Citronella candles never did much for me either. If you're serious about mosquitoes, try a fan—mosquitoes are weak flyers, so even a gentle breeze keeps them away. As for squirrels, peppermint oil spray works pretty well, but you gotta reapply after rain. Learned that the hard way when my patio cushions became squirrel central overnight...not fun. Coffee grounds are great fertilizer, but yeah, slugs don't seem bothered. Copper tape around pots helps a bit more in my experience.
- Fans definitely beat citronella candles for mosquitoes, but anyone tried those mosquito coils? Heard mixed things...
- Peppermint oil never worked for my squirrels—they seemed to think it was seasoning, lol.
- Copper tape sounds interesting though, might give that a shot.
"Peppermint oil never worked for my squirrels—they seemed to think it was seasoning, lol."
Haha, same here! My squirrels practically threw a dinner party after I tried peppermint oil. Anyway, about those mosquito coils—I gave them a shot last summer. They're decent at keeping mosquitoes away, but honestly, the smoke can be a bit much. If you're sensitive to smells or have guests over, it might not be the best vibe.
One thing that really helped me keep the patio fresh and bug-free was planting lavender and marigolds around the edges. Bugs hate them, plus they look great and add some color. Here's what I did:
1. Grabbed a few pots of lavender and marigolds from the garden center.
2. Placed them strategically around seating areas and near entrances.
3. Watered regularly, but they're pretty low-maintenance overall.
Bonus: Lavender smells amazing, especially in the evening breeze. Copper tape sounds intriguing too—might have to try that next for my slug problem...
Lavender and marigolds are fantastic suggestions. I tried lavender last year and it really made a difference, not just with the bugs but also visually—it adds such a relaxing atmosphere. But marigolds...mine got completely munched by rabbits, unfortunately.
"Copper tape sounds intriguing too—might have to try that next for my slug problem..."
I've heard mixed reviews about copper tape actually working. Has anyone here had consistent success with it, or is it more of a hit-or-miss kind of thing?
Copper tape's been pretty hit-or-miss in my experience...I've seen it work well for some clients, but others swear it didn't make a difference. Might depend on how persistent your slugs are or even the tape quality? Worth a shot either way, though.
