Ready for Mosquito Season? Here’s What You Can Do. [VIDEO]
We made it through an unbelievable Michigan winter, practically skipped spring, and now it's time to brace ourselves for mosquito season. Are you ready?
In addition to using chemical pesticides to ward off annoying mosquitoes, certain plants can also help keep them at bay. Lisa Bashline from VanAtta's Greenhouse tells WILX that the citronella plant is the mosquito's natural enemy.
“It’s a member of the geranium family but it doesn't really get any flowers and it has an oil in it that mosquitoes don't like so it repels them.”
She goes on to say that marigolds, lemongrass rosemary, basil all have the same effect, but you should consider planting several of these plants in order to ward off the insects.
If planting isn't your thing, mosquito repellents that contain Deet, IR3535 or picaridin can also be effective according to Orkin Entomologist Dr. Mark Beavers.
It's also important to cut the grass, get rid of leaves, and make sure you dump out any standing water where mosquitoes can breed.