11 Gardening Tips That Can Help Reduce Mosquitos In Your Garden This Summer

The warm summer months take vibrant blooms , ripening fruits , and lush foliage , but they also usher in the unwelcome buzz of mosquito . As a gardener who treasures peaceable evenings among rosiness and vegetable , I do it how frustrating it can be when these tiny pests bankrupt the serenity of a perfect sunset moment . It ’s such a bummer when you ’ve spent hours tending to your prime beds — and suddenly every patch of shade seems to swarm with barbed insects . The practiced news is , with thoughtful garden plan and simple maintenance , you’re able to importantly reduce mosquito populations right where you live .

Throughout this article , I ’ll share eleven elaborated tips — ranging from industrial plant natural selection to water supply management and habitat creation — that help keep mosquito at bay . I ’ll dive into explanation of plant origins and invasiveness , pollinator and predator behaviors , and practical strategies you’re able to implement this June and beyond . Whether you have expansive raised beds or a few container on a balcony , these horticulture tips will indue you to reclaim your outdoor oasis and enjoy summertime without constantly swat at the breeze . permit ’s toil into these strategy , woven with nurseryman ’s empathy and enthusiasm , so you could finally host those backyard cook out mosquito - free !

Introduce Mosquito-Eating Fish to Garden Ponds

One of my favorite strategies is adding mosquito - exhaust fish , like Gambusia affinis ( mosquitofish ) , to garden pool or H2O feature of speech . Native to the southeasterly United States , Gambusia affinis naturally flow on mosquito larvae , helping to interrupt the life history cps before they can emerge as biting grownup . When I first stocked a small koi pond with these live little Pisces last June , I noticed a dramatic free fall in mosquito larvae within day — raising mosquito - eggs - to - midge proportion in my favor ! Because mosquitofish are small and hardy , they adapt to various pond sizes , as long as water temperature remain above 40 ° F .

However , since mosquitofish can be invading in certain region ( for instance , western U.S. states , Australia ) , it ’s crucial to source them from reputable local hatchery and ensure they do n’t escape into natural waterways . In regions where mosquitofish are n’t recommended , native alternatives like bluegill ( Lepomis macrochirus ) or killifish ( Fundulus diaphanus ) can also dish as effective mosquito predators . Beyond fish , dragonfly nymphs — native to nigh every continent — prey on larvae ; boost adult dragonflies to lay eggs ( see next discussion section ) further encourage biologic dominance . By introduce mosquito - eating Pisces responsibly in June , you create a live roadblock against future swarms with minimum intervention .

Plant Mosquito-Repellent Flowers

Strategically implant fragrant , mosquito - repellent flowers around seating areas and garden border can make a innate roadblock without harsh chemical . Citronella gage ( Cymbopogon nardus ) , aboriginal to Southeast Asia , is perhaps the most well - experience — its strong citrusy aroma masks the human aroma that mosquitoes attempt . I plant a hedge of citronella supply near my patio last summer , and within weeks the evenings feel noticeably less mosquito - laden ! Just be aware : citronella grass can spread vegetatively in warm climates , so monitor its growth and look at container planting if you ’re implicated about invasiveness .

Lavender ( Lavandula angustifolia ) , aboriginal to the Mediterranean , is another star choice — its silvery leafage and fragrant purple blooms discourage mosquitoes while attracting bees and butterfly . In June , when your lavender begin to blossom , you ’ll see honeybee seethe happily in its blossom while the mosquitoes wander away . Likewise , lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis ) , aboriginal to Europe , emits citronellal compounds that repel mosquito ; though it can distribute smartly , keep it confined to planter or cutting it back after blooming forbid it from overtaking next beds . By intersperse these aromatic plants — alongside companion repellant like marigold ( Tagetesspp . , native to the Americas)—you make a multilayered odour buckler that bilk mosquitoes while benefiting pollinator .

Encourage Dragonflies by Providing Shallow Water Features

Dragonflies are voracious mosquito predators , both as nymphs in the water and grownup in flight . To draw in them , provide shallow water feature — like a mini stream or a slightly submerge tipping pail — that conserve a thin picture show of water without digest mosquito breeding . When I added a diminished cement basin filled with river stone and a gentle bubbler to my garden last June , I saw vivacious blue dasher mosquito hawk ( Pachydiplax longipennis , aboriginal to North America ) within day . Their larvae , or nymphs , lurk under submerged Rock , feast on mosquito larvae , efficaciously cutting down mosquito numbers before they hatch .

Ensure your water feature include emergent plants — such as native cattails ( Typha latifolia ) or pickerelweed ( Pontederia cordata)—for dragonfly nymphs to go up during metamorphosis . These plants are not incursive in most North American region and allow perching spots for adults . Avoid stagnant conditions ; nymphs need well - oxygenated piddle , which bubbling features supply . By June , when water temperatures uprise and mosquito eggs rocket , your dragonfly habitat will become a battlefield where adult sewing needle police over water , snapping up mosquito on the wing . Encouraging dragonflies adds a dynamic , beneficial presence to your garden and gives you an elegant natural solution to mosquito control .

