8 Effective Ways to Keep Mosquitoes Away This Summer
by Bret Palmer on Jun 22, 2018
Backyard barbecues, playing catch with your child, relaxing by the pool… These summer activities are so close to perfect, but it only takes one tiny little intruder to completely ruin all the fun. Mosquitoes are hard to spot, but their bite is impossible to ignore. Keep them from ruining your outdoor fun this summer by applying these effective backyard mosquito control measures.
Use the above measures to keep those blood-sucking insects away from your home and property.
1. Eliminate Their Breeding Spots
Effective mosquito control begins with ensuring mosquitoes can’t multiply on your property. And since mosquitoes need standing water to breed, you can increase your chances of having a mosquito-free backyard by eliminating all standing water from your property. Fix spots in your lawn that tend to collect water, remove toys and debris from your property, check your downspouts, empty the kid pools, and drain any other water you find.
If you have a pool, don’t worry. The chlorine deters mosquitoes.
2. Don’t Forget About Your Birdbath
You love the chirps and sights of the colorful birds that take advantage of your birdbath. But remember — a birdbath is standing water. To keep the enjoyment of bird visitors without laying out the welcome mat for mosquitoes, change the birdbath water every five days to interrupt the 7-to-10-day breeding cycle of mosquitoes.
3. Avoid Their Active Times
Some mosquitoes are active during the day and others do their hunting at night. Dusk then, which is the between time, is a time when you’ll encounter more of most species. This is the best time to stay indoors, or if you go outside, to avoid marshy areas and to wear mosquito repellent.
4. Add to Your Garden
Some plants act as natural deterrents to mosquitoes. The scent of marigolds deters mosquitoes and citronella plants help to mask the smells that attract mosquitoes. Garlic and rosemary plants also act as mosquito deterrents (and they improve your recipes!). Mint is another mosquito deterrent.
You can also add rosemary to your barbecue as you grill your dinner so mosquitoes will stay away before the party even begins.
5. Use Repellent
Give yourself a strong layer of protection by applying repellent when you go outside. This won’t keep mosquitoes out of your yard, but it will keep them from getting close to you.
6. Use Outdoor Fans
Surprisingly, mosquitoes are not too strong when in the air. They’re actually pretty weak flyers. This is good information to have because if you can create a breeze, you’ll have a better chance of keeping mosquitoes away. Set up a few outdoor fans when you plan to be outside, and mosquitoes will have a harder time getting to you.
7. Dress the Right Way
No, mosquitoes don’t care about fashion. But they do care about getting up close and personal with your skin. If you’re going to be spending time outdoors, especially during dusk or near marshy areas, do what you can to cover up your skin. Long pants, long-sleeved shirts, and closed-toe shoes will give the mosquito little chance of getting a bite out of your skin.
8. Hire an Exterminator
The most effective way to rid your yard of mosquitoes is to hire an exterminator to handle the mosquito control of your property. A good exterminator will look for the reasons mosquitoes are coming to your yard and eliminate those trouble areas. They’ll set up a perimeter with mosquito spray around your yard that will prevent the neighbors’ mosquitoes from hopping the fence to your property. And they’ll use the right mosquito spray for your yard to keep the mosquitoes from arriving and breeding.
Don’t let summer fun be ruined by nasty mosquitoes with a bloody agenda.
Popular Articles
Three Places to Spend Money on the Exterior of Your Home
When you have the exterior of your home remodeled, you are investing, time, energy and convenience into the project and you want to make sure that...
87632 Views
When to Use a Brush, Roller or Sponge Brush
Brushes are a good choice for painting trim and woodwork. They are also useful for cutting in the edges around the top and bottom edges and corners...
69727 Views
Homemade Headboards-Make an Upholstered or Wooden Headboard
Homemade headboards can add a lot of personality to any bedroom. They can be coordinated with existing furniture and room decor or they can be the...
69054 Views
Creating a Cottage Kitchen with Bead Board
Kitchen decor can range from modern and bold to elegant and elaborate by using strategic kitchen pieces. One of the most popular decorating trends...
47754 Views
Gas Fireplace Diagnostics and Troubleshooting
Follow these steps for diagnosing and troubleshooting Gas Fireplaces repairs. For the average DIYer, this may seem intimidating, depending on the...
28851 Views
Latest Articles
Understanding Indonesia’s Real Estate Investment Laws for Foreigners
Indonesia, with its stunning landscapes, deep-rooted cultural heritage, and renowned hospitality, has emerged as a top destination for foreigners...
on Jan 25, 2024
Real Estate Development in Asian Cities
In many Asian cities, the rapid pace of urban development has led to the decline of historic districts, areas once teeming with cultural richness...
on Jan 25, 2024
Shower Envy: Elevating Your Bathroom with a Stunning Walk-In Shower
Are you tired of the same old routine in your bathroom? It might be time to consider a change, and one way to elevate your bathroom to a new level...
on Jan 22, 2024
Exploring Crowdfunding as an Innovative Approach to Real Estate Investment
The landscape of property selling has been transformed significantly due to the advent of property crowdfunding. This innovative approach,...
on Jan 10, 2024
The Rise of Co-Living Spaces in Asian Cities
Asia, home to 21 of the worlds 30 largest cities, is a significant player in the global economy, contributing 38% of the goods and services of the...
on Jan 5, 2024
Featured Articles
What Type of Licensed Contractor Should You Hire?
on Feb 28, 2017
Hire Contractors / Estimates
Looking for a specialty project? There are many types of contractors available for your home improvement needs. Finding the right type of...
Actions
Top Categories
- Garden / Landscaping / Patio — 263
- Kitchen / Bathrooms — 240
- Real Estate / Finance — 200
- Appliance / Repair — 186
- Interior Design / Decor — 184
- HVAC / Air Conditioning — 147
- Cleaning / Maintenance — 144
- Improvements / Remodeling — 131
- Plumbing / Basements — 118
- Floors / Tile / Hardwood — 115
- Doors / Garages — 113
- Safety / Security — 112
Articles Archive
More DIY Articles
8 Ways of Renovating Your Backyard
Are you fed up with the current appearance of your yard? Maybe it does not fit the standards of your dream backyard, or perhaps you need a change...
Common Garage Door Problems and Solutions
Which are the most common garage door problems and their solutions? Should we consider some problems more serious than others?
How to Choose a Stackable Washer and Dryer for a Rental Property
As a rental property owner, you know that attracting and keeping mature, responsible tenants can help ensure your investment is profitable and...
Quick Response to Leak Detection and Restoration Saves Your Home
Damage to property by water can be devastating. It can all happen so quickly that protecting personal belongings can be difficult. A faulty pipe or...
Reasons to Strengthen Your Roof with Architectural Shingles
Architectural shingles are very similar to asphalt shingles. In this article, we will discuss some of the main reasons to strengthen your roof with...