Not only are they extremely annoying, but mosquitoes also serve as carriers for a handful of dangerous illnesses. And while they’re virtually impossible to escape, you cannot afford to resign yourself to constantly swatting them away. On that note, the following mosquito control strategies should come in handy.
Get Rid of Standing Water
Mosquitoes love stagnant water, but do you know how much it takes for them to set up shop? Even a bottle capful can be enough. So if you’re going to keep them off your property, you’re gonna have to eliminate all forms of stagnant water that don’t serve any purpose. Here’s how:
- Fix up all dripping faucets to avoid puddles.
- Keep gutters and downspouts clean to make sure they drain properly
- Place your garbage cans, buckets, canoes, and kids’ toys upside down so they don’t collect water. You might also consider investing in a tarp to cover them up, or drilling holes at the bottom where possible.
- Get rid of old tires and other disused items that can collect water.
- Check your yard for areas where pools might form after a downpour. Keep ditches sloped and fill up dips to ensure proper drainage.
Treat Your Pools and Ponds
You can keep mosquitoes off your swimming pool by being diligent with maintenance; making sure it’s cleaned and chlorinated on a regular basis. For other ornamental ponds in your home, you can get Mosquito Dunks that will kill off the larvae without harming other animals. Also consider installing aeration kits to keep the water in constant motion.
Trim Down Vegetation
Everyone loves to shelter in the shade when it gets hot, and mosquitoes are no exception. The like to congregate in whatever shaded areas they can find. Minimizing these areas is key to effective mosquito control:
- Trim down trees and shrubs
- Weed out the garden frequently
- Keep the lawn as short as the grass can handle
- Encourage your neighbors to follow these practices.
Take Advantage of Natural Repellents
Admittedly, your efforts to minimize hiding spots through vegetation control can only go so far. So why not take advantage of Mother Nature’s own bug repellents? Here are some of the plants you could use to that end:
- Marigolds: Besides containing pyrethrum (a compound used in insecticides), marigolds also have this distinctive scent that mosquitoes just cannot stand. And they’re great for ornamental border plants too.
- Catnip: This herb contains nepetalactone, an essential oil that researchers have found to have ten times more efficacy than DEET.
- Lemon balm & rose-scented geraniums: Both contain geraniol and citronellal, two natural mosquito repellents.
- Ageratum: Like marigold, this plant has an aroma that mosquitoes find highly offensive.
These plants don’t take much effort to grow, and you can put them in flowerpots that can be moved around strategically to keep mosquitoes off certain areas.
Call in the Pros
If mosquitoes keep flocking to your homestead no matter what you do, it might be time to call in the big guns. Professional exterminators, like this professional mosquito control Dunwoody company, can apply treatments that you as a homeowner might not be able to access. They’ll also recommend additional measures to help keep the insects off your property.
