Your lawn should be an oasis for you and your family – not mosquitoes! There are steps you can take to ensure your lawn stays free of these unwanted guests, but you’d better get started early in the season. Once June hits and the Kansas City area is steadily warming up, you could have a very itchy problem.
Mosquitos aren’t just annoying, they’re a serious health concern. Whether West Nile virus or Zika, it’s nearly impossible to turn on the news without hearing about the dangers of mosquitoes. Luckily, Custom Lawn & Landscape has some tips you can use to send those pests packing!
Step One: Send Them Packing
First, get rid of any standing water. Just clearing out the large puddles won’t do the trick, even so much as an upturned capful of water can become a breeding ground for these pests.
Check everything that could collect water, like sandboxes, toys, dog bowls, and plant saucers. Even if your gutters seem to be draining well, double check for any low points that might allow water to collect.
While you’re banishing standing water, don’t forget to clean up leftover debris. Mounds of leaves and grass clippings can hold on to the water and shade that mosquitoes love, so you’ll want to do a little extra clean up if you see lawn debris collecting anywhere.
Need more convincing? See what other problems a wet, soggy lawn can bring.
Step Two: Take away the Buffet
Once you’ve taken away the mosquito’s breeding areas, it’s time to get rid of their favorite foods. Contrary to popular belief, a mosquito’s primary food source is plant nectar, not blood. But don’t worry, you don’t have to rip out your garden!
Keep the vegetation in your yard trimmed to cut down on the available feeding grounds. Just like the rest of us, mosquitoes enjoy cool, damp areas during the heat of the day. A well trimmed and mowed lawn doesn’t offer mosquitoes as much room to relax, and encourages them to buzz off.
Step 3: Bid Them Farewell for Good
Now that you’ve taken away all the mosquito’s favorite attractions in your lawn, there a few extra steps you can take to make your lawn the last place these pests want to spend their time.
Add the right plants to your garden. Did you know those citronella candles that are so popular for repelling mosquitoes are actually derived from citronella plants? Mosquitoes tend to avoid areas with citronella, catnip, lavender, marigolds, basil, or peppermint, which makes them a great addition to your lawn.
Treat your yard for mosquitoes and other insects. Sometimes, even after you remove the mosquito’s favorite vacation spots, you’ll still keep seeing mosquito bites! Thankfully, there are insecticides specifically for these instances. If you and your family spend a lot of time in the yard, consider treating for mosquitoes regularly. If you’re more concerned with a particular event, you can lay down repellant a few days before to protect your guests.
