According to the World Health Organization, mosquitos are one of the deadliest animals on the planet. Every year, they kill millions of humans by spreading life-threatening diseases. It’s projected that they’ll only become more dangerous in the coming years.
That’s why it’s more important than ever to keep them away from you and your family. But if you’re already dealing with a mosquito infestation, it can seem impossible to keep them at bay.
Not sure how to keep mosquitos away this summer? Here are 8 clever ways to protect your home.
1. Direct Water Away From Your Property
Mosquitos lay their eggs in standing water. Intelligent landscaping with adequate runoff will go a long way towards keeping mosquitos away from your home. If natural rainwater regularly pools up in the nooks and crannies of your yard, seek a drainage solution.
But rainwater isn’t the only source of standing water on the average property. Birdbaths, tree stumps, and even your outdoor AC unit can release a steady supply of moisture for mosquitos to abuse.
Be vigilant in removing these obstacles and prevent the buildup of additional water. If you don’t, you’ll soon discover where mosquitos go in the winter.
2. Hang Mosquito Traps
Mosquito traps aren’t usually a permanent solution to your infestation. However, they’re an important piece of the puzzle when it comes to controlling the population and keeping mosquitos away from your guests and family members.
Ideally, you’ll set up multiple traps upwind from your home. The breeze distributes an attractant in the mosquito traps, usually carbon dioxide, that then catches their attention.
If all preventative measures are in place, mosquito traps may be able to diminish the population after about four to six weeks. That’s how long it takes for a new generation of mosquitos to hatch.
3. Trim the Yard
If unchecked foliage has claimed your yard, it’s time to take it back. Wet dirt, logs, and other decaying plant matter can provide pockets of moisture for mosquitos to breed.
But that’s not all. Mosquitos love lounging in the shade. By mowing the lawn, you’ll leave the yard open to the sun and give the mosquitos no place to hide.
You may also want to consider trimming trees around your home if they cast a good deal of shade across your property.
4. Use Mosquito Spray
When mosquitos first get out of hand, many homeowners turn towards bug spray as they would with an ant or roach problem. Commercial mosquito sprays are relatively effective. Be sure to trim the yard and attend to standing water before bothering with the spray, as the spray alone won’t fix a mosquito infestation.
Spray the mosquito fogger around your home’s perimeter. It’s best to do this during the afternoon when the mosquitos are lingering in the shade on your property.
5. Light Insect-Repellent Candles
Planning an outdoor party? Then it’s time to pull out the candles. There are countless mosquito-repellent lanterns and candles on the market.
These don’t kill mosquitos or solve the root of the problem. However, they do provide an extra layer of deterrence when you need it most.
Mosquitos aren’t fond of aromatic oils like lavender, citronella, or lemongrass. If it’s a still night, these scents will become concentrated and deter your hungry guests.
6. Plant Natural Repellents
The problem with insect-repellent candles is you can’t leave them burning all day, every day. But you can take advantage of the mosquitos’ natural aversion to them. Rather than burning these scents, why not plant them around your yard?
Look for plants that keep mosquitos away, such as citrosa, rosemary, catnip, and lemongrass. These plants aren’t very odorous on their own, so you’ll have to be shrewd with their placement.
Install these natural repellents along walkways and porches. The plants will release the scent when people or animals brush against them.
7. Turn On the Fan
Powerful ventilation is key when you want to enjoy the outdoors in peace. It sounds like a simple thing, but a fan can reduce mosquito landings by about 50% according to Consumer Reports.
Why is it so effective? Mosquitos are small enough that a powerful breeze physically wards them off. They can’t fly through the wind to reach their target.
Fans also double as an effective method to ventilate the area and diffuse carbon dioxide elsewhere. Mosquitos rely on carbon dioxide to find their next meal. With less carbon dioxide around, fewer mosquitos will notice your outdoor get-together and try to crash it.
8. Apply Personal Repellent
Whether it’s sunscreen or repellent, more people should take the time to prepare for the outdoors. You only have control over your immediate property. If there are wooded areas nearby, you’ll always have to contend with a mosquito population.
For many, mosquito repellent is their first and last line of defense. The most effective repellents use DEET. Though you should know these sprays lose their strength over a short period of time.
If you’re going to be around your home, choose a repellent with about 10% DEET. For wooded areas or those with a higher risk of mosquito-borne diseases, opt for around 25%. Most sprays request that you add a new coat every four to six hours.
How to Keep Mosquitos Away
Preventative measures are an important way to control the mosquito population around your home or place of work. But prevention can only go so far. You need to know how to keep mosquitos away once they’ve already become an infestation.
The answer is to contact a professional pest control service. With over 12,000 5-star reviews, Pointe Pest Control is your premier pest control company. Contact us to take advantage of our mosquito control services.