The weather has turned warmer, and the days have gotten longer. It’s time for backyard cookouts, gardening, or relaxing on your deck/porch with a cool drink. But nothing ruins a beautiful summer evening more than mosquitos. The Committee for a Better Environment (CBE) would like to share some simple, eco-friendly approaches you can take this summer to combat mosquitos.

It’s important to control standing water sources in your yard. If you have birdbaths, you should change the water every 3-5 days to prevent mosquitos from hatching. In addition, ensure your gutters stay clear throughout the summer. You should use smooth downspout extenders, rather than those with ridges, to prevent water from building up in the ridges after it rains. This standing water inside your downspout extenders can attract mosquitos. Any empty flowerpots or other items that collect water should be stored upside down or in a place where they stay dry. All the above actions will prevent mosquitos from hatching in the first place.

Even if you take the above actions, you may still have unwanted mosquitos showing up in your yard. So how can you repel mosquitos and protect yourself from mosquito bites? Some plants naturally repel mosquitos. If you have an herb garden, planting rosemary, cloves, basil, and peppermint may help keep mosquitos away (and you can use these herbs for home cooking too!). If you have a deck/porch, you can use fans to keep a soft breeze blowing, which literally blows mosquitos away. To protect yourself, use eco-friendly, DEET-free insect repellents. These repellents contain ingredients like peppermint oil, citronella oil, and lemongrass oil to repel mosquitos. They have the added benefit of smelling nicer than repellents that use DEET.

None of the above recommendations requires the use of harmful pesticides, which can impact birds, bees, and other pollinators negatively. Implementing some or all of these recommendations can help you enjoy more time outside this summer without swatting at mosquitos or scratching mosquito bites.