Taming Your Outdoors

Slapping yourself silly trying to keep mosquitoes from biting you? Besides causing irritating itching bites, mosquitoes can also carry and transmit several diseases including the West Nile Virus. Although you cannot get rid of every mosquito, there are many ways to protect yourself and those around you.

The most important way to help fight mosquitoes is by breaking their breeding cycle. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water and those eggs hatch within 48 hours. Once hatched, the larvae feed on debris in the stagnant water until they move into the resting stage. In this stage, the larvae become pupae. The mosquito begins to develop and finally emerges as an adult mosquito. All this can happen in less than 5 days!

Be pro-active and check the area around your home for places where standing water may accumulate such as birdbaths, clogged gutters, buckets, kiddie pools, toys, even bottle caps ? mosquitoes can breed in just a thimble full of water. Change water often in birdbaths. Empty kiddy pools and turn them upside down when not in use so they do not collect water. Keep your gutters clear of debris.

If you have done your best to help prevent breeding and are still being bothered by mosquitoes, there are many products on the market to repel or kill mosquitoes. The available products range from low-cost items such as lotions and sprays to higher priced solutions such as traps and misters. Along with a range in cost comes a range in effectiveness.

Citronella candles and torches are ineffective except in very small areas. One study showed that use of citronella candles resulted in people still being bitten by mosquitoes, but they had half as many bites as those who were not around the candles. Other products that do not perform well are 'sonic' repelling systems. While these products are inexpensive, laboratory studies have shown that they do not work.

When looking for lotions or sprays, the Center for Disease Control recommends selecting those, which contain DEET, picaridin, or lemon eucalyptus. Products containing these ingredients can be obtained from most drug stores or home and garden stores. In addition to the products recommended by the CDC, there are also all natural products available. Lewey's Eco-Blends offers an all-natural product that contains essential oils such as rosemary and thyme, which have shown repellent properties. Eco-blend comes in bottles for human use and spray bottles for equine use. Always be sure to read the label instructions and follow these instructions carefully.

If you would rather choose a more high-tech solution which helps reduce the population of mosquitoes, then you may want to investigate a propane based collection system or a mosquito misting system. The propane collection system works by converting the propane to carbon dioxide. The carbon dioxide draws the mosquitoes to the unit in the same way your exhaled breath draws mosquitoes to you. In the collection system, the mosquito is 'trapped' in a bag when the pest enters the unit. These units need to have their collection bag cleaned frequently and you must change/refill the propane tank. Placement is critical. The units need to be placed downwind of your area and must be moved every time the wind direction shifts. These types of units require a fair amount of human intervention to operate at peak performance so the cost vs. the price should be weighed accordingly.

Another high-tech solution that is fairly new to the market, the mosquito mister system is permanently installed around your home. The system is comprised of a reservoir, pump, timer, and nozzles. Once the system is installed, it is set to mist a diluted Pyrethrum concentrate, at specified intervals ? usually 4 times per day for about 30 seconds each period. The active ingredient in Pyrethrum is Pyrethrin, which is a natural pesticide made by crushing a special type of chrysanthemum flower into powder form. The powder is then added to an insecticide, commonly referred to as PBO, to increase the effectiveness of the solution. Misting Systems require only occasional maintenance and refilling, but are priced higher than other options. More advanced mister systems can be equipped with a remote control and variable timing functions in addition to automatic weather control options.

Now that you know how mosquitoes breed and how to protect against their bites, don't let them run your life. Take action, tame your outdoors and enjoy your summer!

Bill Hackel is General Manager of http://www.MosquitoMister.com, the top supplier of mosquito misting systems for the do-it-yourself consumer.

---

Easy Care Of Phalaenopsis

Do you have a knack for being with moths? Most... Read More

The Tools of Rose Gardening

Like any job you tackle, it's always easier if you... Read More

CO2 for Free

We've all heard that there is no such thing as... Read More

Poly Tarps: More Than Meets The Eye

To many people, "tarp" conjures an image of a crumpled... Read More

Metal Garden Furniture

Since Victorian times metal garden furniture has become a popular... Read More

Growing Palms

Palms Everybody recognises palm trees, they are the... Read More

Porch Swing Places: Where to Put a Porch Swing

So you've purchased a Porch Swing (or are about to)... Read More

Preparing The Garden For Winter

Are you like me? Sad to see the summer end... Read More

10 Free Gardening Products

One of the pleasurable spin-offs in organic gardening is finding... Read More

Gardening for Kids

Children are continually bombarded with advertising for fast food and... Read More

Plants, Birds, Love and Deer Hate

Hi Friends;This is the second year in a row I... Read More

Ceiling Patio Heaters

It is unavoidable, Fall is coming and we like to... Read More

Discount Patio Furniture ? An Easy Way to Get the Best

Buying discount patio furniture is an economical way to obtain... Read More

Durable Wooden Swing - Decorate Your Outdoors with One

There is nothing better to do on a hot, lazy... Read More

Garden for Birds #3

Well, another week is passing us by.I want to thank... Read More

Hydroponics Gardening - An Introduction To Hydroponics Gardening For Beginners (part 4) Environment

THE BASICS OF HYDROPONICS.The Success or Failure of Your Plants... Read More

How to Raise House Plants from Seeds Easily

The principal house plants which are easy to raise by... Read More

Tarragon: A Favourite of French Chefs

Long a favourite of French chefs, the herb Artemisia dracunculus,... Read More

Caring For Tropical And Exotic Flowers

Tropical flowers make an exciting change from the more traditional... Read More

Orchid Care What The Flower Tells

In Orchid Care The Flower Will Tell You About Some... Read More

Three Stumbling Blocks to Growing Grapes in the Backyard

Are you one of those home gardeners that don't know... Read More

A Quick Overview of Outdoor Hot Tubs

There is nothing quite as relaxing as a leisurely evening... Read More

Tips on How to Plant Roses

When spring comes and the ground is thawed, it is... Read More

Adirondack Furniture - What It is and Why You Want It

Adirondack is the name given to a style of furnishings... Read More

Commercial and Residential Flagpoles

The world's tallest unsupported flagpole is located in Amman, Jordan.... Read More

Gardening for Birds Part 2

We've had some well needed rain this past week, though... Read More

Moss on Lawns

Just about right now, we start to see moss on... Read More

Orchids Plus More Newsletter - December, 2004

Newsletter Name Change?After several of you made suggestions to me... Read More

Winter Gardening Looking Towards Spring

Ok, the title "winter gardening" might be a tad bit... Read More

Feed the Birds

Elaborate and decorative or simple and functional, birdhouses and birdfeeders... Read More

Delavays Blueberry (Vaccinium delavayi)

Whether we know it or not, most of us are... Read More

All About Hybrid Tea Roses

Hybrid tea roses and the original tea rose are the... Read More

Patio Design and Patio Furniture - The Use of Focal Points

A focal point is an important design element; it is... Read More