You've worked hard to make your yard a colorful, inviting oasis, but mosquitoes can make it impossible to enjoy the garden comfortably. Mosquitoes aren't just annoying; they pose a serious health risk too. They're considered the deadliest animal in the world because of how quickly they spread disease.

Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to keep mosquitoes from bugging you this summer. In this week's Garden Guide, I spoke with Karen Musgrave, an expert at Hicks Nurseries to share a few natural ways to get rid of these pests.

“Anything that collects water can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes,” Karen Musgrave explains. This includes things you might not even think about like children’s toys, plant saucers, tarp folds, birdbaths, or even clogged gutters. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, and in just a few days, hundreds of new mosquitoes can emerge.

If you have a water feature, like a birdbath, products like "Mosquito Dunks" will keep them from becoming a breeding ground. These small donut-shaped tablets release a naturally occurring bacterium called Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti). It's deadly to mosquito larvae, but safe for pets, birds, fish, and other wildlife. This product won't harm active mosquito adults but will give them one less place for them to gather and breed.

A simple fan is a surprisingly powerful mosquito deterrent. “Mosquitoes are very weak fliers,” Karen says. A box fan placed on the ground near your seating area and an oscillating fan above can create enough airflow to keep them away.

Mosquito repelling plants are taking the world by storm, but they are not as effective as you've been led to believe. Certain plants like fragrant basil, lemon balm, and citronella have a scent that confuses mosquitoes and makes them harder for them to find you. However, that scent needs to be activated to have any impact so simply planting these around the yard is not going to be much help. Despite their shortcomings, these plants are beautiful & deserve a space in your garden.

Planning a backyard gathering? Karen recommends "Mosquito Beater", a lawn spray that’s safe for people, kids, and pets. This spray uses the power of the plants I just spoke about above to create a fragrant solution that seems to temporarily repel these pests. It's most effective when sprayed a few hours before an event. It will last for a few days if the weather is dry.