Gardening to Stop Mosquitoes

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Nothing ruins a relaxing day in the backyard more than the buzzing and biting of mosquitoes. Worldwide, there are over 3,500 types of mosquitoes, 200 of which live in the United States. The most common way to keep mosquitoes at bay is to use chemicals either in your yard or on you and your clothing. You can also move to Iceland or Antarctica where mosquitoes aren’t able to breed.

But, if you have a green thumb, there are plants that repel mosquitoes and will let you reclaim your outdoor summer happy place.

Mosquito Repellent Plants

Mosquitoes are fussy about odors. Growing mosquito repellent plants is a clever way to make your yard uninviting while adding wonderful scents to your patio area and even delicious flavors to your cooking. Here are some plants that will add natural beauty to your yard while keeping those pesky mosquitoes away. And, you might even attract some butterflies and hummingbirds!

Lavender

Lavender is a perennial plant that has a wonderfully relaxing scent. It comes in multiple varieties and blooms from summer through fall. And, once the flowers are past their prime you can bring them indoors and create a potpourri.

Marigolds
These easy-to-grow annuals make a great border plant and also do well in pots that you can place around your patio and near your door to keep mosquitoes away. They are also a good companion plant to some vegetables including tomatoes. 

Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a fast growing plant that can reach 30 feet. Used in floral arrangements, it has a menthol aroma that repels mosquitoes. If you don’t want a 30 foot plant in a small space, just keep pruning it and bring it indoors where you can hang it in your shower for an invigorating experience.

Catnip
Your cat will love you for planting these hardy perennials. Their leaves contain a chemical called nepetalactone which is supposed to be more effective than DEET at repelling mosquitoes. They have a lovely purple flower and are notorious spreaders. When there spread becomes too much, just transplant some to a new area for added mosquito protection.

Lemongrass
Lemongrass is one of the most commonly used ingredients in natural mosquito repellents. These plants do not withstand a frost, but if you plant them in large containers, they can be brought indoors. 

Bee Balm
Bee balm is a perennial that will not only repel mosquitoes but bring bees, hummingbirds, and butterflies to your outdoor environment. It comes in red, purple, pink, or white and grows up to four feet tall. Some people make tea from the leaves.

Rosemary
Rosemary is a delicious herb with a woody scent. They are considered a tender perennial as they do not always survive winter. Plant them in containers and bring them inside for winter so you can continue making tasty meals with its leaves. If you live in a warmer climate, these plants will grow into bushes that can be pruned into shapes of all kinds.

Basil
Add to your cooking herbs by planting basil. Its pungent smell will turn mosquitoes away. You can plant these annuals directly in the ground or in containers. The more you clip their tops, the bushier the plant will grow. It is best to harvest all the leaves before the first frost as they will not survive.

American Beautyberry
American beautyberry is a larger shrub that can grow up to six feet high and wide. It has delicate, tiny berries that straddle the stalk. One nice thing about this plant is that the berries are present through the winter so it adds color to your yard when all the other plants go bare. But beware, deer love to eat these plants.

Sage
Another herb, sage is a perennial that has beautiful silvery green leaves. Left outdoors to winter over, it will come back more shrublike the following year. 

 

Landscape Tools Every Homeowner Should Own

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Whether you’re an avid gardener, do minimum maintenance doer or hire a professional to care for your landscape, there are some tools that every homeowner should have. Here’s our list of outdoor tools you should have in your garage or shed:

  • Gloves – No matter what chore you need to do, a good pair of gloves will save your hands from many getting cut up or scraped by thorns and sharp branches, blisters, poison ivy, and more. Gloves should fit tightly, have a closure around your wrist, and have gripping material. 
  • Hose & Sprinkler – Summer can get pretty dry, especially in August. While conserving water is always a good thing to consider, your lawn will turn brown if it goes too many days without water, as will your vegetable garden. 
  • Garden Rake – Rakes are a great all-purpose tool for both spreading things out and gathering things together. Equally great at spreading mulch as it is at gathering leaves. Rakes with plastic tines are better for lightweight materials like dry leaves and grass. Metal tines are better for chores that require deeper scooping.  
  • Wheelbarrow – A perfect tool for hauling leaves, mulch, and brush with much less back work. 
  • Shovels – Shovels come in lots of shapes and sizes so it’s best to think about what chores you would need a shovel for. Rounded shovels are good scoopers. Flat squared-off shovels are best for edging. Handheld shovels are a necessity for garden beds. And don’t forget the snow shovel.  
  • Pruners – Another tool with many uses, pruners are used for trimming, clipping, and taming bushes and flower beds. Smaller pruners work best with smaller branches. Larger ones usually have longer handles for larger projects. 
  • Weed Whacker – These are needed to trim spaces too narrow for a lawn mower. It’s also great for tall grasses. Go for a battery-powered one so you don’t have to drag a long electrical cord all over the yard. 
  • Trowel – This tool is invaluable for weeding garden beds. 
  • Garden Hoe – This is a handy tool for breaking ground and marking garden rows. A hoe with a longer handle will save your back. 
  • Leaf Blower – Leaf blowers will not only keep the lawn free of leaves but are great for quickly clearing a porch or patio of debris. A battery-powered one is best so no cord is needed. And usually, battery-powered ones are quieter. 

Once your garage or shed is well stocked, come into Augustine to find those shrubs, trees, and perennials that will being your landscape to life.

pruners