Backyard Mosquito Control Tips
Looking for ways to keep mosquitoes from taking over your backyard this summer? You’re in luck – we’ve got some great tips to share! From simple things like keeping your yard clean to more involved methods like installing mosquito netting, there are many ways to keep these pests at bay. So read on for our top tips on how to get rid of mosquitoes in your backyard!
Stay safe from these pesky creatures
Here are some backyard mosquito control tips to help you reduce the likelihood of you and your family being bitten in Metro Atlanta. This particular part of Georgia is particularly prone to mosquito attacks because of the numerous creeks, rivers, and lakes in the area. These are ideal breeding grounds for insects of many types, among them the dreaded mosquitoes.
You will have little need to dread these insects if you follow these tips. They have been repeated many times on the Mr. Mister blog, but there is no harm in stating them again for the benefit of our new readers. It is now summer, and mosquitoes will be active until late fall, so it is not too late to employ these tips on controlling mosquitoes to protect you, your family, and visitors, and don’t forget the pets! Mosquitoes seek any warm blood source, so your pets are not immune.
Keep your grass cut short – mosquitoes like to hide in tall grass
Mr. Mister Mosquito Control knows that one of the most effective and easy mosquito control tips is to keep your grass cut short. Mosquitoes prefer to hide in shaded and tall grass, making it easier for them to hide from predators and find their next meal – you! Luckily, by simply cutting your grass regularly, you can make your backyard harder for mosquitoes to survive in. A height of 1-2 inches is optimal for keeping those pesky critters away without putting any additional strain on your lawn. By following this simple tip, you’ll be able to enjoy more summer days outside without a cloud of mosquitoes spoiling the fun.
Get rid of any standing water around your property – this is where mosquitoes lay their eggs
If you live in Georgia, backyard mosquito control should be a top priority – especially if there are stagnant pools of water or other sources where mosquitoes can lay their eggs. These intruders may look small, but they can be mighty pests. You don’t have to wait for professional help to get rid of them, though – simple backyard maintenance, like getting rid of any standing water around your property, is an effective way to stop them from multiplying! Check your yard and garden frequently to ensure that there aren’t any containers filled with rainwater that the mosquitoes can take advantage of. A few easy steps now can save you a lot of trouble later!
Know the Favorite Mosquito Breeding Places
If you want to learn how to control mosquitoes in your own yard, you have to understand where they are most likely to breed. It’s no use just killing them when they appear. You will never get them all with a manually operated spray can, and you won’t keep them all off with an anti-mosquito body spray.
Mosquitoes breed throughout the summer and fall, so don’t think that the population you have now is all there is going to be. That is not the case! Mosquitoes can mate, lay eggs and hatch to maturity within a week or two. The mosquito that bites you in June can be a mother, or even grandmother, to the ten that bite you in July. If you can control the places where mosquitoes breed, then you can control mosquitoes throughout the year.
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Mosquitoes breed in still water – the stiller, the better. They prefer swampland, bayous, or the still areas of water by the side of slow-moving rivers and creeks. The Chattahoochee River is a prime example, so residents of Roswell and Dunwoody are particularly prone to mosquito attacks. Buckhead, Nancy Creek, and Sandy Springs residents are equally at risk.
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A common factor with all of these areas is standing water. Rivers and Creeks are also associated with riverbanks and areas where the water barely moves – if at all. So think of where else female mosquitoes can find standing or stagnant water!
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Tin cans, depressions in the earth, by the bottom edges of walls where small depressions can be used to breed dozens of larvae (aka wrigglers.)
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Swimming pools can become stagnant when not used over fall and winter, and come spring, they can be home to thousands of mosquito larvae.
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You can likely think of several other potential sources of stagnant water in or around your home.
Check Out Your Yard
Once you understand where mosquitoes breed and know what the various stages of their development look like, it’s time to check out your own backyard. Seek out anywhere that can hold standing water for a few days – a few days is all it takes for a new generation of mosquitoes to plague your home and your yard. Here’s what to look for:
You likely know the obvious places: old tires in your backyard, old tin cans, watering cans that have been left over winter and spring, bird baths, flower planters, dog bowls – you have likely been informed many times that these are favorites for breeding mosquitoes. However, have you also taken into consideration the following mosquito control tips:
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Holes in trees in your front or backyard – or even in areas close to your home. Mosquitoes can breed anywhere that water is lying still and stagnant for a few days. Clean out and block these up.
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Holes in stone or brickwork – including the walls of your home and around your yards. Mosquito control is essential anywhere mosquitoes can breed – all they need is a few cubic inches of water to lay their eggs. Clean out and cement these over.
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The base of walls and fence posts. You often find depressions in the soil around such areas. Even if they are sunk in concrete, there can often be depressions suitable for mosquitoes to breed. Fill in these depressions.
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Small depressions in your grassed areas or around the base of trees – in fact, anywhere in your yard that can hold small volumes of still and stagnating water. Level out depressions in lawns and other areas.
