These Insanely Helpful Garden Plants Keep the Mosquitoes Away
Say goodbye to the outdoor pests. Bugs come with the territory when you’re outdoors, but some are more tolerable than others. If it feels like mosquitoes are invading your yard, it’s understandable to want to do what you can to get rid of them. Enter mosquito repellent plants. Here’s the thing: Experts say that the best way to keep mosquitoes at bay is to use personal repellents recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But if you want to go a more natural route, you may be interested in selecting certain plants—they’re just not necessarily guaranteed to work as well as a spray. “The idea that planting certain plants around your home will successfully repel mosquitoes is only supported by anecdotal evidence and not empirical evidence,” says Eva Buckner, Ph.D., assistant professor and state extension specialist at the University of Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory. It’s important to note, though, that there is some evidence that certain plants may help discourage certain mosquitoes from setting up camp in your yard—they just don’t work as well as a chemical or spray. If it feels like your outdoor space is a haven to mosquitoes, it’s a good idea to “eliminate mosquito breeding grounds on and around your property by draining standing water from flowerpots, birdbaths, grill covers, baby pools, and other sources,” says Jim Fredericks, Ph.D., board-certified entomologist and senior vice president of public affairs at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). Using a small fan outside may also help keep mosquitoes away since “they are not strong flyers,” Fredericks says. But if you like the look and smell of certain plants and want to see if they keep the mosquitoes away, too, there’s no reason not to try them. These are the plants fans swear are most likely to help get rid of mosquitoes. Snap up one or a few to enhance your outdoor space.
2023-06-26T20:04:01Z
Do you live in one of the world's 50 coolest neighborhoods?
Everyone wants to travel like a local, and while it’s easy to translate languages with your phone and stay in people's homes instead of hotels through various apps, it’s much more difficult to figure out where the coolest neighborhoods are because they’re off the tourist path. Based on factors of affordability, new venues, arts and culture, foodie destinations, and a general up-and-coming energy, Time Out surveyed more than 27,000 city-dwellers along with city experts to find what they’ve determined to be the top 50 cultural and culinary hot spots in the world. These are the places buzzing with life, free of overrated traps, and rich with the culture and community you couldn't get near many cities' most popular landmarks. Click through to see which neighborhoods made the cut.
2024-02-12T20:37:04Z