This is a multi-step program, giving you an opportunity to sit, play and dine in your outdoor spaces.
Product Options Cutter Bug Free Backyard- This product attaches to your hose. It will kill and repel almost all bugs. A few hours before going out, spray everything that is living-flowers, trees and shrubs as well as the lawn. If there is any left over, spray your deck or patio. Depending upon weather conditions, this can last a few weeks.
Raid Yard Guard or Cutter Outdoor Fogger. These are aerosol sprays. One hour before bringing food outside, spray this product all around the area both, deck and out into the yard. On the perimeter, place “Tiki”-type torches containing Citronella Oil every 8-10 feet. Set the wick at 1-2 inches so that there is a little smoke produced. Place short torches in flower pots for both ambience and effect. While Citronella has limited range (only about 18 inches), it does help. Off! Mosquito coils are also effective. The OFF! Power Pad Lamp or Lantern is an excellent product which produces a 10-15 barrier for about 4 hours. They are quite effective.
For those of you with small children and pets, try Dr. T’s Mosquito Repelling Granules and St. Gabriels Mosquito Repellent with a hose end sprayer. These are non-poisonous products. We suggest using the spray only on trees and shrubs while using these organic products on the lawn. While not as effective as the poisons, they are safe and should allow your little ones the chance to enjoy the outside as well.
Personal Protection The most effective body protection product currently available is DEET. Most repellents contain some percentage of it. A 2002 study published in the New England Journal of Medicine recommended the following concentration of this product:
Adults-20%-30% Kids Age 5-12-5%-10%
Toddlers/Infants 0%
Teens-10%-20% Kids Age 2-5-less than 5% A 2007 report from the EPA concluded that, when used according to directions, DEET is safe even for children and babies as young as 2 months, but for those of you who do not wish to take advantage of modern chemistry, we also carry non-DEET products.
Look for products containing permethrin such as Sawyer which can be sprayed on your clothing, bedding or camping gear. It is great for hiking or sending your kids to camp and virtually any outdoor activity. While it is not to be used on the skin, this is an excellent product.
We've also have personal protection sprays like Cutter Advanced that contain picardin--an effective, odorless alternative to DEET that's safe for the entire family.
Finally, when everything above seems like too much trouble, take a look at the Mosquito Catcher! This highly effective device sits silently in your yard attracting the fly-guys to it and away from you. Reasonably priced, it is available in 2 designs and is well worth checking out. Ask us about it. We hope we have answered your questions about surviving in the swamp that is D.C. Come visit us in the garden department and we will help you TAKE BACK YOUR YARD!
-The Strosniders Garden Department
