Residential Routine Pest Control Maintenance

Four Ways To Keep Mosquitoes Out Of Your Yard

Mosquitoes are not just annoying. With their itchy bites, they can spread an array of diseases, from West Nile Virus to Dengue Fever. If you want to protect yourself and your family, the best way is to keep these pesky insects out of your yard. Here are four tips to help you do just that.

Clean Out Your Gutters

Gutter cleaning is usually recommended to keep your roof in good shape, but here's another good reason to keep up with the chore. When your gutters get clogged and water starts building up inside of them, that water becomes the perfect breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Cleaning gutters is not that difficult. Just reach into the gutter (with gloved hands) and pull out any accumulated debris. Pour a bucket of water down the gutter when you're finished to ensure it runs freely. Clean your gutters twice a year to prevent mosquitoes from beginning to breed within them.

Get Rid of Bird Baths

Bird baths are great for attracting birds. Unfortunately, they also attract mosquitoes. If you can keep the water perfectly fresh and clean, the mosquitoes will usually stay away, but this is just not realistic for many homeowners. Getting rid of the bird bath is probably the best choice. There are plenty of other ways to attract birds to your yard, from bird feeders to houses made specifically for the birds.

Plant Marigolds

Those little orange and yellow flowers do more than add a hint of brightness to your yard. Marigolds are also widely unappealing to insects, including mosquitoes. They are thankfully a very hardy flower and will grow well in sun or shade, moist or dry soil. Add a few to your garden bed or even set a few pots of them around your yard to help repel the mosquitoes.

Have Your Yard Sprayed

If you are still noticing mosquitoes after following the tips in this article, then there's a chance they are breeding in your neighbors' yards and just coming over to visit. You can help ward them off by having a professional pest control company come spray the perimeter of your yard. The mosquitoes won't often cross this barrier, though you'll still want to keep up with the other measures on this list to keep them from breeding inside the barrier.

Don't let your yard become a playground for mosquitoes. With the mosquito control tips on this list, you can protect yourself and your family from these disease-spreading pests.