Eliminate Standing Water Sources

One of the simple — but most critical — step is remove or regularly fresh any standing water . mosquito require just a teaspoonful of body of water to lay hundred of egg . I take this after neglecting a forgotten dish antenna under my potted geranium ( Pelargoniumspp . , aboriginal to South Africa ) ; over a hot week in June , I witness it teem with writhing larvae . From kiddie pools and clogged gutters to birdbath and plant life tummy saucers , each dead pocket becomes a mosquito hatchery . Emptying , scouring , and replenish these container at least once a hebdomad cut off the larvae ’s development , halting the emergence of biting adults .

For permanent piss elements — like rain barrels — installing fine mesh screens over inlets prevents distaff mosquitoes from accessing stagnant water . If you have low - consist domain prone to puddling , consider improving drainage or establish a shallow dry well that boost water to sink in into the filth within 48 hours — before larvae can mature . Even damp pile of leaves or an older tire can hold enough wet to become a raising terra firma . By patrolling your garden in June for any container or recess where water hoard , you clip potential mosquito drove in the bud — leave you free to relish evenings without the changeless threat of bite .

Use Biological Larvicides Like Mosquito Dunks

biologic larvicides , such as Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis ( Bti)—commonly sold as mosquito dunks — offer up an organic way to place mosquito larvae in standing weewee without harming good insects . Bti is a by nature occurring bacterium that produces toxin deadly to mosquito , blackfly , and fungus gnat larvae but is harmless to angle , birds , mammals , and good aquatic life . Last June , I start up dropping mosquito dunks into my decorative fountain and rain barrels , and within a few day , no wriggler appeared despite persistent warm weather . This return me peace of intellect to focus on weeding and prune rather than unremitting water - troubling .

Always come label education and apply dunks ahead of time in the season — June is gross — as they remain effective for up to thirty days per stuff shot . Since Bti targets only larvae , it preserve predatory insects like dragonfly nymph and backswimmers in pool environments . For flower growers who habituate water - filled containers like drip trays , a portion of a stuff shot can treat several solid metrical foot of water , making it a cost - good solution . If you have ornamental pools with Pisces , Bti is idealistic ; unlike chemical substance larvicides , it wo n’t poison your mosquito - eating Carassius auratus ( Carassius auratus ) , which are native to East Asia but commonly stocked in many koi ponds . By using biological controls in June , you establish a good roadblock that addresses emerge larvae before they ever take flight .

Install Bird and Bat Nesting Structures

Attracting raw mosquito predators — like swallows , bats , and sure songbirds — is both fun to determine and highly effective . squash racket , especially insectivorous coinage such as the little brownish chiropteran ( Myotis lucifugus ) , can use up thousands of insects per night , including mosquito . install a bat theater on a berth at least 15 feet off the primer in a sunny blot ( minimal six hours of direct Lord’s Day ) encourages these nocturnal hunters to rest nearby . I vividly retrieve the thrill last June when , at dusk , bats swoop across my vegetable patch , dramatically boil down mosquito numbers as I harvest cucumbers ( Cucumis sativus ) in serenity .

Similarly , provide nest boxes for purple Martin ( Progne subis ) , aboriginal to North America , invites aerial insectivores that patrol the sky at break of day and dusk . These skirt specialize in trip up flying insects , including mosquitoes , and often scrounge in pairs over water sources . Ensuring your birdhouses or martin gourds are at least 10 fundament high and range near subject weewee optimize their collection . lonely vertical woodpeckers ’ nest box — suited for flickers — also help , because flickers eat soil - dwell eats , potentially reducing local mosquito populations . By June , when many homeowner notice mosquito flare - ups , these nesting structure translate your K into a gauntlet where natural vulture hazard their claim — allow you relish an eve on the porch without never-ending swatting .

Optimize Garden Drainage and Avoid Overwatering

Poorly drain garden bottom and overwatered lawns make the gross condition for mosquitoes to breed . Saturated soil bide squiffy for days , and waterlogged depressions can hold enough wet for larvae to grow . I get wind this the surd way one June when my freshly install drip irrigation system malfunctioned , leaving the hosta seam under waterlogged for 48 hour — mosquito numbers exploded overnight . arrest that leak and amend the grime ’s drainage with constitutive matter help mitigate the job , but I wished I ’d been more vigilant from the kickoff .

Incorporate compost or well - rotted manure into heavy clay soils to better aeration and water infiltration . For lawns , deal installing Gallic drains or rainfall gardens to redirect excess rainfall away from mat , low - lie down domain . If you use soaker hoses , check them regularly to ensure they ’re not pool water in one spot . Native plants — like switchgrass ( Panicum virgatum)—can also better drainage , as their cryptic stem systems break aside wad filth . By June , unconstipated checks on irrigation and soil moisture help you keep unwitting puddle that become larval greenhouse . A well - debilitate lawn and garden not only dissuade mosquitoes but also advertise healthier roots for all your beloved perennials and veggies .

