Mosquito Control Tips

Minimize Standing Water

Nothing attracts mosquitos faster than standing, stagnant water. Here’s how to minimize standing water:

Make sure your outdoor faucets aren’t dripping or leaking – leaky faucets can quickly create puddles near your foundation that are inviting to spawning mosquitoes. Remove items in your yard that serve no real purpose except to collect water, such as empty buckets, old potting containers, or overturned trash can lids.

If you have canoes or children’s toys, turn them upside down or cover them with a tarp to ensure water can’t collect there. Finally, keep gutters and downspout areas clear to prevent water from collecting.

If you have water that cannot be removed, such as watering dishes or troughs for animals, make sure you keep the water fresh. Furthermore, if there are parts of your yard that are lower than others, you may want to use wood chips, decorative mulch, rocks, or other natural materials to prevent water from collecting in those areas—particularly after heavy rains.

Use Natural Repellents

One of the best ways to control mosquitoes around your home is to use natural repellents; for example, citronella candles or torches and certain kinds of light. Though not a true ‘repellent,’ yellow outdoor lighting can help keep mosquitoes at bay since they are not attracted to yellow light the same way they are to incandescent lighting.

Finally, keep in mind that mosquitoes are very lightweight and are not strong flyers. Using portable fans on patios and porches can keep them from coming too close and biting you.

Use Mosquito ‘Magnets’ (Traps)

These machines are capable of controlling the population of mosquitoes across an entire acre of property. The machine burns propane and sends out a steady stream of carbon dioxide – something that mosquitoes are incredibly attracted to. When the mosquitoes come close to the machine, they are sucked into a net and killed.

Plant Mosquito-Repelling Botanicals in Your Yard

There are a number of mosquito-repelling flowers, herbs, and plants that you can use to help reduce mosquitos in your yard. Some of these plants include:

• Horsemint
• Ageratum (Floss flowers)
• Marigolds
• Catnip

Keep Grass Short

Keep your lawn as short as your species of grass can withstand. By keeping grasses as short as possible, you limit resting places for mosquitoes to breed. In addition to keeping your lawn cropped, pay attention to garden beds and ornamental grasses, which can also harbor mosquitoes. This is where professional insecticide treatments are best suited. A specialized lawn and pest control company, like West Termite, Pest, and Lawn can help you handle your mosquito control needs.