Home Mosquito Control in an Organic Garden

Posted by Jamie McIntosh Jun 19, 2009

This week my garden has been the recipient of copious amounts of rain, including four inches in one night alone. This isn’t a bad thing when the temperature is a withering 95 degrees, but wet conditions can encourage the proliferation of various pests and diseases. In my area, a major pest I must contend with is mosquitoes. Mosquitoes aren’t a garden pest per se, but swarms of this insect keep me from attending to weeding and other garden chores.

I grew up in Florida, and I have memories of running for the house when the “mosquito trucks” came rolling down the street, blasting the surroundings with a miasma of poisonous spray. I can’t imagine what kind of negative health and environmental effects this type of pesticide had, but there are safe and organic ways to control mosquitoes. The best way to control mosquitoes is to remove all standing water. Mosquitoes can breed in as little as a teaspoon of water, so don’t overlook small puddles. In flooded areas or stagnant ponds, apply an organic mosquito larvicide. Active ingredients may include mineral oil, or look for mosquito dunks that use a biological pesticide. Finally, use a DEET-free mosquito repellant on the skin. Active ingredients like neem oil keep mosquitoes and other biting insects away.