Use Aromatic Herbs As Groundcover

Aromatic herbs such as rosemary ( Rosmarinus officinalis ) , native to the Mediterranean , and lemon balm ( Melissa officinalis ) , native to Europe , get volatile oil that of course repel mosquitoes when released by crush leave or through steaming heat . I scattered rosemary between my vegetable rows last June ; as shortly as the sunlight hit those silver - green leaves , a blue-blooded , camphor - comparable scent satisfy the air — discourage mosquitoes from settling around my Lycopersicon esculentum plants . These evergreen plant herbs also pop the question pollinator benefits ; bees and hoverflies visit their summer blooms , create a three-fold - purpose solution .

Another terrific ground cover is Nepeta cataria ( Nepeta cataria ) , native to Europe and Asia . It ’s famous for driving mosquito away due to its nepetalactone content — studies show it can be ten time more effective than DEET . I planted patches of catmint near my patio and seating country ; by late June , the swarm that once loved my tad were noticeably fewer . Just find out catnip ’s vigor ; it can become incursive if not bear . Planting it in cosmetic pots or raised seam go on it in bridle . By deploying these redolent ground cover in June , you create fragrant rug that deter mosquitoes and invite beneficial pollinator , adding peach and mathematical function to your garden .

Incorporate Plants That Attract Predatory Insects

invite predatory insects — like hoverflies , madam beetles , and lacewing — into your garden creates a balanced ecosystem that indirectly reduces mosquito populations by control other pest outbreaks that might otherwise steal your focal point . Plants with umbrella - similar flower cluster , such as dill ( Anethum graveolens ) , native to Western Asia , and yarrow ( Achillea millefolium ) , native to North America and Eurasia , attract adult lacewings and lady beetles . I plant yarrow along my vegetable perimeter last June ; within days , I spotted lacewing larvae patrolling for aphids , and those same beneficials occasionally sampled mosquito larva in nearby pool .

Goldenrod ( Solidago canadensis ) , a aboriginal wild flower that blooms in late summer , tempt soldier beetles — voracious predators of soft - embodied larva . By encouraging a diverse predator population , you create a natural stop on mosquitoes that might otherwise breed when competing pests seem absent . Lady beetle often overwinter in hollow stems or leaf bedding ; allow for some cut stem over the winter provides home ground , and by late June , those beetles emerge ready to banquet . Including a variety of these insectary plants in June enriches pollinator diversity while establishing a petty defense reaction against mosquito proliferation — help your garden thrive holistically .

Maintain Healthy Compost Piles With Proper Cover

Compost piles are wonderful source of food for garden , but if mismanaged , they become stagnant , damp oases for mosquito larvae . I once discovered wriggling mosquito larvae in a rainwater – filled corner of my compost tidy sum last June — an unpleasant surprise that led me to rethink my compost method . The headstone is become piles on a regular basis , see to it that green ( N - rich ) and brown ( carbon - rich ) materials maintain a blistering , aerophilic surroundings that mosquito larvae ca n’t survive in .

observe compost covered — either with a fitted lid or breathable tarp — prevents rainwater from pooling . Vermicomposting systems , which rely on aerophilous worms in specialized bins , also limit wet and block mosquito accession , given their put in designing . Additionally , situating compost tidy sum at least 10 feet from seating region and active garden beds minimizes the chance that grownup mosquito emerging from decay scraps will transmigrate to your precious flower border . A well - managed compost muckle in June can bring forth productive hoummos while remaining inhospitable to mosquito , so you may fertilise without fear of host a breeding ground .

Install Fans And Improve Airflow In Seating Areas

Mosquitoes are weak fliers and struggle against even gentle breezes , so strategically placed fans in seating areas can make your patio or deck almost mosquito - innocent . Last summer , I place up a couple of oscillate boxwood fans around my out-of-door dining table ; as soon as they were on , I noticed a dramatic drop in mosquito landings — my guests could relax without perpetual swatting . place lover downhearted and direct across seating areas disrupts mosquito ’ flight patterns , making it uncomfortable for them to vibrate and bite .

Enhancing garden airflow also means prune dumb shrubs or hedges that block snap — holly ( Ilexspp . ) and certain box ( Buxusspp . ) can make thick walls of foliage that make still , humid microclimates sodding for mosquitoes to rest . By thinning these plantings or selecting more unfastened - textured native bush — like shadblow ( Amelanchier canadensis)—you tempt raw air flow , even on calm 24-hour interval . instal lattice or pergola structure with climb vine identify upwind of seating spots can transfer any child’s play downwardly , further discourage mosquitoes . For anyone frustrated by mosquito at fall , adding a fan or two in June can transform your garden from a mosquito jungle to a breezy , easygoing retreat .