What Is the Best Way to Keep Mosquitoes Away?

Mosquito season is right around the corner, starting in the spring and peaking over the summer. Taking precautions now can help prevent a mosquito infestation when the weather warms up. While mosquitoes aren’t usually a problem inside your home, they will take over your yard, hampering your time spent outdoors. Besides being a nuisance, mosquitoes can transmit serious diseases to not only humans but also dogs, cats, and horses. Help keep your family and pets safe with these mosquito prevention tips.

Get Rid of Standing Water

Mosquitoes breed in standing water and only need a thimbleful to procreate. Eliminating potential breeding sites will help with mosquito elimination. Identify any low areas that are prone to flooding or pooling water and fill them in with dirt or remulch them. Empty bird baths daily and refill them. Keep gutters clear of debris. Turn over and remove water from anything that can collect it including pots, tarps, toys, furniture, old tires, pet bowls, etc. Fix any leaky faucets, sprinklers, and hoses that can cause water to pool up. Check AC drip pans for standing water. Keep pools maintained and cover or fill hollow tree stumps.

Clean Your Gutters

Clogged gutters can lead to standing water, attracting mosquitoes looking for a place to lay eggs. Keep gutters clear of debris or consider installing gutter guards to help prevent clogs. This can also help prevent other pests, as well.

Treat Your Water Features

For larger water features that can’t be eliminated, treat them with larvacide that will eliminate any mosquito larvae that is present. Use it in any areas of standing water such as ponds, water features, and swimming pools.

Keep Yards Maintained

Mosquitoes love to hide in tall grass, shrubbery, and damp woodpiles. Keep your grass mowed short and your landscaping well maintained. Keep wood piles covered or store wood in containers with lids.

Use Outdoor Fans

Mosquitoes are attracted to carbon dioxide and body heat. If you have to spend any time outdoors, consider using outdoor fans to help dissipate and redirect the carbon dioxide and body heat you emit. This helps make you less attractive to mosquitoes in the area.

Install Mosquito-Repelling Flowers

Some common flowers and plants actually make great natural mosquito repellent. Planting these flowers around your home will help keep mosquitoes at bay. Marigold is one of the most common mosquito-repelling plants. Others include lavender, rosemary, basil, catnip, lemon balm, peppermint, and pennyroyal. Citronella grass is also a good option as it is extremely easy to maintain and can be used to fill in large areas.

Attract Bats

Yes, you heard that right! Bats eat thousands of mosquitoes each day. While this may not be an ideal solution if you live in a neighborhood or in close proximity to your neighbors, it is a great alternative to those with larger properties. You can build a bat house to attract them to your yard and watch the mosquitoes disappear.

Call The Pros

Fighting mosquitoes can seem like a never-ending battle despite your best efforts. There are several mosquito control options available today. Most professional mosquito elimination services will include treatments that target both adult and larvae, as well as source reduction and elimination techniques. These services are typically monthly during peak mosquito season. If you have a problem with mosquitoes, contact a professional pest control company for a free estimate.