Sarah Metlova
Getting Rid Of Mosquitoes In Your Yard – Within a minute, you’ll be enjoying a freshly grilled burger; the next you furiously scratch your knee, which has just been bitten by the most hated enemy of the season, the mosquito. Learn how to get rid of mosquitoes in your garden, even if you live in a mosquito-prone area, so you can enjoy the outdoors again.
As tempting as it is to focus on killing mosquitoes, he always starts by finding out what attracts them to your yard. Mosquitoes look for a place to hide, lay their eggs and of course eat. In the warmer months, your garden offers all three.
Getting Rid Of Mosquitoes In Your Yard
Standing water is by far the biggest mosquito magnet. And we’re talking everything from a small puddle in your garden after a rain to a swimming pool.
How To Keep Mosquitoes Away From Your Chickens
The first three stages of the mosquito life cycle require water to thrive. And since a female can lay up to 100 eggs at a time — the size of a bottle cap, no less — standing water not only entices mosquitoes to stay, but to reproduce quickly as well.
From piles of firewood to outdoor play sets, mosquitoes seek out safe places to nest. They want shelter from the wind to breed, so don’t offer it freely.
Turf clutter can also, you guessed it, hold standing water. Minimizing lawn clutter is key to getting rid of mosquitoes. You may also want to keep firewood off the ground and covered to protect against mosquitoes.
Where else can mosquitoes find shelter without wind, shelter and humidity? An overgrown, overgrown, poorly draining lawn can quickly become the hottest spot for mosquitoes in the city.
How To Get Rid Of Mosquitoes And Deal With Those Nasty Bites
And while mowing the lawn on schedule helps, keep an eye on the soil, too. Compacted or highly acidic soil can lead to the growth of sod, that thick layer of organic material between the grass and the soil. Too much straw prevents water from draining properly and creates an ideal home for mosquitoes.
You’re just out on your patio, minding your business, but mosquitoes can detect body heat, carbon dioxide (from exhalation), lactic acid (from sweat), and other sweet-smelling compounds in humans and in pets, which excites them. ruin your party.
Whether you’re having a lively barbecue or sitting outdoors with your morning coffee, mosquitoes will find all that stinky stuff you left on the table.
Blood isn’t the only favorite meal of mosquitoes—both males and females also enjoy fruit nectar, which draws them to the sweet scents of your outdoor snacks. This means that your milkshake can literally drive out all the mosquitoes.
How To Get Rid Of Mosquitos And Keep Them Away From Your Yard
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are more than 200 mosquito species in the United States. In addition to leaving painful wounds, they can spread parasites and viruses such as West Nile and dengue.
Even though mosquitoes may only deliver an itchy bite, you should still take steps to get rid of them to protect yourself, your family, and your pets.
While scented repellants may be your first line of defense, even strong citronella candles won’t get rid of mosquitoes if you have a bigger problem. You may need to go a step further by killing the mosquitoes in your yard to deal with these pesky forces. If you need help, hire a mosquito control service in your area.
By killing mosquito larvae in water, you remove the problem before it kills you. Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis subspecies israelensis) liquids, pellets or granules contain toxins that target and kill mosquito eggs and larvae in water within minutes.
Treating For Mosquitoes While Protecting Pollinators
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Bti is a naturally occurring bacterium found in soil that poses no threat to humans but is lethal to mosquito larvae (and mosquito larvae).
Cheaper than many chemical pesticides, the CDC explains, Bti is also better for the environment. It will not harm pets, wildlife, aquatic organisms or insects, including pollinators such as bees. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions and wear gloves when applying.
Do you want to keep mosquitoes away from your terrace? Insecticide through a cloud-forming mosquito mist is a quick and effective way to kill mosquitoes in your garden before you invite your friends. The procedures last up to 72 hours and involve a large open area.
Natural and synthetic mosquito repellents come in outdoor, fabric and body sprays, as well as candles, electronic repellants and even bracelets. These products may contain chemical-based products such as DEET, permethrin and picaridin or vegetable oils.
