Best Yard Insect Repellent for Backyards

Best Yard Insect Repellent - What to Know

Backyards can be such a fun place. They are often a place where family gathers, a place where your kids laugh as they run through the sprinklers, a place for your dog to get daily exercise, and so much more. 

It takes a lot of work to make your yard a pleasant place to spend time, and sometimes even more work to maintain that enjoyable feeling. 

Some of this backyard maintenance includes yard work, seasonal clean up, winter-proofing, and more. 

Pest control starter kit featuring a Chapin HomeGardener sprayer and Liquid Death Solutions, capable of targeting over 60 types of pests for comprehensive DIY protection.

Pest control is an important element of keeping your backyard in a good condition. Backyard pests can range from mosquitoes, ticks, biting flies, rodents, and more. 

Dangers of these pests can vary, with an extreme danger being potential diseases.

Ticks can carry Lyme disease, mosquitoes can spread West Nile or Zika, and those are just a few examples of potential risks. 

It’s important to make sure you find safe, effective pest control options. There are lots of professional pest control services available, or there are DIY pest control options. 

DIY pest control has some benefits, like being effective, customizable, convenient, and affordable. 

It can be overwhelming to make a choice when there are so many options, ever been to an ice cream shop? Well, we are here to give you more information on the best yard insect repellent. Hopefully, by the end of this article, you’ll be able to confidently make a backyard pest control decision.  

Chemical vs. Natural Repellents: What Works Best

When you think bug repellent, you might think of sticky, strong-smelling, bug spray that leaves your skin feeling grimy. You might recognize the brands, DEET, OFF!, permethrin, and others. It doesn’t have to be that way. There are pest control options that can target the bugs on the ground and plants, hopefully affecting them before they get too close to you. 

There are also natural alternatives for pest deterrent, like citronella, essential oils, and more. Some people prefer natural pest control methods, to eliminate the chemicals being introduced around their home. 

When done correctly, both chemical and natural pest control can be effective. Sometimes the best option is to combine both natural, chemical, and a pest control barrier. You just have to decide which is right for you. 

DIY pest control can seem easy and cost effective, which can be true. However, it’s important to make sure you find EDA-approved and pet-safe (if applicable to your circumstances) options. 

A hand with neatly manicured nails holds a translucent pink spray bottle, releasing a fine mist against a dark background.

Best Ingredients to Look for in Yard Repellents

• List and briefly explain the top active ingredients: DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, cedar oil, permethrin, and Bti.

• Describe how each one works to repel or kill insects.

• Include safety notes — which are safest for kids and pets, which require caution.

• Tie back to DIY pest kits: how these often contain similar professional-grade ingredients in safe quantities.

The top active ingredients in pest control are often: DEET, picaridin, oil of lemon eucalyptus, cedar oil, permethrin, and Bti. Here is a bit of information on each of these common ingredients. 

DEET

The American Army developed the synthetic chemical, known as DEET, in the 1940s. It later became available for public use, and it is now used for things like bug sprays, lotions, and more. “It is widely used to repel biting pests such as mosquitoes and ticks.”

Picariding

Picarding is similar to DEET, but has some differences. It is also a synthetic insect repellant, developed by Bayer. It is derived from compounds found in black pepper plants. It is used to repel bugs like mosquitos, ticks, flies, and more biting insects. While similar to DEET, it is different in texture and color. 

Picariding blocks the ability insects have to detect the scent of humans. That’s what makes it a repellant rather than an exterminator. 

Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus

Ripe lemons glistening on the tree, surrounded by vibrant green leaves, ready for harvest under the warm sun.

Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus is plant-based, and derived from the Lemon Eucalyptus Tree. The plant is native to Australia, and it is a great natural alternative to DEET or Picariding. 

This may sound like an essential oil, but it’s different. Oil of Lemon Eucalyptus (OLE) is refined, EPA-registered version that contains p-menthane-3,8-diol (PMD), which is the active ingredient that actually repels bugs. 

Lemon Eucalyptus Essential Oil is used for aromatherapy, and is not the same thing. It is not effective as an insect repellent. 

Cedar Oil

Cedar Oil contains several active organic compounds, like Cedrol, Thujopsene, & α- and β-Cedrene. These compounds have antifungal and natural pesticidal properties. This makes cedar oil a great insect repellent. 

Cedar oil works because it repels insects, kills small insects, and blocks insect pheromones. 

Permethrin

A person wearing a blue checkered shirt and gloves uses a garden sprayer to treat weeds along the side of a wooden building.

Permethrin works as a neurotoxin to bugs and attacks their neuro system. It kills bugs like mosquitos, ticks, fleas, lice, ants, mites, and more. 

Permethrin is included in things like lotions, sprays, shampoos, and more. It’s also used in veterinary and agricultural products.  

Bti 

Bti is a microbial larvicide, so it targets mosquito larva, some kinda of blackflies, and fungus gnats. When mosquito larvae ingest Bti, it disrupts their digestive system, causes cell rupture, and can eventually kill the larvae within a few hours. 

Bti is considered pretty safe and environmentally friendly. It is non-toxic to humans, pets, and more. It’s safe for ponds, birdbaths, rain barrels, and other similar things. 

To some, pest control can be a daunting subject. Having a professional come spray your home and property, but there are also DIY pest control kits. 

How to Get Rid of Your Pests

Liquid Death Solutions have pest control kits tailored to specific pests. These kits are an easy way to get rid of common household pests. 

A person wearing gloves uses a pesticide sprayer to treat the exterior of a house, focusing on preventing pest infestations.

There is a kit used to get rid of ants, roaches, mice, spiders, and more. They are a great option, and you can even keep some extra kits on hand.

Then, if any pests are seen in your space, you can start eradicating them immediately. 

If you’re looking to get rid of pests, check out the available DIY pest control kits on our website.

We would love to answer any questions you may still have, please feel free to reach out to us on our contact page!