Midge bite misery!

[user1484920171]

Not sure if this is the best area to post on…
tips please for best insect repellents and ways to rid midges from my garden.
I’ve always been prone to these bites (apart from an odd 2 year ish gap when then left me alone) and feel like this year is going to be particularly bad. I’ve already been peppered with bites twice after doing some gardening/ playing with my DS.
There definitely seem to be more about this year. I can see clouds of them. I feel like I can’t enjoy or keep on top of my garden.
Why are some people more susceptible to being bitten? My DM is the same as me.
Why is my garden a paradise for these little buggers?
any tips much appreciated.

Are you in Scotland @user1484920171? If so, I reckon you just need to accept them. We’re in the West coast so plagued by the midge every year. The best repellent we’ve found is Smidge.

https://www.smidgeup.com/

Avon skin so soft and a midge net for your head.

nothing you can do to get rid of them except move south

No south east actually. Thank you for the recommendation. I have just ordered some!

@user1484920171 South East????? This is a revelation!

I thought it was only us is Scotland whose summers were ruined by the little b*stards!

They are getting worse every year. I have already had my gutters emptied, and put mosquito dunks in the water butts and drain openings. All pots and things are upside down so water can’t gather in them

I’m SE too and can confirm clouds of the little bastards every day from late afternoon onwards. I have a smattering of small bites. Would rather them than mosquitoes though. @angelinawasrobbed can I asked what dunks you used in your water butts please? We are keen gardeners and had to drain one of our butts last year as it was infested with giant mossies and we were smothered with huge bites. It was utterly miserable. Tried putting washing up liquid on top this year but it made the water too suddy and unusable.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Summit-Responsible-Solutions-110-12-Mosquito/dp/B078Y61JXG/ref=mp_s_a_1_3_pp?crid=2G302BXPZQZ7W&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ZlQBQmV3Hi6AyzYayuBrlbgz_94ae1_rxHJkelG2oVnAOroGz6kG2MXq7iSrVfkG_OiVIhFJG6wmKJrZn9pruC5IIuVEeN0MEAX5yWx3WQRe9SLPoz2XnE0DomNyiMN1Tl4uQi8twC3dLsLlGlGC6QGXVUo0b92mVoiY91PAq1SgKB25-VJOYntBhDXBTyarOcWDw0QRURR-O37ILZ8Z6Q.euhj5LVptlV-QnqQK4lN_wlY2M6irBi2ROTyWT4YDA4&dib_tag=se&keywords=mosquito+dunks&qid=1744191475&sprefix=mosquito+dunks%2Caps%2C107&sr=8-3

tbese from Amazon. Buy lots - they tend to sell out. Might be cheaper elsewhere

good Luck!

The last few summers, I haven’t been able to sit out. Last summer, I started researching seriously and came across these. The second half of the summer was
much better, after I deployed them and cleaned out the gutters, which were full of wet leaf mould. So I got in early this year !

Eat lots of garlic! That really helps in preventing them from biting you.

I found this article on plants that naturally put them off

12 Mosquito Repellent Plants | Garden Design

Yes, I already look like a leper.

I read a post on here where someone said cutting down conifer trees in their garden helped. I don't know why that it - do they live there or is it shade?

@BereavedSouls they live EVERYWHERE!!!! They love humid, damp, wind-free, shady conditions. Maybe that’s why someone cut down their conifers -the amount of shade would be a midge paradise!

Definitely worst at dawn & dusk.

A friend of mine swears by vitamin B supplements for avoiding insect bites, she takes them as soon as the weather warms up. Never seen her with a bite. 🤷