Mosquitoes are one of summers only downsides. They invade homes and gardens and leave behind unsightly bites that itch and annoy and that can’t be scratched.

There are lots of mosquito repelling “gimmicks” that have been discredited, but there are also lots of ways to repel mosquitoes that really work and this article is all about those.

Here we reveal the top seven ways to keep mosquitoes away from you, your home and your garden.

1. Eliminate Standing Water

The best way to keep mosquitoes away is to not attract them in the first place. Standing water acts as a breeding ground for mosquitoes, so ensure that there is nothing around your home and in your garden that can collect standing water – such as blocked gutters, spare tires, flower pots etc. If you own a bird bath, then ensure the water is refreshed at least once every two days.

2. Make A Powerful Mosquito Trap

A popular mosquito trap involves using a cut plastic bottle to attract and then trap mosquitoes, but if you want something that literally traps and kills hundreds of mosquitoes every day, then you should try out this heavy duty mosquito trap.

This method uses a high velocity air circulator to suck in mosquitoes that get too close and traps them on a fine mesh.

To see the full tutorial, go here.

3. Attract Bats To Your Garden

It is said that one bat can catch 600 mosquitoes per hour. Attracting bats can help to significantly reduce the mosquito population in your yard. There is a stigma associated with bats (perhaps because they aren’t the most attractive creature) but they are gentle and shy and avoid contact with humans.

To help attract bats to your garden, you can install a bat house in your garden. This bat house is reported to have the best success rate for attracting bats. And to improve your chances even further, you can apply this bat attract scent to your bat house.

4. Plant Citronella In Your Garden Or In Pots On Your Patio

There are a number of plants you can grow to repel mosquitoes, but citronella is by far the most effective.

According to NaturalLivingIdeas.com…

“Citronella is a beautiful perennial clumping grass that emits a strong aroma. That aroma masks other scents, and keeps mosquitoes from being attracted to things located around it. The citronella plant has a much stronger aroma than other mosquito repellents that contain citronella, so it is a great choice. Citronella is very easy to grow, and can get to be a very tall 5 or 6 feet high! You can grow citronella in pots and place it around a porch or patio, or you can plant it directly in a yard or garden bed.”

You can grow citronella from seeds, but if you’d rather benefit from their mosquito repelling properties instantly, then you can purchase two live citronella plants from this page on Amazon.

5. Make Mosquito Repelling Incense

Did you you know that mosquito incense coils emit a toxic smoke that fills the air with the equivalent to smoking 75-100 cigarettes in a 12 hour period?

These are not what you want to be burning in your home or garden – but you can make your own mosquito repelling incense using only natural ingredients that works very effectively to keep mosquitoes away.

Get the full tutorial with beautiful step-by-step photos at NaturalLivingIdeas.com here.

6. A DIY Mosquito Spray With Scientific Backing

All of the methods mentioned so far are great for keeping mosquitoes away from your home – but what about when you venture out? Common mosquito sprays contain DEET, a pesticide with a long list of negative implications.

Instead, consider this more natural homemade mosquito spray:

– Mix one part lemon eucalyptus essential oil with 10 parts witch hazel and spray or rub into skin.

Lemon eucalyptus oil was found to provide 95% protection for a 3 hour period in a recent 2014 Australian study.

7. Wear A Mosquito Repelling Wrist Band

If you want to double up on your mosquito repelling capabilities while you are out and about – then these Invisaband Mosquito Repellent Bracelets – is one of the best ways.

It is all natural and benefits from the slow release of geraniol oil (an oil derived from the geranium flower). It’s perfect for camping, being outside, taking part in sports and much more and means you don’t have to worry about slathering on sticky mosquito repellent.

See the reviews and get yourself an Invisiband from this page on Amazon.