These Insanely Helpful Garden Plants Keep the Mosquitoes Away
Say goodbye to the outdoor pests. Bugs come with the territory when you’re outdoors, but some are more tolerable than others. If it feels like mosquitoes are invading your yard, it’s understandable to want to do what you can to get rid of them. Enter mosquito repellent plants. Here’s the thing: Experts say that the best way to keep mosquitoes at bay is to use personal repellents recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). But if you want to go a more natural route, you may be interested in selecting certain plants—they’re just not necessarily guaranteed to work as well as a spray. “The idea that planting certain plants around your home will successfully repel mosquitoes is only supported by anecdotal evidence and not empirical evidence,” says Eva Buckner, Ph.D., assistant professor and state extension specialist at the University of Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory. It’s important to note, though, that there is some evidence that certain plants may help discourage certain mosquitoes from setting up camp in your yard—they just don’t work as well as a chemical or spray. If it feels like your outdoor space is a haven to mosquitoes, it’s a good idea to “eliminate mosquito breeding grounds on and around your property by draining standing water from flowerpots, birdbaths, grill covers, baby pools, and other sources,” says Jim Fredericks, Ph.D., board-certified entomologist and senior vice president of public affairs at the National Pest Management Association (NPMA). Using a small fan outside may also help keep mosquitoes away since “they are not strong flyers,” Fredericks says. But if you like the look and smell of certain plants and want to see if they keep the mosquitoes away, too, there’s no reason not to try them. These are the plants fans swear are most likely to help get rid of mosquitoes. Snap up one or a few to enhance your outdoor space.
2023-06-26T20:04:01Z
Meet the dogs that are banned around the world
When you're thinking about what kind of dog to get, most people go for the more obvious breeds, but some go for the ones with the reputation as "violent," and they often find out that it's actually restricted or banned in their home country. In fact, 52 countries have some form of breed-specific legislation, which is a type of law that prohibits or restricts particular breeds or types of dog. They range from outright banning the possession of these dogs (with threat of putting them down), to restrictions and conditions on ownership, including things like what age a person can be to own one, and the requirement of a short leash, a muzzle, registration, insurance, sterilization, microchip implants, or even tattoo. These laws were born out of a number of fatalities or maulings, and so they presume specific breeds to be dangerous or vicious. Naturally, there has been some backlash, but nonetheless the restrictions remain in place. Click through to see the most commonly banned or restricted dogs around the world.
2024-02-23T14:02:16Z
Black diamonds: Earth's toughest mystic jewel
We all know a few things about diamonds, like how they twinkle on an engagement ring, how they're a girl's best friend, and how they're usually crisp and colorless. But what do you know about black diamonds? Beyond the fact that they do, in fact, exist, there are so many marvels in the history of the black diamond, from its struggle to popularity in the jewelry world, and its believed extraterrestrial origins. It's one of the rarest diamonds in the world, and the toughest, and it somehow carries both curses and luck, as well as a record-breaking price tag. Curious to know more? Click through to read some dazzling facts about this precious gemstone.
2024-01-03T15:47:00Z