How to Eliminate Mosquitoes in Your Yard
Summer is only a few shorts months away, which means mosquito season is almost here as well. According to the Environmental Protection Agency or EPA, there are around 200 different species of mosquitoes in the United States. While most of these pests are generally harmless and just annoying, some species can transmit diseases. As a result, you may want to take certain steps to keep mosquitoes out of your yard. Here are some of the best ways to eliminate them.
Reduce or Even Eliminate Standing Water
Mosquitoes lay their eggs in water and thrive around it. They need very little water to do so. You can take measures to eliminate any standing water or at least reduce it. As little as half an inch of water is all mosquitoes need to lay their eggs. Dump any standing water that isn’t absolutely necessary from your yard and make it a habit to do that. Focus on any containers holding water and birdbaths and empty them out at least once per day. If you have any wading pools in your yard, turn them over when they aren’t in use.
Get Rid of Unnecessary Items and Junk
If you have junk or any items that aren’t absolutely necessary in your yard, get rid of them. These things can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Old tires, in particular, are attractive to the pests. If you have an extra one sitting around or even a tire swing in your yard, drill a hole in the bottom so that anytime it rains or snows, the water can drain out.
Mow the Lawn and Perform DIY
Mosquitoes also tend to thrive around unmowed grass and especially overgrown weeds. As a result, you can do your part to practice good lawn care and keep them out of your yard by mowing the lawn and pulling weeds. You should also check the gutters around your home and work on any that are cluttered with debris. Any water that emerges and pools can serve as a mosquito breeding ground.
Treat Water That Cannot be Drained
If you have a pool, backyard pond, fountain or any other structure that holds water that cannot immediately be drained, you should properly maintain the water. This means always ensure your pool is chlorinated and maintain the pool’s filter. If you have a fountain, you should regularly clean its filters often. It can steer mosquitoes away.
If you have a backyard pond or other manmade body of water in the yard, use mosquito dunk to kill larvae. This is a natural type of larvicide that only kills mosquitoes but doesn’t harm other animals.
Tie Tarps Tightly
Another thing you should do to keep mosquitoes out of your yard is to make sure you tie any tarps extra tightly. If you have a barbecue grill, a boat, firewood or anything else that requires a tarp, the tighter it’s pulled, the less likely rainwater can gather on it. However, if the tarp cannot be pulled tightly, you should remove it to drain the water accumulation.
Treat Your Yard
As a last resort, you can even treat your yard to combat mosquitoes. You can find pyrethrins, a natural insecticide that should only be used sparingly. However, it’s important to keep in mind that, although this product is natural, it is also toxic and should not be handled directly with your bare skin. This type of lawn management can also kill good insects like bees and ladybugs, so if you go this route, you should try to limit where you spray it.
When you follow these steps, you will notice fewer and fewer mosquitoes in your yard. Keep up on them until the pests are completely gone.
