What to Put in a Fire pit to Keep Mosquitoes Away
What to Burn for a Mosquito Free Fire
Mosquitoes and other insects can be a huge issue and can spoil your outdoor time. Here we will talk about what to put in a fire pit to keep mosquitoes away. We will cover different types of fire pits as well as other fires, campfires and what to add to fire to repel insects depending on your fire pit type.
What can I put in a fire pit to keep mosquitoes away?
Here is a list of what to burn for a mosquito free fire pit or other outdoor fires. Luckily all those things which smell disgusting to mosquitoes, are very pleasant to us!
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Do wood fire pits repel mosquitoes?
Yes, wood fire pits repel mosquitoes. Fire pit smoke is something mosquitoes don’t like.
Fire starters deterring mosquitoes
Citronella fire starters
You can add to the fire citronella fire starters. What is citronella? Citronella is a natural bio-pesticide with a non-toxic mode of action. Fire starters infused with citronella oil are an effective insect deterrent suitable for fire pits, fireplaces, wood stoves and campfires.
Wood logs to keep mosquitoes away
Citronella logs
Similarly to citronella fire starters, citronella fire logs are a natural mosquito repellent. Natural oils discourage not only mosquitoes but other flying insects as well. Apart from keeping mosquitoes away, they provide up to three times more heat than firewood, so you will need fewer logs in your fire pit.
What is the best firewood to keep mosquitoes away?
The best types of wood to burn in your fire pit to keep mosquitoes away are:
- Red cedar bark
- Eucalyptus
- Pinyon (Piñon)
Natural mosquito repellents you can add to the fire
Are there any other things to add to the fire? What can I burn to keep mosquitoes away?
There are many plants which you can burn to deter mosquitoes. It’s worth growing them in your garden or keeping a stack of dry herps to have at hand.
Here is a list of hers which help to keep mosquitoes away:
- lemongrass
- lemon balm
- lavender
- sage
- rosemary
- mint
- catnip
- citronella
Mosquito-repelling herbs
Lemon Balm Seeds Non-GMO Heirloom Seeds
Rosemary Live Plant – Edible Aromatic Herb
Fully Rooted Lemongrass Plant
Lavender Seeds for Planting
How to burn herbs to keep mosquitoes away?
You can add dry herbs straight to the fire, but they will burn very quickly. The good news is that there is a way to make them last for longer in the fire. Here is how:
Adding herbs in tinfoil to the fire
Simply wrap a handful of herbs in an aluminium foil, poke some holes in the foil and add to the fire. This way the herbs will last longer. You can use this method for wood fire pits, gas fire pits or barbecues. It’s great, especially if you’re cooking on fire. Not only you will keep mosquitoes away, but you will also add the herb aroma to your food.
Does a propane fire pit keep mosquitoes away?
No, a propane fire pit will not keep mosquitoes away. It’s actually the opposite – it attracts them! Why? Propane while burning releases carbon dioxide, which attracts mosquitoes. But there is something you can do about it. Read on to find out more.
Can a propane fire pit keep mosquitoes away?
If you have a propane fire pit, you can add certain herbs or plants to your propane fire pit to repel mosquitoes.
What to add to a propane fire pit to keep mosquitoes away?
There herbs (or anything from the list above) are great natural mosquito deterrents which you can add to your propane fire pit:
- lavender
- lemon balm
- mint
- citronella
- sage
What else can I do to keep mosquitoes away?
Other ways to keep mosquitoes away from you while sitting around a propane fire pit is to use scented candles or torches. They will repel the unwanted insects but smell nice to you and can add style to your garden decorations.
Common questions about keeping mosquitoes and other insects away
What to add to a campfire to keep bugs away?
To repel mosquitoes and other insects from your campfire, add to the fire any of these following herbs.
Campfire herbs to keep bugs away
- sage
- lavender
- mint
- lemon balm
- citronella
Ideally the herbs should be dry, but if you have only green plants at hand, you can also use a small amount of those. If you add more than one of the above mentioned insect repellents, that’s even better, you will increase the effect.
Do fire pits keep mosquitoes away? Are mosquitoes attracted to fire pits?
It depends what fire pits. Wood fire pits do keep mosquitoes away. However, propane gas fire pits do the opposite, they attract mosquitoes.
Do wood fire pits repel mosquitoes? Does wood smoke keep mosquitoes away?
Yes, wood fire smoke is something mosquitoes and other insects don’t like. Also the hot and dry air around the fire pit is something mosquitoes avoid as it could easily dehydrate them.
Does burning lavender keep mosquitoes away?
Yes, lavender is a good natural mosquito repellent. It’s actually one of the best ways to keep mosquitoes away.
Does burning rosemary keep mosquitoes away?
Yes, rosemary is also a very good natural mosquito repellent.
How to burn rosemary for mosquitoes? How to burn herbs to keep mosquitoes away?
You can put stacks of rosemary on the hot barbecue coals or add to your wood or gas fire. Another way of burning rosemary or other herbs to repel mosquitoes is to wrap a handful of herbs in an aluminium foil, poke some holes in the foil and add to the fire. This way the herbs can burn for longer. The same method applies to burning other herbs as a mosquito repellent.
Does burning sage keep mosquitoes away?
Yes, sage is a good natural mosquito repellent. It’s highly effective in keeping mosquitoes away.
Does burning coffee ground keep mosquitoes away?
Yes, you can add dry coffee grounds to the fire to repel mosquitoes. So don’t throw away your used coffee grounds if you want to have an eco-friendly natural mosquito repellent. It doesn’t matter if you use recently-used coffee grounds or week-old coffee grounds, it will work.
Does sage or rosemary in a campfire keep mosquitoes away?
Yes, they do. Sage, rosemary and other herbs are something mosquitoes don’t like, but are very pleasant for us.
Can you put citronella oil in a fire pit?
It’s a common question about keeping mosquitoes away: Can I add citronella oil to an outdoor fire pit to deter mosquitos?
Well, technically you can do it. BUT, the oil will burn very quickly, so there isn’t much sense in doing so, as it won’t last long enough. It’s just not worth it. A better way of adding citronella to your fire is using fire logs with citronella, they will burn very hot and for long.
What smell do mosquitoes hate?
In general mosquitoes don’t like strong herb aromas. Smells which mosquitoes hate include: rosemary, lavender, sage, mint, lemon balm but also cinnamon, menthol or orange.
Does Vicks VapoRub repel mosquitoes?
Yes, it does. It contains menthol which mosquitoes hate. You can rub some Vicks VapoRub in your skin in a few places (ankles, neck, wrists, knees) to keep mosquitoes away.
What spice can you burn to keep mosquitoes away?
Cinnamon and cloves are good for keeping mosquitoes away.
Do fire pits keep midges away?
Fire pits do help keep midges away, but you won’t get rid of midges completely without some additional help of other repellents.
Final notes
Sitting around a fire is a great way to enjoy an evening outdoors. Although various bugs and insects including mosquitoes may try to get you, there are many natural ways to repel them. You can certainly have a mosquito free fire, if you add some herbs in your fire pit to keep them away. However, apart from adding herbs to the fire, you can simply crush them in your hand and apply them directly to your skin or clothes. This is a great, instant way to keep mosquitoes away from you.
