How to prevent mosquitoes

Are you worried about mosquitoes turning your outdoor oasis into a buzzing nightmare? Don’t get anxious – get prepared. Whether you’re trying to protect a small patio or a sprawling garden, here are a few things you can do to prevent mosquitoes.

• Get rid of standing water. Don’t forget your gutters and downspouts
• Cover water features
• Keep your yard neat and manicured
• If necessary, consider getting preventative treatment from a mosquito control expert
• Use the wind to your advantage

While these tricks aren’t guaranteed to prevent every single mosquito in your yard, if mosquitoes have been bothering you on your property, they’re worth a try. They’re easy to implement and science-based, and most importantly, they make a big difference for many. 

Keep reading to explore why these tactics work.

Top 5 Ways to Prevent Mosquitoes This Summer

In the Southeastern United States, it can seem like mosquitoes are everywhere, but a few simple maintenance tricks can make mosquitoes want to go somewhere else. When it comes to a pest that breeds as quickly as mosquitoes, a few ounces of prevention can be as effective as several pounds of cure. 

1. Prevent mosquitoes by removing standing water

It’s simply impossible to overstate how much mosquitoes rely on standing water for their life cycle. Without it, they can’t lay their eggs, their eggs won’t hatch, and their larvae and pupae can’t develop. By eliminating standing water on your property, you’re effectively eliminating their ability to breed on your property. If you don’t remember anything else from this article, remember this.

Of course, it’s not so easy to eliminate all standing water on your property, especially when mosquitoes need only about a teaspoon of water to breed. But the more standing water you can get rid of, the better off you’ll be. 

Here are some common and less common places to check for standing water:

• Birdbaths and decorative water features
• Clogged storm drains or drainage areas
• Low spots in your yard that puddle after rain
• Wheelbarrows, toys, or equipment left outside
• Tree holes and stumps
• Pool covers, especially those that sag
• Tire swings or stored tires
• Barbecue grill covers
• Pet water bowls left outside
• Leaky outdoor faucets that create puddles
• Boat covers or RV awnings
• Old fountains or ponds, even small ones

Gutters and downspouts can easily get overlooked, so this is a reminder to look at yours. There’s often residual water in these, and mosquitoes don’t need much. Additionally, leaf litter that’s built up in the gutter can be a pleasant resting spot for tired mosquitoes during the day.

2. Consider your water features

Yes, these first two tips revolve around water. That should tell you just how important water is to mosquito prevention. Many homeowners will do a great job of eliminating standing water, then ignore the pond or fountain on their property, and wonder why they still have mosquitoes.

Water features are pleasant, but they’re also mosquito magnets, so if you’re experiencing a mosquito problem, you should consider strategies for how to mosquito-proof your water feature. Here are some ideas:

• Use a cover: When you’re not outside enjoying it, cover it up so mosquitoes can’t access it.
• Add biological mosquito control, like fish that eat mosquito larvae: There are many types of fish that love eating mosquito larvae snacks.
• If you notice mosquito pupae or larvae in water, add dish soap: The soap will impede larvae’s ability to breed, and breaks the surface tension in water, causing adult mosquitoes to sink and drown.

3. Keep your yard neatly manicured

Ever wonder where mosquitoes like to hang out when they’re not biting you? They enjoy overgrown areas with tall grass and vegetation – really, anywhere that’s cool, quiet, and shaded. If your grass is long or you have overgrown plants and shrubs in your yard, mosquitoes are sure to stick around longer.

• Keep grass cut short: mosquitoes rest in tall grass during the day
• Trim shrubs and bushes, especially dense growth near patios or seating areas
• Remove overgrown vegetation and weedy areas where mosquitoes hide
• Prune tree branches to improve air circulation and reduce shady, humid spots
• Clear away leaf litter, grass clippings, and organic debris where moisture collects
• Plant mosquito-repelling plants like marigolds, lavender, citronella grass, or catnip
• Keep compost piles properly managed and not overly wet

4. Get preventative treatment from a professional mosquito extermination company

A professional mosquito exterminator will be able to assess your property and determine the best course of treatment and prevention for you. This is especially important if you live near a natural water feature like a pond or creek. Mosquitoes will breed in these areas, and there’s just not much you can do about it.

But there are things you can do, like barrier treatments to deter them. A professional mosquito exterminator will be able to go over your best options with you.

5. Use the wind to your advantage

Ever notice that you don’t really get mosquito bites when it’s rainy or windy outside? It’s because mosquitoes are really bad at flying. Many people don’t realize this, but it’s a fact you can use to your advantage.

You can significantly reduce your exposure to mosquitoes by setting up one or more fans strategically when you’re hanging out outside. 

Bonus question: Does mosquito repellent work?

Yes, mosquito repellent has its time and place. When used strategically, it can absolutely be an effective tool to help stave off a mosquito onslaught in your backyard or elsewhere. But it shouldn’t be your only means of mosquito prevention.

Here’s an article we wrote with more information on how to use mosquito repellent effectively.

Why Is Mosquito Prevention So Difficult?

Mosquito prevention can be challenging (especially if you’re trying to do DIY mosquito control) for one simple reason. There are just so many mosquitoes out there, and they reproduce really fast.

It takes about one to two weeks for mosquitoes to go from eggs to adults in ideal conditions in the summer. So no matter how many you slap, how many larvae you dump out of standing water, there are still thousands more on their way.

Here’s another staggering fact about mosquitoes. Only female mosquitoes bite. And they only bite when they’re ready to lay their eggs. And they lay anywhere from 50-300 eggs every time. Think about that: every time you’ve ever gotten a mosquito bite, that mosquito flew away to lay hundreds of eggs.

With the sheer number of mosquitoes, it’s understandable why DIY mosquito control can be challenging. That’s where our mosquito control experts come in. At Lookout, we offer solutions that interrupt the mosquito life cycle, and with ongoing maintenance visits, we can help protect your property all season long.

Make Your Yard a Mosquito-Free Zone

Mosquitoes are relentless and DIY mosquito control can feel impossible. Sometimes, professional treatment and prevention services are the only way to solve the problem.

At Lookout Pest Control, we can help you minimize mosquitoes on your property so you can enjoy your yard from April through October. Call us today and get a free quote on our monthly service!