Mosquitoes – at one point in your life, you’ve had an encounter with one or more of these.
These summertime companions are certainly not welcome at any party, so if you’re planning one, take heed: getting rid of mosquitoes from your backyard is a must.
No summer barbeque or backyard party is complete without them. These unwelcome guests always have an annoying knack for ruining your outdoor festivities.
Before any outdoor soiree, prevention is the simplest and most important way to ensure your yard is free from these flying insects. However, if they’re already there, going back to the basics and using mosquito repellents for outdoor setting is the most effective way to drive them away.
Natural solutions like citronella candles, plants with mosquito-repelling properties, and even bug zappers have been proven to be helpful in getting rid of mosquitoes.
These solutions are easy to implement and can help control the population of these pesky insects, stopping them from reproducing or coming back to your yard – ever again.
How to Prevent Mosquitoes from Taking Over Your Yard
Enjoying your outdoor soiree or party bug-free sounds impossible, but it can be done.
Taking a few preventative measures before your gathering, big or small, can help keep mosquitoes away and create an enjoyable atmosphere for you and your guests.
Empty Any Standing Water
This is no longer a surprise, but mosquitoes reproduce in water. They lay their eggs whenever there’s still water, and eliminating these sources can reduce the population of mosquitoes in your backyard.
This may include any water containers, such as buckets or old bottles, that may have accumulated rainwater. If you have any puddles in your yard, try to dry them out or fill in the pot-holes.
For those homeowners with bird baths or fountains outdoors, you may always prevent the water from becoming stagnant by using a pump or running fountain.
Having a fountain outdoors doesn’t necessarily mean you have to get rid of them or completely stop using them. The secret is avoiding stagnant water, which could be a hot spot for mosquitoes.
Trim Long Bushes and Tall Grass
For those of you who have high foliage in your backyard, this is something to take into consideration. Mosquitoes tend to hide and lay their eggs in overgrown vegetation too.
This may include overgrown lawns, tall grass, and shrubs. While we all appreciate some nice and green grass, it’s important to keep them trimmed and avoid overgrown bushes.
This will also help in preventing other types of bugs from invading your yard.
An unkempt garden or lawn may invite spiders, ants, and other pests, which could be a problem for your party. Nobody wants that.
Even wild animals and reptiles are attracted to these areas, so make sure your yard is tidy and well-maintained before hosting a party.
Clean Your Gutters
Keeping mosquitoes away from your property begins with the basics. Make sure to regularly clean the gutters and ensure that water can flow freely through them.
Unobstructed gutters allow for the free flow of excess fluids and prevent standing water from building up in your yard, which is a favorable breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Keeping your drainage system free of debris can go a long way in terms of pest control and keeping mosquitoes at bay.
Maintain Your Swimming Pool
The joy of summer can be quickly dashed away by an unexpected infestation of mosquitoes. We’ve already established how mosquitoes reproduce and their favorable breeding grounds.
Swimming pools can also become a favorite spot for mosquitoes to lay their eggs, especially if it’s not well-maintained.
Make sure that any incidental puddles or drainage around your pool are taken care of promptly and the pH level in your pool is checked regularly.
The presence of chlorine stops mosquito larvae from developing, so keeping your pool clean and chlorinated will be an effective way to prevent mosquitoes from taking over.
Bring Out the Fans
The summer breeze always feels nice and refreshing. The warm breeze after a long winter surely feels nice.
But the humidity and that same temperature that we oh so love is also one of the reasons why mosquitoes are out there, especially during the summer season.
Having portable fans outdoors could help reduce mosquitoes from hanging around.
Add some portable fans to your outdoor tables to help cool your guests and at the same time, stop mosquitoes from bothering you and everyone else in your backyard.
Fans allow enough air circulation, preventing mosquitoes from hovering around too close.
Additionally, fans create an invisible wind barrier so mosquitoes won’t be able to penetrate the area you’re looking to protect. They’re energy-efficient, too, so that’s a bonus.
Use Mosquito Traps
Over the years, the number of mosquito traps present in the market has increased, and for good reason. While slightly effective, one of the common problems with traps is their effectivity rate isn’t up to par with their prices.
