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Organic Mosquito Control For Your Backyard

February 21st, 2010 Posted in Organic & Chemical Pesticides

Your backyard should be a source of pride and a place of peace. But when mosquitoes find their way into the yard, you are no longer proud or peaceful.

To prevent mosquitoes from spending more time in your backyard than you do, try different methods of organic mosquito control.

3 ways to protect your backyard with organic mosquito control are:

• Citronella Candles
• Properly Constructed Fish Ponds
• Organic Mosquito Pesticides and Repellents

Citronella Candles

Placing candles around your backyard is a beautiful way to decorate and light the space. When you decorate with citronella candles, you have the added bonus of providing mosquito protection as well as decoration and light.

Citronella is an incredibly diverse essential oil. It has many benefits, including environmental benefits.

When the oil is burned in candles, it can keep away insects. Citronella is particularly effective on the mosquito species called Aedes Aegypti, a species known as carriers of yellow fever. However, citronella will keep all types of mosquitoes at bay, including those carrying the disease malaria.

Citronella candles will not shield your whole backyard, but will produce a halo of protection for those sitting around the candle.

One study compared candles with citronella to plain candles to test their effectiveness against mosquitoes. People sitting near the citronella candles had 42% fewer bites than unprotected people.

So while citronella candles will not completely block mosquitoes, they are still a useful addition for organic mosquito control.

Properly Constructed Fish Ponds

Fish ponds are one of the prettiest and calmest decorations to put in your backyard. However, mosquito larvae often grow and thrive on ponds. That is why it is vitally important that any ornamental ponds are properly constructed.

Where might mosquitoes and larvae be hiding in your pond?

• Aquatic plants on the pond’s surface
• Plants hanging into the pond
• Shallow areas less than 1 inch deep
• Water in the top of pots in or around the pond

Now you know where they could be hiding, you should construct a pond correctly.

How should you construct a pond to deter mosquitoes?

• Line your pond with a plastic or vinyl liner
• Place it in a sunny, but sheltered location
• Construct the pond as large and deep as possible
• Avoid too many shallow areas (less than 6 inches)
• Make the sides as steep as possible
• Provide for drainage or removal of the water
• Don’t submerge metal in water
• Stock with mosquitofish or koi, if possible, to eat any larvae on the water’s surface

If you already built a pond without taking these precautions, be sure to frequently check for mosquito larvae. Look closely at areas where mosquitoes might hide under. You can also dip a white cup into the water; any larvae will be easy to see against the white of the cup.

If your test does reveal some mosquito larvae, don’t worry. There are products for organic bug control that will help you.

Organic Mosquito Pesticides and Repellents

To kill or repel any mosquitoes that sneak past your candles or fish pond, there are organic products you can use.

If you use chemical pesticides and insecticides in your backyard, you may clear out some of the bugs, but a chemical stench will hang in the air.

Organic mosquito repellent and organic pesticides (like those made by EcoSMART) will keep mosquitoes and other pests out of your backyard without harming the planet. They are also safe to use around children and pets, so your family won’t have to wait a whole day or more after your backyard is treated. You can immediately head outside and enjoy your day.

Use methods of organic mosquito control to take back your yard as a peaceful area for you to relax with family and friends.