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Around drains and downpipes. Drains and downpipes that drain rainwater from your roof are favorite breeding areas for mosquitoes. Clean them out and make sure the water is free running.
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Roof guttering: These are very popular with mosquitoes. They offer a source of standing water that mosquitoes can home in on. Unless you keep your guttering clean and free-running, you will likely find colonies of mosquitoes buzzing out from in and around your guttering and homing in on your family during barbecue time. Clean your guttering and make sure they run freely to the downpipes.
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Clean out your Swimming pool properly and keep it chlorinated, even in winter.
Plant mosquito-repelling plants such as citronella, lemongrass, or lavender
If you live in Georgia, one of the best ways to reduce the number of mosquitoes in your backyard is to plant mosquito-repelling plants such as citronella, lemongrass, or lavender. Placing these plants near areas where you spend most of your time outside can help keep you bite-free. Not only are these plants effective at repelling mosquitoes, but they also look great! Having a few of these added to your garden will certainly give it a nice aesthetic and peaceful touch. Adding mosquito-repelling plants is a natural and easy way to ensure that you and your family stay safe from annoying mosquito bites when spending time outdoors.
Use a fan when you’re outside – mosquitoes are weak flyers and the wind will keep them away from you
Enjoy the great outdoors without the pesky, pesky mosquitoes with a fan! Mosquitoes are weak flyers, so the breeze from a small fan running nearby can keep them away from you for good. That way, you can enjoy sitting outside and not worry about all those itchy bites. Plus, having a fan outside isn’t just useful for mosquito control – it also helps keep you cool and comfortable during hot Georgia days. So, why not add an extra layer of protection against mosquitoes while enjoying some fresh air? Get yourself a fan and start your summer off right!
Wear light-colored clothing – mosquitoes are attracted to dark colors
Keeping yourself cool on hot summer days can be a challenge in Georgia, but it doesn’t have to come with the added bonus of being mosquito bait! To help avoid being swarmed by pesky mosquitoes, try wearing light-colored clothing – mosquitoes are much more attracted to dark colors. With Mr. Mister Mosquito Control, you don’t even have to give up being fashionable for the sake of protection. Wearing lightweight and light-colored clothes that cover as much skin as possible is an ideal way to keep the mosquitoes at bay without sacrificing style or comfort. After all, enjoying sunny days outdoors should never come with many unwanted buzzing companions.
Apply mosquito repellent before going outside
Mosquito repellent is an integral part of backyard mosquito control in Georgia. Applying mosquito repellent before going outside not only reduces pest attraction but also enhances your outdoor experience. Whether in your own backyard or visiting one of Georgia’s amazing parks, wearing a good mosquito repellent will save you from unnecessary bites and unpleasant itching throughout the day.
Hire a professional to inspect and treat your property
If backyard mosquito control is your goal in combating pests this summer, then perhaps it’s time to consider hiring a professional. Not only can they inspect your property thoroughly to identify potential sources of mosquitoes, but they come equipped with the necessary equipment and materials to treat infestations quickly without you having to worry about any heavy lifting or tedious trial-and-error treatments. Don’t let pesky mosquitoes ruin your backyard fun – get help from the pros and put mosquito worries behind you!
Other Backyard Mosquito Control Tips
Given the above information and the remedial actions suggested, you should now be able to remove any standing water in all of the above areas, whether you do it yourself or employ somebody to do it. Doing this will minimize the likelihood of mosquitoes breeding in your yard – but it will not prevent them from moving in from your neighbors’ yards or any rivers or creeks close by.
In order to maintain the mosquito-free zone you have created, you will need a barrier to prevent insects from encroaching on your territory from theirs! You can do this using Mr. Mister’s automatic mosquito misting service that creates a barrier around your backyard and front yard or garden and so keeps your entire home free from mosquitoes.
Mosquito Control Tips for Metro Atlanta: Summary
Mosquitoes are not only annoying, but they can spread many diseases. You can find information on mosquito-borne diseases elsewhere on our website. Keep in mind: Zika is not the only serious disease that mosquitoes transmit. If you follow all the above backyard mosquito control tips for Metro Atlanta, then you should save you and your family a lot of grief. If you want total peace of mind, Mr. Mister can provide you with that by looking after your Atlanta mosquito control systems ourselves.
We will survey your backyard and the other areas within and around your home and suggest a course of action that rid your home of mosquitoes. All you have to do to get this level of security against mosquito attacks and the diseases they bring with them is to call us at (404) 941-0720 or complete the form on our Mosquito Control Contact Page.
By following these simple tips, you can make your backyard a mosquito-free zone and enjoy the outdoors all summer long. If you’re not up for doing it yourself, Mr. Mister offers professional mosquito control services to keep your property free of mosquitoes all season. So don’t let the bugs ruin your fun – contact Mr. Mister today!
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