Summer time. The most spectacular time of the year!
Complete with long sunny days. Warm weather to enjoy nature at her prime with the tree’s displaying their full green foliage. Colourful flowers in all shapes and sizes. And more.
As Jenny Han shares, “Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August.”
If you live in Alberta, the warm days of summer also often include a few uninvited guests … mosquitoes.
Although mosquitoes are a nasty pest that leaves itchy bites, remember, “Mosquitoes can be a nuisance, but they also play a valuable role in our ecosystem. Mosquitoes support biodiversity in Calgary by acting as a food source for other insects and animals.” (City of Calgary)
Here are a few tips to minimize the chances of a mosquito invasion to your yard:
1. Remove any standing water
Mosquitoes like to breed in areas with lots of shade and moisture.
They lay eggs in water. Plus they spend approximately 75% of their life cycle in water (the first three stages of their life).
Alberta Health Services recommends, “Do not let water stand stagnant for more than seven days.”
Following is a checklist of places to look for standing water. Remember, they only need a couple teaspoons of water to lay eggs in, so check carefully:
- Barbeque covers
- Gutters
- Pet bowls
- Birdbaths – empty and refill weekly.
- Flower pots and bases
- If you have a children’s wading pool in the yard, be sure to empty it when not in use.
- If you utilize a rain barrel, add a screened cover.
2. Keep grass trimmed
Mosquitoes like to hide in tall grass, so be sure to keep your lawn shorter. It is generally recommended to keep your grass approximately 2.5″ to 3″ in height after cutting.
3. Remove Debris
Remove debris from your yard where mosquitoes can hide such as:
- Leaves
- Weeds
- Fallen branches
- Compost piles
- Overgrown vegetation
4. Dethatch
5. Mosquito-repelling plants
Plant mosquito-repelling plants in your landscape such as:
- Citronella
- Bee balm
- Lavender
- Catnip
- Marigolds
- Eucalyptus
- Peppermint
6. Keep your gutters clean
Be sure to regularly clean your gutters. Remove leaves and debris to prevent clogs that can trap water.
7. Avoid excessive watering of your lawn
8. Ponds
“Stagnant ornamental pools or ponds are a mosquito haven. Aerate ponds daily and consider stocking them with fish (mosquitoes = fish food!).” (Source: Alberta Health Services)
“Add a source of moving water to fish ponds or other backyard ponds. This will help prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs in these locations.: (Source: City of Red Deer)
9. Inspect your yard for water collection areas
Inspect your yard for non obvious water collection devices such as spare tires.
If you store tires outside, be sure to cover them so they can not collect water.
10. Screen your rain barrel
If you have a rain barrel, add a screen to prevent mosquitoes from laying eggs in it.
11. Insecticide
Apply an insecticide.
To control mosquitoes, you need to kill adult mosquitoes and prevent mosquito breeding.
Earth Smart Property Solutions offers insect control services for special events and season long protection. Choose from all natural organic protection or synthetic protection.
Learn more here.
Sources:
Alberta Health Services, Fight the Bite
Alberta Health Services, Home, Yard and Work Precautions
City of Red Deer, Mosquito Control
City of Calgary, Mosquitoes in Calgary
Lawn Love, How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes in Your Yard
Recent Comments