Gardening
Related: About this forumFricking bugs
They LOVE me. I know to water at either dawn or dusk (because it is hot as hell, here), but of course, that's when bugs are most active. I'm getting bitten like I'm an all you can eat buffet laid out for a professional football team.
What do you use for bug repellent when you need to water your garden?
Curmudgeoness
(18,219 posts)Try to find that time before they get too active? It doesn't have to be at dusk, just later in the afternoon when there isn't too much more time for the sun to dry everything out.
Could putting long pants and long sleeves on help? I hate the idea of using a repellent just for a short time outside, and if I use it, I use a DEET product. But I spray it on clothes, not my skin.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)and shorts. Probably not the brightest idea, but we haven't had rain in a couple of days and I wanted to make sure my babies had water. I got home late, too, and I was a snack.
elleng
(136,055 posts)so does my neighbor, the owner of the property here, who cultivates veggies, and has seasonal flowers. When I walk around to 'inspect,' I use Cutters. Seems to work pretty well.
Aerows
(39,961 posts)But we've had such off and on rain. I'll try Cutters, thanks for the recommendation.
femmocrat
(28,394 posts)Doesn't matter what time I go out, they get me. I make sure there is NO standing water, but they must be coming from the woods or something. I tried repellent-- I have some kind of herbal stuff-- but it felt so greasy. Ugh. This year is the worst I have seen them.
Has anyone tried that little fan repellent thing that you can clip on your clothing?
Aerows
(39,961 posts)But the bracelet things work okay, but then you stink of citronella forever.
NJCher
(37,868 posts)I use mosquito coils to drive them out of the area and Avon to keep them from biting. They are so bad here that without the coils, they are constantly buzzing around my face and arms. Can't stand it. If one or two brave the mosquito coil odor and make it to my arm, they soon fly off because they can't stand the Avon stuff. The good thing about the Avon stuff is that it's not oily or sticky like some of the other sprays.
I bought a whole case of it a few years ago so I don't have to worry about running out.
I have several big "S"shaped hangers that I hang the coils from and I light them with one of those clicker lighter things. I light them about five minutes before I go out.
For stuff like watering and being out for only a short time, I will put on a mosquito net shirt, but with you being in a hot area, you wouldn't want this option.
Cher