Summer means cookouts, pool parties, playing in the backyard, etc. – and mosquitoes can make them miserable. Fortunately, you have options to make your yard less attractive to mosquitoes.

Tips to Reduce Mosquitoes

1. KEEP YOUR LAWN MOWED

Mosquitoes love tall grass… so keeping yours short gives them fewer places to gather. Making sure the areas close to the house are mowed is especially important, so they will be less likely to sneak in through open doors and windows.

1. SWITCH OUTSIDE LIGHTING TO YELLOW BUG LIGHTS

Insects (like mosquitoes) love the light from typical bulbs and will fly toward it. Yellow bug lights do not attract mosquitoes.

1. USE FANS

Mosquitoes are not strong flyers, so setting up a fan two on your deck can keep them away from you. The trick is to turn the fans so that they blow on the areas around where you are sitting – not necessarily on you – and the mosquitoes can’t fly through the fan’s air stream to get to you.

1. ELIMINATE STANDING WATER

Mosquitoes lay their eggs in still water. That can be everything from a pool, birdbath, or puddle to even a watering can that isn’t empty or a bottle cap that collected rain or water from a sprinkler. Potted plants can also be a source of standing water outdoors. Drain off the excess or make sure the pots and planter boxes have a drain hole.

If your property tends to have puddles, talk to a landscaper about adjusting the angle of your property. Having a French drain installed is another option.

When removing standing water from your property, check your gutters! Clogged gutters will also hold puddles of rain water, turning them into incubators for mosquito eggs.

1. CHANGE OR TREAT WATER YOU CAN’T EMPTY

If you have a swimming pool, keep the pool’s chemicals balanced. Mosquito eggs will not hatch in a pool containing chlorine. However, many pool owners can get sloppy about their pool chemicals, and if the chlorine is too diluted, it won’t have any effect. A pool cover, when used regularly, will also deter mosquitoes from breeding in your pool.

If you really want to keep a birdbath, change the water at least once a week, if not more often. If possible, keep the birdbath on the edge of your property, away from your seating area, windows, and doors.

If you have a koi pond or something similar, look into BTI “Dunks” or pieces of bacillus thuringiensis israelensis – which is a bacterium that kills mosquitoes in water. If you do want a fish pond, consider fish that eat mosquito eggs. BTI is generally safe for aquatic plants and fish, but do not add it to pet’s outdoor water bowls. Just change the latter regularly and empty them when your dog is inside.

1. LIGHT A FEW CANDLES

Insects do not like smoke… so a few lit candles on fire-safe areas around your seating area can deter them. They don’t even have to be citronella candles. Any candle will produce the smoke they dislike. Never leave candles unattended for fire safety.

1. PLANT THE RIGHT PLANTS

Mint, lemon balm, marigolds, chrysanthemums, basil, geraniums, garlic, eucalyptus, rosemary, thyme, and lavender are all plants frequently labeled as deterring insects. Results can vary.

1. GO BATTY

This is not a solution for everyone, but bats eat mosquitoes. Research adding a bat house carefully and in-depth before pursuing it.

1. HAVE YOUR YARD SPRAYED

This is an effective method. However, DIY sprays, aerosols, and foggers can often kill beneficial insects – especially if used incorrectly or at the wrong time of day – so consider professional spraying, which also lasts longer. Call us at Arrow for more information.

Arrow Exterminates Mosquitoes

Avoid the aggravation and dangers of mosquitoes by calling Arrow Exterminating. Arrow will help you identify if you have a problem, explain our plan to eradicate your infestation, and give you the peace of mind you need. To get started, contact Arrow Exterminating today.