To keep mosquitoes away while sitting outside, you can use a combination of natural methods, devices, and environmental control:

Effective Strategies to Keep Mosquitoes Away Outdoors

• Eliminate Standing Water: Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water such as bird baths, flower pots, clogged gutters, and even small puddles. Regularly remove or change water in these places to reduce mosquito breeding grounds

• Use Mosquito Repellents: Apply repellents containing DEET, picaridin, or natural oils like lemon eucalyptus, citronella, lavender, or basil. Lemon eucalyptus oil is especially effective and CDC-approved for protection, offering up to 3 hours of defense

• Plant Mosquito-Repelling Herbs and Flowers: Surround your seating area with plants like citronella grass, lavender, basil, marigolds, peppermint, lemon balm, and lemongrass. These plants emit scents that mask human odors and repel mosquitoes naturally

• Set Up Fans: Mosquitoes are weak fliers, so placing a fan near your outdoor seating creates a breeze that makes it difficult for them to fly and land on you. Direct airflow toward where you sit for best results

• Use Mosquito Control Devices: Devices like the Thermacell E90 rechargeable mosquito repellent create a mosquito-free zone without applying repellents on your skin. Mosquito traps that release carbon dioxide and lure mosquitoes to capture them can also reduce populations over time

• Citronella Candles and Torches: Burning citronella candles or torches can help mask human scents and deter mosquitoes, though their effectiveness is moderate compared to other methods

• Automated Misting Systems: For larger outdoor areas, automated systems spray insecticides at peak mosquito activity times to reduce mosquito numbers, but these involve chemical use and should be managed carefully

Additional Tips

• Position repellent plants at nose level around seating areas to maximize scent effectiveness

• Regularly maintain and trim plants to release more mosquito-repelling scents

• Refresh homemade mosquito traps every few days to maintain their effectiveness

By combining these approaches—removing breeding sites, using repellents and plants, employing fans or devices—you can significantly reduce mosquito presence and enjoy your outdoor time comfortably