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Stick to products with EPA-registered active ingredients, such as lemon eucalyptus, DEET, or picaridin oil, and follow directions for safe use.
For a do-it-yourself solution, lemon eucalyptus oil is one of the best mosquito repellent options. A study on eucalyptus oil showed that it protects against mosquitoes for up to three hours.
Mix 1 part lemon eucalyptus oil with 10 parts sunflower oil, but do not use this solution directly on the skin of children under 3 years old.
Imagine a harmless backyard barbecue, surrounded by a fortress of mosquito-hating plants. Add an herb garden to your patio filled with catnip, holy basil, lemongrass, mint, lemon thyme, and rosemary. Flowering plants like marigolds and lavender help repel mosquitoes and attract beautiful pollinators.
Simple Ways To Keep Mosquitoes Away
Birds and bats love mosquito repellent treats, so make your garden as hospitable as possible to these predators. Other than bird feeders, only those that don’t collect water add shelter and food sources.
Attract birds to nest with native tree species, their favorite seed-filled flowers, and keep cats indoors. Bats love night blooming flowers and bat houses for shelter.
Create a constant breeze with a fan to get rid of mosquitoes. From ceiling fans to oscillating floor fans, place them strategically around patio and gathering areas to keep mosquitoes at bay. Another plus is that the fans help disperse the carbon dioxide from your breath, which attracts those pesky bugs.
Now that you know how to get rid of mosquitoes, let’s focus on prevention. Restore your outdoor space by taking a few preventative measures.
Ways To Get Rid Of Mosquitoes In Your Yard
Your garden should be a place where children can play, dogs can walk and you can take care of your garden without fear of mosquitoes. Here’s how you can reduce the number of mosquitoes in your garden.
Nothing encourages mosquitoes to breed more than standing water in your garden. It is an ideal breeding ground. Analyze your landscaping and patio or porch setup for unprecedented standing water opportunities.
After raining or watering your lawn, check for common causes of standing water, even if it’s a small puddle on the edge of the pot.
In addition to finding where standing water likes to hide, prevent water from pooling by making sure your garden has good drainage. For example, compacted soil may require separating or aerating, either on your own or with a local landscaper.
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Sloping lawns can benefit from water-thirsty or erosion-fighting plants. Finally, consider changing your watering schedule or watering settings—sometimes there’s just more water than your landscape can handle.
Decaying leaves, twigs and moss in your downspouts can create a hot spot for mosquitoes. Clean your gutters at least once or twice a year, depending on the trees in your yard and whether you have gutters installed. Not only does this keep the mosquitoes away, but it also prevents other pests from nesting and possibly hiding in your eaves or attic during the winter.
What about swimming pools, ponds or fountains in your garden? Add a fountain or aeration pump to your pond and check that your fountain doesn’t create small pockets of standing water.
As for your pool, maintain the chlorine treatment and run the filter regularly. You can also add Bti if you suspect mosquito larvae are present. This bacterial larvicide is effective against pests such as mosquitoes, water gnats and black flies.
Natural Mosquito Repellents & Mosquito Bite Remedies
Since wind is one of the biggest deterrents to mosquito nests, remove any major barriers that hold it back. Large piles of leaves, branches or construction debris provide shelter for mosquitoes and often water.
Limiting the number of mosquitoes in your garden will reduce their entry into your home. However, it is still worth taking extra steps to prevent these unwanted guests.
Well-installed fine mesh screens on windows and doors allow fresh air to flow in without welcoming unwanted visitors. You can also hire a certified porch builder in your area to add screens to your existing patio. If you already have screens, check the seals regularly and repair any holes.
The bug lights emit a yellow glow, which doesn’t attract mosquitoes and the like as much as a normal bright bulb. Change the lights in mosquito hot spots like decks, porches, and kitchens, and be sure to turn off the lights indoors when you’re not around to reduce temptation.
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Mosquitoes love warm, humid environments, usually above 80 degrees Fahrenheit. Running your air conditioner makes your home a cooler, drier, and less inviting place.
If you’ve been working hard to control these flying pests and the bites keep coming, it might be time
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