Unless you've been under a rock you've been hearing about the Zika Virus and the harm it can do to unborn babies and that cases are not in the United States. It's been on the news in an election cycle, which means it's really big news. Now I'm NOT being an alarmist. But living on/near water can certainly mean more mosquitoes. Just a small amount of standing water can breed thousands of mosquitoes. If I am outside and there is a mosquito in a mile radius of me, it generally finds me and bites me.
So what to do? Well first you want to make sure not to have standing water. Even in the bottoms of potted plants. If you water every day and never let it go dry it's an excellent place for mosquitoes to breed. You will want to make sure if you pull your boat out of the lake you don't leave standing water in it. Don't leave a cup in the boat, a bucket that catches rain water is great for summer watering if you empty it every couple of days.
There are also some natural repellant plants that you can grow that will help to keep mosquitoes away from where you enjoy outside. It's a great idea to have a planter on the dock with some of these growing in it. Near the house by or on the deck is another great place to grow plants that repel mosquitoes.
I have long grown several of the plants that I found on the lists I located
- Rosemary (also great for cooking)
- Catnip (my cats love the stuff)
- Basil
- Marigolds
- Garlic
Now I am not the expert, but I wanted to share with you the lists I found that were the longest. One has 11 and the other 31 plants. I actually have always bought citronilla candles, but never even considered getting a plant to keep the bugs away while we grill. So I think I'll be adding that to my container garden on the deck this year.
I also found interesting while looking for articles that you can make a natural repellent from Rosemary and I'm going to give that recipe a try this spring and see if it works for me. I don't like to use chemicals and spraying them on me just doesn't seem like a great idea.
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Great & timely info to share. Back east I always burnt citronella in the summer to keep them at bay, but I like the idea of naturally growing plants instead, especially those who can pull double duty as food seasoning!
Tammy-
This is a very interesting article to read especially at this time of year.I think it is great that you have natural repellants listed to keep them away!
This is great information and I have not heard of any benefits to having a mosquito sting us, so I try to stay away from them.
Very interesting Tammy. Never heard of the repellent type plants. Great 2 birds with one stone idea. Thanks for taking the time to share. mark
John Meussner we have always kept those as well, but I love the idea of plants that work.
Jan Sohlman I think with what the CDC is saying about the Zika virus being a possible outbreak once the season hits it's more important than ever.
Brian England I'm like mosquito bait I think. I go outside without protection and they find me.
Mark Don McInnes, Sandpoint my rosemary died in the ice storm we had last year. I must replace.
Great info, Tammy. As someone who mosquitoes love, I am always interested in repellents options.
Tammy, well darn it ... my secret it out. I have been under a rock and I kind of like it there. I like the idea of plants to keep them away.
Tammy, very good post concerning Lake Sinclair Living & mosquito's. I like the natural repellents you listed to repel the mosquito's. Good luck this bug season.
Could you get some of those plants for the office too? Maybe even on the porch
We are away from having Mosquitoes but as we closer to spring rest assured I will arm myself with this bookmarked and like post Tammy Lankford
Carol Williams isn't it awful when you can't go outside with them biting you?
Kathleen Daniels well the news does make me want to crawl under a rock
Robert (Bob) Gilbert I hope it works to keep them away
Paul S. Henderson, Realtor, Broker, Tacoma Washington spring comes sooner rather than later in Georgia. LOL
Tammy-I so hate mosquitoes. I bought mosquito plants a few years ago but they died, You have found a great list to help keep them at bay.
Tammy, this is a VERY pertinent post and I've been listening to all of the hoopla about it on NPR. I am (once again) thankful that we don't have mostquitoes to contend with in our Fishhawk Lake community. NO, we have cougar, bear coyote, you know the creatures who are a bit BIGGER but don't give us the possibility of creating damaged babies.
We all have something that's the caveat for living in paradise. Ask Floridians about alligators!!
Paul S. Henderson, Realtor, Broker, Tacoma Washington I appreciate that and I'm very happy you like the information. That Zika virus is very frightening.
Sharon Lee I found a few others, but I love the ones that are both herbs and repel mosquitoes
Gayle Rich-Boxman Fishhawk Lake Realtor (503)755-2905 I can't imagine having children or pets outside in Florida
Good morning Tammy. Certainly an important topic right now for sure. Was not aware of all the different plants that are mosquito repellent.
I'm going to bookmark this - I didn't realize plants could be used as repellents and when it's a plant that produces an herb I use, that serves two purposes!
Thank you for the information. I will share this with others. Timely post.
The news has been frightening. You know it's going to get here eventually. Mosquitos in general are threatening, nevermind this new virus. I'm a very health conscious person in general and avoid chemicals but when it comes to mosquitos and ticks I'm all for chemical control. My husband sprays every 2 weeks and we rarely see any all season.
I will be saving your lists and trying the plant prevention this year...maybe cut down on the spraying!
Mosquitoes caused havoc in Hawaii, too. Dreadful things. Dengue fever. And the WHO declared Zika a worldwide health emergency, and since it's all over Cuba my sister is freaking out thinking I'll drop dead. Because the EPA is on record stating DEET is not a health hazard to people or children, I think I'll still trust an insecticide over rosemary or cinnamon oil. To each her own.
When you make your repellent also add catnip oil or some infusion of it. It really works great as you mentioned in your post.
I'm like you and mosquitoes love me.
Thank you for sharing the list of repellant plants. Great tips!
Tammy- I don't like to use chemicals so I'm looking into some of these plants and checking out the links. We usually have a basil plant around but may add some others.
Tammy, thanks for the tips and links on mosquito repellants. I like growing rosemary and other herbs to keep them away.
Tammy Lankford - I really appreciate all the great information you provided. These mosquito's are getting more and more dangerous every year. Every year we're learning about a new one too. Plus they are dangerous to pets too!
But let's not worry about opening up our borders or exposing our kids to diseases from kids who were never vaccinated, or pregnant moms to be, or the West Niles Virus that has killed so many here in Dallas....
Tammy, great post and we do all need to be aware of mosquitos and how to keep them away. The Zika virus sounds deadly.
I love the idea of planting something that will naturally repel mosquitoes.
Hello Tammy ... what a great post with some great information!
I was born and raised the first 20 years of my life in the Midwest and a state that has over 10,000 lakes. In these first 20 years I would have to say that I have been stung by hundreds of thousands of mosquito's and still around to write this comment.
That being said really where did this Zika Virus come from? Is it possible that some mosquito's, birds or some other creature brought this Zika Virus from another country.
There are over One Million Lakes in Alaska and I am not worried about getting the Zika Virus up here.
But I really do like your write and all the natural mosquito repellents you have on your post, because I don't spray any of the store bought poisons on my skin.
I am not going along with flies and mosquitoes. They seems can not have enough of my blood.....Glad, we have very few them in here.
Thank you Tammy Lankford for my ah-ha moment.
Good morning Tammy. Inever knew there were anti mosquito plants. Thank you.
Excellent post and some sage advice.....never knew about these plants and mosquitoes.
I love this post! I can see why Kathy included it this week in her summary!
These are great tips, Tammy. Lots of talk about the Zika virus and it seems to be spreading. Virus or not, no one wants mosquitoes around and this list will help. I especially like the plants that you can use in cooking, like basil
Jeff
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