Identify and eliminate any potential breeding sites to rid your yard of mosquitoes naturally. This includes emptying and disposing of containers, like buckets or tires. Additionally, look for areas of the yard that stay damp and have standing water for long periods. Drain these areas and keep them dry so mosquitoes don’t breed!
Look for stagnant water.
Mosquitoes love stagnant water. It’s important to find and get rid of these sources. They lay eggs in water that lasts for more than 4 days.
Inspect home areas like
- tires
- bottles
- cans
- clogged gutters
- tree holes
- flowerpots
- birdbaths
Empty flowerpots and birdbaths should be scrubbed out each week.
Check ponds and streams for too many mosquitos. Add mosquitofish or natural predators like
- frogs
- dragonflies
- bats
Drain pools and artificial ponds with moving water often.
Check for areas of high humidity
Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. To stop them in your yard, you must find and remove these areas. Mosquitoes like moist places. Look around your property for any places with water, even a tiny amount. This includes low-lying places, ditches, etc.
Check for pet water dishes, potted plants with water, buckets, containers, or near drainpipes where rainwater accumulates. Anything with a lid should be flipped to stop mosquitoes from breeding.
Natural Repellents
Fighting off those pesky mosquitoes in your yard is no easy task, especially if you’re trying to avoid chemical repellents. But there’s no need to worry! You can use natural remedies to keep them away, such as planting certain types of plants, using essential oils, and other natural repellents.
Read on to learn more about the natural repellents that you can use to keep those pesky mosquitoes away from your yard!
Plant mosquito-repelling plants
Fight mosquitoes with plants! Plant insect-repelling ones around your yard. Catnip, marigolds, and rosemary have strong fragrances that make mosquitoes disappear. Lemon balm and lavender are also great choices. Mix them in with other decorative plants. Clover can help too. It will attract beneficial insects like ladybugs that eat larvae and mosquito eggs near your area. That way, you’ll get extra protection!
Use essential oils
Essential oils have compounds that can repel mosquitos and other insects. Popular types include citronella, thyme, geranium, peppermint and lavender. You can buy these oils as a diffuser or spray. Depending on the type, you may need to dilute with water. Test a small area outdoors before using. Also, read the package carefully. Some products may need to be reapplied more often.
Utilize citronella candles
Citronella candles are a popular natural mosquito repellent. They create a nice atmosphere while keeping mosquitoes away. Most citronella candles contain eucalyptus, lemongrass and other plant-based materials. Humans like their scent, but mosquitoes don’t.
Read the label before buying a citronella candle. Place candles around outdoor areas, such as patios and decks. This will allow you to enjoy outdoor activities without worrying about getting bitten.
When purchasing a candle, make sure it lasts long. Also, keep it several feet away from household exterior walls and fixtures to avoid fire hazards.
Mechanical Control
Try mechanical control to remove those pesky mosquitoes from your yard naturally! Screens, traps, and nets are great physical objects you can use. This method is highly efficient and can eliminate many mosquitoes in a flash.
Here’s how you can use mechanical control to get rid of mosquitoes from your yard:
Install mosquito traps
Mosquito traps are a mechanical way to control or get rid of mosquitoes. They attract the little critters with light, heat, and other things. Different traps use air currents or bait to catch bugs in an electric net.
Where the trap is placed is important. According to the CDC, place it away from buildings in a spot with many plants or standing water. Put the traps close together, no more than 50 feet apart. To make them work best, adjust the height depending on if there is ground-level breeding or higher. Keep the traps clean and dry. Debris can mess up efficiency.
Utilize bat houses
Install bat houses for natural mosquito control! Attach them to poles or trees at least ten feet off the ground. Provide adequate air flow. Bats can live in any temperature if you live in an area with freezing temperatures, set up artificial colonies of bats during the warmer months.
Bats feed on mosquitoes, consuming up to 1,000 per hour in flight! Enjoy the mosquito-free yard!
Use mosquito nets
Mosquito nets are an awesome way to avoid mosquito-infested areas in your yard. They come in different sizes and shapes. For bigger outdoor areas, consider tent-style netting around play structures, pools or benches. This will keep out the mosquitoes and other bugs, while still letting visitors enjoy the view. If your backyard activities are small-scale, you can use netting that fits over picnic tables and chairs.
Furthermore, circle the seating with mosquito netting if you’re having a night gathering. This will protect you from bites, without spoiling the fun. You can also:
- Hang mosquito nets on trees or fences around an open area.
- Attach them with magnets and take them down fast when not needed.
Biological Control
Biological control to repel mosquitoes in your yard? Yes! No sprays or chemicals needed. Introduce organisms to help control the mosquito population. How? Let’s take a look!
Get rid of mosquitoes using biological control. What organisms are useful? That’s the question!
Introduce mosquito-eating fish
Introducing fish that eat mosquitoes is a great way to control them naturally. Examples are gambusia, golden shiners, fathead minnows, bluegill sunfish and largemouth bass. These predators will eat larvae before they hatch. Adding them to a pond will reduce adult mosquitoes.
If you have a pond, you can introduce natural predators like frogs and dragonflies. Get fish from bait stores or online. Check local regulations before adding non-native species. Mosquito-eating fish need good aeration and shade in hot weather.
Introduce mosquito-eating insects
Introducing natural predators is a great way to control mosquitoes in your home or yard. Praying mantises, dragonflies, and lacewings feast on mosquitoes. Birds like swallows, flycatchers, sparrows, and swifts eat adult mosquitoes and larvae.
Add insectary plants like coriander, cilantro, fennel, and alyssum to attract these beneficial bugs to your area. You can also purchase mosquito-eating organisms such as Gambusia Affinis. Release them in your pond or into a water feature area. These organisms eat the larvae of single-celled organisms and some aquatic life, including mosquito larvae.
Prevention
To keep mosquitoes away from your yard, take preventative measures. Remove standing water, trim grass, and use natural repellents. Let’s explore more ways to get rid of mosquitoes naturally:
Keep your grass and shrubs trimmed
Keep your lawn and other landscaped areas trimmed to reduce the number of mosquitoes in your yard. Mosquitoes breed in standing water, so trimming helps prevent breeding sites.
- Dump or cover buckets and containers that collect water.
- Properly dispose of items that can’t be drained – tires, etc.
- Keep water away from your patio with “faux” turf or concrete blocks with paint.
- Clear leaves from plants like crotons and ferns are ideal sites for mosquito eggs.
Remove any standing water
Mosquitoes live in areas with standing water, so the first step to getting rid of them is to remove any sources of it. Check kiddie pools, containers, dog dishes, and birdbaths. If you can’t empty them, try flipping them over every few days. Mosquitoes won’t develop when the water isn’t full for long.
Also, check hidden places like drains and downspouts. If you have a pool or hot tub, treat it with chlorine and maintain it. An outdoor fountain should also be drained every few days, or it will attract mosquitoes.
Check your window and door screens for holes
Check all window and door screens to prevent mosquito infestations in your yard. Make sure there are no holes or gaps. Patch them with a good-quality repair patch. Apply it around pipes, conduit, vents, chimneys and openings in garage or cellar doors. Replace worn or torn screens with high-grade mesh from leading manufacturers, such as Phifer Incorporated or Screen America Corp. This task is easy and can save you time and money when controlling a mosquito population.
