You already know that mosquitoes are some of the deadliest creatures on the planet, killing millions of people throughout history — right? But did you know that your yard is a prime spot for a mosquito breeding ground? This could put your family at risk of mosquito-borne diseases. Here are some effective ways to get rid of the mosquitoes in your yard.
1. Removing standing water will get rid of mosquitoes
The primary attractor of mosquitoes is standing water. In the wild, mosquitoes live in wetlands such as marshes, swamps, and even rainforests. In fact, one of the few benefits of mosquitoes on humans is that they prevent humans from getting into rainforests and destroying them. Some rainforests in the world are unlivable to humans and preserved simply because mosquitoes thrive there.
Unfortunately, there are some places around human living spaces that imitate the properties of these wetlands. Your yard is one of them, as rainwater builds up in cracks and crevices, craters in the soil, and in man-made objects like flower pots and swimming pools.
Mosquitoes like standing water because this is where they breed. If you don’t have standing water in your yard, you are reducing the chances of it becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Here are common man-made objects outside your home where standing water can accumulate:
- Birdbaths
- Flower pots
- Fountains
- Pavement cracks and holes
- Ponds
- Rainwater barrels
- Random items you put in your yard, like old tires
- Swimming pools
- Vases
2. Pick up debris
Cleaning the outside of your home is key to getting rid of the mosquitoes in your yard. Clearing standing water and replacing old water from pots and swimming pools are not enough. Remember that mosquitoes are small creatures, so they can thrive even in the most unsuspecting places. Your property’s exterior is more diverse than you think. It has a lot of spots where different kinds of pests can thrive.
Picking up debris is a good start. Debris includes all the random items you tend to put or store outside your home, like lawn furniture, old tires, pet bowls, and toys. It also includes more natural objects like fallen leaves and tree branches, tall grass, and unmaintained bushes.
Get rid of all man-made debris as much as possible. If it’s not possible, the least you can do is to clean or “disturb” them, so pests won’t thrive there. Throw away natural debris, and maintain the outside of your home to prevent them from accumulating and becoming homes for various pests.
3. Introduce mosquito-repelling plants
There are some plants with properties that naturally repel mosquitoes. Such plants include citronella, eucalyptus, lavender, and peppermint. You can plant them outside your home to repel the bloodsucking insects.
You won’t need much effort in this mosquito control method, especially if you already have an outdoor garden. But even if you don’t, you can still make use of these plants. Simply put them in areas where you think mosquitoes can thrive, such as those areas where water tends to accumulate.
However, take note that natural methods like this one may not be completely effective, especially if mosquitoes are already thriving well on your property. But they are not completely useless either. Many people even use the essential oil versions of these plants to get rid of mosquitoes.
4. Attract mosquito predators
If you think using mosquito-repelling plants or essential oils is still not natural enough, there is a more natural mosquito control method you can try — attracting mosquito predators outside your home and letting them do all the work.
Mosquitoes have a lot of natural predators. And some of them are relatively easy to attract. Birds, for instance, are easily attracted to birdbaths and birdhouses. Frogs are attracted to shallow and non-moving water like garden ponds, especially if there are slopes that will help them move easily and damp shades that will shelter them. If you don’t consistently bomb the outside of your home with insecticides, many mosquito-hunting insects may also thrive, like dragonflies and spiders.
Using natural predators to get rid of pests is nothing new. Many gardeners use this method to protect their plants from garden pests. Aphids, for instance, are often controlled by introducing beneficial insects like ladybugs to the garden. If you can’t naturally attract beneficial insects, you can artificially introduce them to the outside of your home by buying them in garden supply stores.
5. Use insecticides to get rid of mosquitoes
You should always try natural mosquito control methods first. But if all else fails, there are always commercial insecticides… You can buy these products online or from physical retail stores. Just make sure you buy insecticides that are actually meant for mosquitoes and follow the instructions on the label on how to use them properly and safely.
Insecticides are indeed effective. But they have their downsides. Firstly, their toxic ingredients can be harmful to you and your household pets. This is why it’s important to follow instructions. Secondly, they can be harmful to the biodiversity outside of your home. They can harm and kill plants and insects, including the beneficial ones.
To limit the effect on biodiversity, you can apply the insecticides to the mosquito-prone areas only, like near debris and standing water.
6. Try mosquito traps
If insecticides have too many caveats for you, you can try DIY mosquito traps. They work by attracting mosquitoes, containing them, and then killing them. One of the most popular DIY mosquito traps is the soda bottle trap.
In this trap, you will attract mosquitoes with brown sugar, hot water, and yeast. And then you will contain them inside a soda bottle to kill them. Here are detailed instructions on how to make a soda bottle trap for mosquitoes.
There are also commercial mosquito traps. But the problem with many of these products is that they also tend to kill other insects, including the beneficial ones. Bug zappers are some of the most commonly used among these ineffective traps. Bug zappers are not even very effective in killing mosquitoes. And to make it worse, they also kill other insects, even those that are just passing by.
Get rid of mosquitoes in your yard with ease
There are many ways to get rid of mosquitoes in your yard. But they can be summed up in a few statements.
- Maintain the outside of your home by getting rid of debris and standing water
- Try natural methods like using mosquito-repelling plants and mosquito predators
- Try products like insecticides and traps
If you still can’t get rid of the mosquitoes in your yard, you can always get help from pest control professionals.