May means warmer weather—more backyard cookouts, more time by the pool, and more evenings outside with friends and family. Don’t let mosquitoes turn your backyard into a miserable place to be.
A few simple maintenance steps can make all the difference.
Start by checking for standing water. Look around your property—buckets, flower pots, fountains, even low spots in the yard. Bird baths are a common source too. Adding mosquito bits is a safe way to stop larvae from hatching without harming pets or birds.
If you have French drains or drains around your pool or patio, make sure water isn’t sitting inside. One easy trick is to zip tie a mosquito dunk to the drain grate so it treats the water down in the pipe.
Gutters are another spot people forget. If they’re holding wet leaves and debris, they can become a breeding ground fast. And if you have a lot of potted plants, consider adding mosquito bits to the soil.
When it comes to control, I prefer using more than one method. Since I have a garden, I avoid sprays—they don’t just kill mosquitoes, they also harm pollinators like bees. Instead, I stick with larvicides and mosquito tubes like Spartan or Aion.
There are also traps like the Inzecto system, which combine a larvicide and pesticide. When setting up traps, I like to use water from a creek or pond instead of tap water—it tends to attract more mosquitoes.
For events or gatherings, Skeeter Screen yard sticks are a solid option to help keep mosquitoes down in a specific area.
Source:
Mike Johnson – Owner of Johnson Feed & Agri-Expert
