Mosquitoes aren’t just annoying. These insects can also spread diseases to you and your companion animals. Just one mosquito bite can cause heartworm disease in cats and dogs. Humans can contract West Nile Virus and other illnesses from bites. Try these tips to get rid of mosquitoes on your property.
Get Rid Of Mosquitoes in Your Yard
Nothing can ruin an outdoor meal or nap in a hammock faster than mosquitoes. But there are ways to make mosquitoes stay away from your yard:
- Get rid of all standing water. Mosquitoes reproduce in water, and they don’t need much. Even a bottle cap full of water is enough for them to lay eggs in. Dump out and refill your pets’ water bowls and the birdbath daily. Store wheelbarrows and other items that fill with water after a rainfall in the garage or upside down. Keep toys in a shed so they won’t fill with water when it rains. Dispose of old tires, too. They collect water and become a perfect mosquito breeding ground.
- Another way to get rid of mosquitoes is to clean your gutters. When they fill with debris, they don’t drain properly and will fill with water.
- Deprive mosquitoes of their habitat by keeping your grass cut to a low height and pulling the weeds near your foundation. Mosquitoes love shade from vegetation.
- Use an oscillating fan on your deck or patio. It’s difficult for mosquitoes to fly against the steady breeze. A fan helps dilute the carbon dioxide we give off. Carbon dioxide guides mosquitoes to areas where they can feed.
- Change your outdoor lighting. Yellow bulbs are less likely to attract insects than white ones are.
Keeping Mosquitoes Out of Your Home
Patch your screens and use weatherstripping to seal the spaces under your doors. Mosquitoes can fit through the tiniest of cracks. Screening in a portion of your deck creates an outdoor living space that mosquitoes cannot enter. If you live in an area that is prone to mosquitoes, a screened-in porch is a great investment for your home.
Scents And Plants That Repel Mosquitoes
Here are some plants that repel mosquitoes. You can plant them in a pot or garden, or burn the essential oils in candles or oil torches.
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- Citronella repels mosquitoes. You can purchase citronella candles, tiki torches, or simply plant it around your yard.
- Lemon Eucalyptus and catnip oil are both EPA certified insect repellents. Dilute a solution of their essential oils with water and use it as a bug spray.
- Peppermint is a great herb to have in pots to repel mosquitoes, but beware that if you plant it in the ground it is very invasive.
- Lemongrass oil is used in some commercial flea treatments for dogs and cats. It can also keep mosquitoes away from humans. Mix it with cinnamon bark oil to make it even more effective.
- Planting rosemary, mint, basil, lemongrass, marigolds, citronella, catnip, and calendula near your deck or patio can repel mosquitoes. To protect the inside of your house, put plant pots on windowsills or in planter boxes.
- Other scents that repel mosquitoes are cedar, tea tree, feverfew, and tulsi oil. You can use them inside or outside your house with an oil diffuser.
Make your summer more pleasant by using these efforts to repel mosquitoes from your yard.
Veriguard Home Inspections provides home inspections in Northern New Jersey. Contact us to request our services.