One of the best things about an Aussie summer is spending time outdoors enjoying your evening meals.
Well, except for when mozzies make you their dinner! Here’s how to to get rid of mosquitoes and keep them away for good!
1. Deal with them at the source
Mozzies love still water – it’s where they breed! So, remove any pools of water that may be around your entertaining area, including trays of water under plants. If you do find a water source that may be serving as a mosquito breeding ground, using a product like Envirosafe mosquito drops (available at Bunnings) can help you target the problem at the source.
Here’s where you’re most likely to find areas of standing water around your home:
- Pot plant drainage saucers
- Bird baths
- Rain gutters
- Buckets and bins
- Old tires
- Pet water bowls
- Uncovered or poorly maintained pool
- Wheelbarrows or garden equipment
- Tree holes or low spots in the yard
2. Select mosquito-repellent plants
Did you know the plants you choose could help prevent mosquitoes bombarding your yard? Better Homes and Gardens garden editor and horticulturist, Jenny Dillon, says yes, plants are an effective method of controlling the number of mosquitoes in your garden. Plants that naturally repel mosquitoes include:
- Basil
- Marigold
- Peppermint
- Lavender
- Citronella grass
Check out our roundup of plants mosquitoes hate for more ideas
3. Use a mosquito repellent diffuser
Before we get into all of the old school mosquito repellent methods that require sprays, coils or candles, try a Thermacell diffuser. Thermacell devices like the E55 Rechargeable mosquito repeller, create a 28m2 invisible barrier that protects everyone from mosquitoes. All it requires is for you to insert the refill, switch it on, and enjoy.
4. Burn coils
Working similarly to citronella oil, burn mosquito coils to keep mosquitoes away. They’re typically made with a combo of citronella and sandalwood. You’ll find coils come with a purpose-made stand to make it easy for you to place a few at ground level around your outdoor zone. No more itchy ankles!
5. Apply essential oil lotion to your skin
Writing for The Conversation, biologists Immo Hansen and Hailey Luker revealed that some essential oils are effective at repelling mosquitoes. “OIl of lemon eucalyptus, or OLE works,” they wrote. “OLE, with the active ingredient PMD (an active ingredient used in many mosquito repellents), is a plant-based alternative to DEET ( and picaridin. Its repellent properties can last for up to six hours.”
Other oils that provide some protection from mosquitoes (when used at 10% concentration in lotion) include:
- Clove oil (can protect from bites for about 90 minutes)
- Cinnamon oil (can protect for about 60 minutes)
- Geraniol (can protect for about 60 minutes)
- Citronella oil (can protect for about 30 minutes)
6. Look after a few fish
If you have a backyard pond, the shallow edges are likely to attract mosquitos looking to breed. Especially if the water isn’t moving! Add a couple of fish to the pond and they’ll eat the larvae, or keep the water moving with a pump system.
7. Light a citronella candle
It’s no mistake that citronella candles are last on our list. According to chemistry professor Daniel Eldridge, writing for The Conversation, citronella candles aren’t as effective at repelling mosquitoes as you might think. “In systematic testing, [citronella candles] have been shown to be far less effective than DEET.”
5 mosquito repellent products that don’t work
- Wrist bands: Principal hospital scientist Cameron Webb says wrist bands infused with botanical ingredients provide little to no protection from mosquito bites. Wristbands infused with DEET provide only a few centimetres of protection.
- Stickers or patches: Cameron says like wrist bands, stickers or patches provide little protection outside of the small area of skin they’re attached to.
- Light-based repellents: Immo and Hailey say light-based repellents don’t work. “This approach works well on moths, beetles and stinkbugs, but not on mosquitoes.”
