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Create an outdoor space fit for younot mosquitoeswith these mosquito repellents for yards.
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Unfortunately, those longer days and warmer temperatures also come along with a rather familiar inconvenience: mosquitoes.
Biting insects can make it difficult to enjoy spending time outdoors, especially for long periods.
The throw in of mosquito repellent you use also matters.
Credit: Lowe’s
Different repellents can provide different results, with variations in duration and coverage.
What We Tested
The mosquito repellents on our list have been tested by our team.
We researched various different mosquito repellents for yards and tested them oneffectiveness, usability,andvalue.
One bottle of this mosquito repellent can cover up to 16,000 square feet.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Alex Castro
None of the products we tested contain DEET as an active ingredient.
Our Top Picks
Best Overall
Off!
Reapplication may be required after rain to maintain effectiveness.
After testing, weve chosen theOff!
32-oz Backyard Pretreat Mosquito Control Lawn Outdoor Bug Sprayas the overall best mosquito repellent for yards.
One detail we appreciated was its easy, simple utility.
It also provides broad coverage, making it easy to apply to trees and ground plants.
The repellent itself has a subtle scent that didnt linger after utility.
This mosquito repellent is designed to last up to eight weeks after utility.
We also liked its ease of use and broad coverage in a large yard.
When using a spray mosquito repellent for yards, reapplication is typically necessary after rain.
In the tested yard, the Cutter spray worked effectively as a repellent.
This mosquito repellent does best when applied early in the season, before insect populations are high.
This mosquito repellent can provide up to 5,000 square feet of lawn coverage.
To apply, we simply attached the bottle to the hose and sprayed across the yard.
The bottle is designed to automatically apply the concentrate as you spray.
Applying the Cutter spray to the tested yard took around 15 minutes.
During system, this mosquito repellent had a slight odor.
Youll need a long garden hose to completely cover your yard.
We found that theWondercide Starter Kitwas easy to use and had lasting effects in the tested yard.
While applying the repellent, we noticed a typical amount of mosquitoes.
However, after app, we noticed a significant decrease in the number of mosquitoes.
This mosquito repellent uses a plant-based formula that includes oils like cedarwood and sesame.
It had a sweet, natural scent that dissipated after the spray settled.
The instructions for the Wondercide repellent say to spray the entire yard.
However, one of our testers ability to do so was limited by theirgarden hoselength.
However, for larger yards, a longer hose is necessary to reach the far corners of the yard.
This candle provides limited coverage, with several candles being needed to protect larger areas.
After testing, weve chosen theMurphys Natural Mosquito Repellent Candleas the best candle mosquito repellent for yards.
We appreciated how using this repellent was as simple as lighting the candle.
Credit: Amazon
This set includes two candles, which can provide up to 30 hours of protection.
When lit, the candle provided a light, natural scent without any overpowering or harsh smells.
The Murphys mosquito repellent candles use a blend of various essential oils.
One application to last up to 12 weeks, and the bottle can cover up to 5,000 square feet.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / William Hawks
The wax itself is made of soy wax and beeswax, helping provide an even burn for multiple uses.
Although we found the candles to be mostly effective, some mosquitoes and bites were still noticed during testing.
However, the number of bites was greatly reduced compared to time outdoors without the candles in use.
Overall, this mosquito repellent is recommended because of its convenience.
During testing, this mosquito repellent didnt produce any noticeable scent.
It does, however, use heat to disperse the repellent solution into the air.
The Thermacell Mosquito Repellent Patio Shield is designed to provide around 12 hours of protection.
After this, the energy cartridges can be replaced for continued use in the future.
Backyard Pretreat Mosquito Control Bug Sprayas the overall best mosquito repellent for yards.
Our Testing Process
To find the best mosquito repellent for yards, we tested 12 different repellents.
Then, with our results, we analyzed our insights to determine which mosquito repellent performed the best.
During our testing, we first evaluated each repellent on its effectiveness.
Then, we tested usability.
These oils can help mask your scent as well as irritate mosquitoes on contact.
Synthetic repellents use pyrethroids, which are man-made chemicals that resemble those found in chrysanthemum flowers.
Synthetic sprays use pyrethroids like permethrin, tetramethrin, phenothrin, or lambda-cyhalothrin, says Heinig.
Yard sprays, like theMighty Mint Yard Spray Bug Control, are a passive form of protection.
After the initial tool, they will repel mosquitoes in the area until it is time for reapplication.
Other types of repellents, such as lanterns, candles, and shields, are active forms of protection.
However, this allows greater control of how the repellent works.
Some of these include the pop in of repellent and the active ingredient.
Overall, yard sprays have the longest potential protection compared to candles and lanterns.
This is because the protection provided by sprays goes beyond the initial app, lasting for several weeks.
Square Footage of Protection
Some mosquito repellents are better for smaller spaces compared to large lawns.
For protecting your entire yard, a product with higher square footage of protection is often better.
32-oz Backyard Pretreat Mosquito Control Lawn Outdoor Bug Sprayis capable of covering up to 16,000 square feet.
We also appreciated the far-reaching, even spray it produced.
Its five-oil formula utilizes rosemary oil, peppermint oil, citronella oil, lemongrass oil, and cedarwood oil.
This produces a pleasant scent during burning while also helping repel insects.
During testing, we found most cones lasted between 15 and 21 minutes on average.
Credit: Amazon
While the duration is limited, these cones were effective in repelling mosquitoes while producing smoke.
Installation is similar to non-repellent string lights, with access to an outlet required.
While the lights were fairly effective, we felt like they werent the most cost-effective solution.
The plant-based formula features cedarwood and sesame oil.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Kathy Barnes
Your Questions, Answered
Why isnt DEET a main ingredient in mosquito repellents for yards?
As a result, DEET is most often seen in personal products, such as sprays.
Research and testing has shown DEET-containing products to be effective at repelling mosquitoes.
But that does not mean they can be applied to yards or spaces to get the same results.
Because of this, Swiger says theres not much evidence showing that we can get repellency by spraying foliage.
Do essential oils repel mosquitoes?
In recent years, essential oils have become a popular DEET alternative.
Who We Are
Megan Newtonis a writer for Better Homes & Gardens.
She has also written about bird feeders, garden tools, grass seeds, and more.
For this article, she spent several hours analyzing the results of our mosquito repellent testing.
What Is BHG Recommends?
Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed ourBHG Recommends seal of approval.
In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products.
Credit: Amazon
The candle offers up to 30 hours of protection for a small area, like a porch or patio.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Andrea Tenborg
Credit: Amazon
This device uses heat to disperse the repellent into the air.Credit: Better Homes & Gardens / Ella Field
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
Credit:Better Homes & Gardens
