There is no denying that mosquitoes are pests. There are not too many positive words that can be used to describe these backyard disease carrying nuisances. As the weather gets warmer, there is no way to avoid running into our fair share of mosquitoes. Here are a handful of tips to help prevent mosquitoes from infesting your yard and curtailing cookouts this year.
The first thing to know is that mosquitoes are attracted to water so that they can lay eggs. As a pest control measure, check your yard for any build up of water, or pooling in areas. Make sure that there are no buckets or pails lying about where rain water can collect. In addition, be sure to regularly clean or even remove objects, such as bird baths, wading pools, toys, or any other type of container that has the ability to collect water if left outside. Water that is lying about for a few days becomes quite an attractive place for mosquito larvae to develop.
Keep your gutters clean. When they begin to get a buildup of debris, it provides a wet area for mosquitoes to find shelter.
Check on your air conditioning compressor unit. As the temperature rises, we are sure to be using them. Make sure that the water that drips from the compressor unit is running free and not collecting below the unit, creating a perfect place for mosquito larvae.
A simple and attractive mosquito repellent is to plant some lemon grass in your yard. Whether it is planted in your flower beds, or placed in flower pots on your deck, lemon grass emits a natural citronella. This prevents mosquitoes from overtaking your backyard barbeques.