Keeping trees trimmed, foliage pruned, and your yard mowed will leave fewer shady areas for mosquitos to swarm and multiply. Eliminating shade also helps to dry up any wet spots in your yard. Mosquitos are attracted to both moisture and shade, so smart landscaping can do a lot to make your yard less hospitable.

Eliminate standing water

Mosquitos lay eggs in standing water, so check your yard for puddles, clogged gutters, and flower pots that collect rain.

Eliminating these breeding grounds will help minimize your mosquito population. A mosquito can lay eggs in a bottle cap full of water, so use a keen eye to find potential breeding hubs. And with a four-day gestation, rain on Monday means mosquitos on Friday, so act fast!

Treat water fixtures

If you have water fixtures like a small pond or birdbath in your yard, consider treating them with larvae killer like

Agnique

Mosquito Dunk

. These are formulated to kill larvae while being pet and kid-safe.

Another option is to stock ponds with fish like minnows or koi—they eat mosquito larvae, so that can also help control the population.

Plant mosquito repelling plants in your yard

There are many fragrant (and beautiful) plants that naturally repel mosquitos. Incorporating them into your landscaping will discourage mosquitos from inhabiting your yard. Many of these plants can be used in cooking or to make essential oils. Here are some mosquito-repelling plants to look for:

Lavender

Citronella or other scented geraniums

Lemongrass

Rosemary

Catnip

Bee balm

Marigolds

Ageratum

Peppermint

Basil

Sage

Use coffee

Sprinkling coffee grounds from your morning cuppa has been found to repel mosquitos. If there are particularly moist areas that you can’t get rid of, add some coffee grounds. Although this method isn’t scientifically proven, it still seems to work just fine!

Keep air circulating

When you are spending time outside, use fans to keep air circulating, even near the ground.

Did you know that mosquitos are attracted to the carbon dioxide that we exhale? Along with making it hard for mosquitos to land, fans disperse carbon dioxide and other emissions that lead mosquitos to their human hosts.

Clean up yard debris

Along with trimming and mowing, make sure to clear up yard debris. Even small items in your yard can provide shade, shelter, and water for mosquitos and other pests. Toys, tools, hoses, and sprinklers all offer ideal shelter. Make sure to store items away when they aren’t in use.

Leaf piles, grass clippings, and stacked wood can also create ideal breeding grounds, so remove debris, and store it away from the yard.

Use repellent on trees and furniture

If you are planning to spend time relaxing in the yard, consider treating the trees and furniture with a misting mosquito killer. These products kill mosquitos in the air on contact and continue to repel mosquitos for several hours.

For your grass, there are several mosquito killers/ repellents that can be applied by attaching to your garden hose. Treating the grass and trees on a Friday helps to guarantee a mosquito-free weekend!

Buy bug repellent light bulbs

Several companies make bug-repelling

yellow light bulbs

that have been shown to make a real difference. Try replacing your outdoor bulbs with these to keep flying insects away at night, and to soften the light in your yard.

Have your yard professionally treated

If you are planning an event, it may be worthwhile to have your yard professionally treated within three days of the event. This will likely cost $300-$500 dollars per 1/4 acre, so it isn’t the most economical answer for everyday use, but it can be well worth it if you are planning for guests.

Use natural oils to make a spray

If you like the idea of repelling mosquitos naturally but don’t have much of a green thumb, you can use essential oils from mosquito-repelling plants to make a spray that can be used on your body or yard furniture. Any of the following plants make great repellent, and you can combine them to create a scent you like:

Lavender

Clove

Lemon eucalyptus

Neem

Peppermint and castor oil

Things to avoid

There are a lot of personal repellents out there, but some of them don’t live up to the hype. The “repellents” below have been shown to be nearly ineffective against mosquitos, so they may not be the best use of your money.

Citronella

Sonic mosquito repellents

Wearable bracelet repellents

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How do you naturally keep mosquitoes from your yard?

Mosquitos are particularly sensitive to certain plants and scents. The best and most natural way to keep mosquitos from your backyard is to plant things that repel them. Some lovely options include marigolds, lavender, geraniums, rosemary, basil, peppermint, and sage.

What can I burn to get rid of mosquitos in my yard?

Repel mosquitos naturally in your yard by adding dried eucalyptus, sage, or rosemary to your firepit. Just be careful, you may trade your mosquito problem for a smoke problem.

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