Mosquitoes are some of the most annoying pests, and they can carry a whole range of diseases, including Zika, West Nile Virus, and malaria. Since mosquitoes bite repeatedly, they pose a massive health risk.

If mosquitoes are ruining your cool summer evenings on the porch, try the following methods to try to reduce the number of mosquitoes on your property. We always recommend using mosquito repellent to prevent mosquito bites, but controlling the population in your yard will make your evenings significantly more pleasant.

Get Rid of Standing Water

A lot of mosquito control in West Palm Beach involves controlling mosquito breeding grounds. Mosquitoes love poorly oxygenated, standing water. West Palm Beach has a lot of places with standing, shallow water, but your yard may also contain some of the following:

• Landscape ponds
• Birdbaths
• Clogged gutters and downspouts
• Any place where water can collect for a few days

The best way to control mosquitos is to prevent them from breeding. Mosquitos don’t live long, so interrupting their life cycle can address the issue at the root.  

There are several different ways to mitigate the effect of stagnant water, the first being to eliminate it. If you can’t, try to make sure that the mosquitoes can’t get in; make sure to cover your rainwater barrels, turn your wheelbarrow upside down, etc. If you love your landscape pond, make it deeper and introduce a current that will stop mosquitoes from making it their home.

Control Tall Grass

Tall grass is sure to attract mosquitoes by giving them a comfortable place to live. Mosquitoes will breed in standing water but will spend a lot of their downtime in the long grass. Try to keep the grass in and around your yard below 5 inches, which will prevent your lawn from becoming a mosquito haven.

Grow Mosquito Repelling Plants

Growing plants won’t magically solve your mosquito problem, but they provide extra advantages that make planting them worthwhile. Growing these around your home may help prevent some mosquitoes from entering your home and buzzing around your head while you sleep.

Common mosquito-repelling plants include:

• Citronella
• Lemongrass
• Lemon balm
• Basil
• Sage
• Mint

Strategic Pest Control

If you only want a particular area to be free of mosquitoes, consider using mosquito traps and other devices that kill adult mosquitoes. The problem with this method is that it only addresses the face of the problem without stopping the root cause.

What About Fogging?

Fogging, which involves spraying a pesticide in your garden, is a useful method to prevent mosquitoes, but many pesticides harm the environment, so it’s essential to choose the right one.

We recommend working with a professional, such as Shoreline Environmental Pest Solutions, if you want to use chemical treatments. We have the experience to safely control mosquitoes without affecting your health or damaging your plants. Give us a call today at (561) 530-2614!