The CDC has mentioned that the use of traps over the years still shows a favorable result when used in conjunction with other methods. However, it comes with a hefty price tag, considering that using it alone may not be enough to stop mosquitoes from bothering you outdoors.
Invest in Mosquito Repellants
Natural and chemical-based mosquito repellants are considered effective in driving mosquitoes away. However, take note that this method won’t get rid of mosquitoes in your yard. All it does is repel mosquitoes from whoever is wearing it.
DEET mosquito repellents, for example, are known to be more effective than natural ones. While non-toxic products might work for a while, re-application every now and then is necessary for it to work.
On the other hand, DEET products can last up to 8 hours and don’t need frequent re-application.
Alternatively, essential oils such as citronella, lemon eucalyptus, and lavender are also helpful in repelling mosquitoes. But due to their natural properties and lack of chemicals, as mentioned earlier, re-application every few hours may be necessary.
Use Adulticides
By far, when it comes to addressing a large population of mosquitoes, using adulticides to target an entire area, your backyard, for instance, has been considered highly effective.
In some cases, despite your efforts of keeping your surroundings clean, mosquitoes may still find a way to annoy you and everyone else in your backyard.
It is at these times when adulticides come into play – it targets and kills mosquitoes in the entire area. It doesn’t just repel them but kills all the mosquitoes that could be lingering around.
It comes with a warning though, and if you’re not experienced enough, it’s best to hire a pest control company to perform this on your behalf.
The majority of adulticides come with certain risks, as they use various chemicals that may pose some risks if not handled properly.
A professional pest control team can have the job done in no time. Aside from the timely results, this team of professionals also follows strict guidelines in accordance with the laws and regulations in your area.
Investing in a team of professionals to perform this task will guarantee a pleasant outdoor experience free from those pesky mosquitoes.
Dethatching
Dethatching is a simple gardening practice that involves raking the top layer of dead grass and detritus off your lawn.
This gives your lawn an opportunity to regrow with much-needed oxygen exchange and room for healthy nutrients to reach the roots. Although this method is beneficial for your plants, this also wards larvae development around the area.
Additionally, dethatching can also be used to change up the water drainage and aeration of your soil. This helps flush out mosquito larvae that may have gotten into the puddles around your lawn.
Regularly dethatching your lawn eliminates any possibility of standing water where mosquitoes can breed, while providing your lawn with the much-needed nutrients it needs to flourish.
Add Mosquito-Repelling Plants
If you’re finding that your enjoyable outdoor space is constantly overrun with pesky mosquitoes, natural solutions like planting mosquito-repelling plants could be the answer.
Aside from adding some color to your outdoor space, these plants do a great job of keeping mosquitoes away.
Some of the best mosquito-repelling plants include lavender, marigolds, citronella grass, and eucalyptus. Of course, you’re not limited to these options.
If you’re looking for an aesthetically pleasing option, catnip, lemon balm, and basil are also known to repel mosquitoes. Having a few of these plants around your yard can help drive away any unwelcome pests from taking over your outdoor space.
When choosing some mosquito-repelling plants, always check the USDA zones, light requirements, and other plant care to ensure your plants will thrive in your chosen area.
Also, you may want to consider adding a few birdhouses or bat houses around your lawn. Birds and bats act as natural predators of mosquitoes, helping reduce mosquito concentration in the area.
While adding a few of these around your lawn may not make a drastic difference, having any form of predator that feeds on mosquitoes can help you get closer to your goal of mosquito-free outdoor space.
Final Thoughts
Conquering mosquitoes requires preparation and a multifaceted approach. Before the party, prepare your yard for mosquito-free conditions. Carefully inspect your yard for any potential breeding grounds such as stagnant water, overgrown grass old tires.
You may also consider getting adulticides performed a couple of days before the party, or opt for natural methods such as dethatching or planting mosquito-repelling plants.
Although this isn’t an exhaustive list of methods to get rid of mosquitoes in your yard, it’s a good starting point for reducing mosquito concentration in the area.
Knowledge and proper preparation are essential factors in making sure your party is safe and enjoyable for everyone.
