquito repellent and adds delicious flavour to your food.”
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