Mosquito Hawks
What do mosquitos or mosquito hawks have to do with rain barrels you ask? Well a lot in fact! Well for starters they lay their eggs in standing water.
That's why it`s important to have a lid or an insect screen mesh on the top cover of your rain barrel so no mosquito hawks,insects or other critters get in there.
Reducing the number of mosquitos in your garden
-Remove thick vegetation that holds moisture around your garden.
-Always fully enclose your rain barrels with screen mesh
-Remove any old tires or old flower pots with no plants in them. You want to avoid having standing water.
-If you have a pond, make sure to keep the water flowing with a pump.
Seriously consider hatching dragon flies. Dragon flies you ask? Well to start off,dragonflies are the only one of a few types of creatures who prey upon mosquitoes. As predators, adult dragonflies feed on flying insects, such as mosquitos.
Known as the mosquito hawk, dragonflies may be our best defense against those blood-sucking pests.
Plants that deter mosquitos
Another way of keeping those pesky mosquito's away from your garden is by planting certain types of plants :
Rosemary: Aside from being used for seasoning, this herbal plant is an excellent mosquito repellant. Since it likes hot dry weather, in colder climates, you must grow it in a pot plant. If you can't grow it, you can always mix 4 drops with 1/4 cup of olive oil. Store it in a cool, dry place.
If you can grow it, please go ahead, as this is an inexpensive way of keeping the mosquito's away and also embellishing your garden.
Marigold : Besides being my favorite flowers in the garden, even though we don't like the scent of a Marigold, these annuals will keep mosquito's away for that same reason. They are very easy to grow either from seeds or you can go to your local Walmart-garden section and buy them pre grown.
CatNip : Another plant that you can consider is CatNip. Catnip is a perennial herb from the mint family which grows wild in most parts of the United States.
It's primarily known for the stimulating effect it has on cats, it's oil(nepetalactone) has actually been found to be more than ten times better at repelling mosquitoes than DEET. It is a compound mostly used in commercial insect repellents.
Mosquito Plants : Another type of plant, is actually called mosquito plant, part of the geranium family. It was genetically engineered to incorporate the properties of citronella.
This plant was created to bring the repellent properties of the citronella into a plant. By simply crushing the leaf and applying the oil you can have instant protection.
You can also create your own insect misting spray. You can add 4-5 drops of the essential oil to 2 ounces of water and mix in a spray bottle.
Planting plants that repel mosquito's is a great way to not only have these blood sucking insects away from your garden, but it also embellishes it. And it's all done in a healthy and safe way without harming the environment around you.
