Mosquitoes are more than a nuisance – their painful bites can transmit dangerous diseases like West Nile and Zika. These merciless biters multiply quickly as the temperature rises, eager to feast on homeowners spending summer evenings outside. Thankfully, you don’t need to douse your yard in harsh chemicals or stay trapped indoors to prevent mosquito attacks. Your trusted residential pest control service provider recommends simple, eco-friendly deterrents like using insect repellent plants. With these tactical, all-natural solutions, you can regain control of your backyard and enjoy bug-free summer evenings. This guide provides tips for eliminating mosquitoes in your yard:
Reduce standing water sites
The most important way to deter mosquitoes is to eliminate all sources of standing water. Mosquito eggs laid in standing water can hatch and develop into biting adults in less than a week. Conduct thorough inspections and drain or dump water from containers, toys, tarps, downspout filters, clogged gutters, flower pots, tires, and birdbaths every week.
Choose plants wisely
Avoid planting flowers, herbs, and trees that emit fragrances attractive to mosquitoes, especially by doorways and windows. Examples include lantana, rosemary, marigolds, lilacs, and honeysuckle. Grow plants like lavender, citronella grass, basil, peppermint, lemon balm, catnip, garlic, and sage to repel pests.
Use fans
Place outdoor fans on patios and porches to blow mosquitoes away. The mosquitoes’ small size and light weight make it difficult to fly against moderate wind currents. Fans also dissipate carbon dioxide from exhaled breaths, which helps mask human scent.
Apply insect-repellent plants
Rub crushed leaves from different insect-repellent plants over your skin is an effective all-natural repellent option. The most potent natural mosquito-fighting plant is lemon eucalyptus. The oils from these plants can also be concentrated through steam distillation to make stronger oils and candles.
Set up mosquito traps
Many traps use attractants like carbon dioxide, heat, water vapor, and artificial human scent to lure mosquitoes in. Once drawn into the device, mosquitoes are captured and die. Traps are useful supplemental tools but should not replace draining standing water or using repellent. These traps can capture thousands of mosquitoes each week, and relief can be felt within a couple of weeks of use.
Use mosquito dunks in water sources
If there are unavoidable water sources in your yard, like ponds or fountains, use mosquito dunks that contain larvae-killing Bti. The biological larvicide sinks to the bottom and eliminates mosquitoes before they grow into biting adults. One dunk can treat 100 square feet of surface water and lasts 30 days. Reapply as needed.
Protect yourself outdoors
Outdoor activities should involve wearing light long-sleeved shirts, long pants tucked into socks, and closed-toe shoes to protect feet and ankles. Avoid floral, fruity, sweet, and musky perfumes, scented soaps, and lotions on the skin, which can attract mosquitoes. Use an EPA-registered insect repellent like those containing DEET, Picaridin, or IR3535 for exposed skin not covered by clothing. Treat clothes with permethrin for added protection.
Stay vigilant with prevention
To effectively protect against mosquitoes, combine yard maintenance and personal protection measures, ensuring consistency in eliminating standing water to prevent mosquito development.
