How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes in Your Backyard

How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes in Your Backyard 

If you don’t know how to get rid of mosquitoes in your backyard, your summer cookouts and relaxing poolside afternoons can quickly turn into an itchy nightmare. The kicker? In the Companion Animal Parasite Council (CAPC) annual parasite predictions, it’s made clear that mosquitoes are as prominent as ever. 

Fortunately, there are lots of things you can do to get rid of mosquitoes and make this your best summer yet. Not only will you be saving yourself the frustration of itchy mosquito bites, but controlling the mosquito population in your yard can help keep you, your kids, and even your pets safe. Mosquitoes can carry diseases like West Nile virus, Zika virus, Chikungunya, and Dengue Fever, so making your yard less attractive to them is a great preventative measure. 

Ready to get outside? Check out Wondercide’s favorite natural tips and tricks for getting rid of mosquitoes in your yard and enjoying some fun in the sun!

1. Eliminate standing water 

One of the best things you can do if you want to get rid of mosquitoes in your backyard is to eliminate standing, stagnant water. The following objects and water features often attract mosquitoes and serve as hotspots for mosquitoes:

• Buckets
• Birdbaths
• Depressions in your lawn
• Flower pot trays 
• Grill and garbage pan covers 
• Gutters
• Old tires 
• Tarps
• Water bowls for pets 
• Wheelbarrows

Standing water is a perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes. Adult mosquitoes lay their eggs in pools of water, even those as small as a bottle cap! Each female lays a clutch (a group of eggs) of approximately 100 mosquitoes and can lay multiple clutches. Mosquito larvae and pupae mature in standing water as well. That means that mosquitoes spend three out of their four stages of life in water, with only mature adult mosquitoes buzzing in the air. 

If you can’t completely remove a pool of water, make sure that it’s well-maintained or, if possible, regularly covered. Dump and refresh bird baths at least once a week. Change pet water bowls daily or invest in collapsible bowls. Pull tarps tight and/or shake regularly

2. Maintain your lawn and clear it of debris 

Another top tip is to make sure that your lawn is clean and clear of debris. That’s because water can collect in not-so-obvious places, and a manicured lawn can help prevent those spots from accumulating.

• Clean out your gutters: Changing seasons and heavy winds can cause leaves and other plant debris to clog your gutters, making the perfect home for puddling water and a new mosquito family to set up camp. Consider installing gutter covers to eliminate this from your ongoing to-do list.
  
  
• Rake up leaves: Leaf litter actually supports healthy soil and provides the right conditions for natural wildlife and even beneficial insects. But if you’re really struggling with mosquitoes (or even allergies) raking leaves and getting rid of the water that might have collected under them may provide some relief.
  
  
• Aerate your lawn: Keeping your lawn maintained not only contributes to curb appeal— it also keeps bugs away! Aerating your lawn at least once a year improves drainage (we’re sensing a theme here), and even brings more oxygen to the soil.
  
  
• Add coffee grounds to compost: If you aren’t already, adding coffee grounds to your compost bins can kill mosquito larvae and prevent mosquito eggs from being able to gain a toehold in a dank, dark environment that would otherwise be perfect for them.
  
  
• Check piles of organic material: If you stack firewood in your yard or have left a large pile of leaves to sit for a while, these may also serve as a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

3. Plant natural mosquito repellants 

It’s possible to help rid your yard of mosquitoes by adding something beautiful outside. There are more than a few blooms out there that are sure to brighten your day and keep mosquitoes at bay. 

Visit a local farmers market or nursery to support local agriculture and ask which of these natural repellants grows best in your area:

• American beautyberry
• Bee balm
• Basil
• Catmint
• Marigolds
• Rosemary
• Sage

You'll even find essential oil made from a few of these plants in Wondercide's biopesticide products. Learn more on our ingredients page.

4. Attract natural mosquito predators

Another less-commonly discussed method for dealing with mosquitoes in your backyard naturally is to attract their natural predators. 

The all-time top predator of mosquitoes is the dragonfly. Dragonflies are even sometimes called “mosquito hawks” for their ability to chomp down thousands of mosquitoes in their lifetime. Dragonflies like to sun themselves so they prefer warm flat surfaces like rocks or leaves in close proximity to standing or very still water. This is great news if you have a pond or another large water source that you don’t want to drain in the name of mosquito control.

Other top mosquito predators include birds (purple martins, swallows, waterfowl, and migratory songbirds), bats, certain types of frogs, tadpoles, turtles, and fish. Research which types of animals are native to your area and how to attract them.

5. Make your seating area less mosquito friendly

We’ve talked about ways to help mosquito-proof your yard, but what about your porches or patios? If you want to enjoy your outdoor spaces without ruining the ambiance by covering them in netting, you have options.

• Keep your porch clean: You’ve taken care to remove debris and standing water from areas in your yard. Do the same around your porch.
  
  
• Use a fan: Mosquitoes are not strong flyers. A simple oscillating fan is powerful enough to blow mosquitoes off course and keep them from making you and your loved ones their next meal.
  
  
• Install warm (yellow) LED lighting: A 2016 study by the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) suggests that warm-colored light attracts mosquitoes less than other types of lighting. Incandescent lighting attracted the most bugs!

Treat Nature with Nature™ with Wondercide

Even with all these means of getting rid of mosquitoes, those pesky bugs can still be a nuisance. Plus, sometimes you just need a quicker solution. And when you also want something that’s plant-powered as well as safe for kids and pets when used as directed, that’s where Wondercide comes in. Ready-To-Use Outdoor Mosquito Spray with Essential Oils kills, repels, and prevents mosquitoes, ants, fleas, ticks, and more pests. 

Here are just a few great things about our mom-made, mom-approved spray:

• The residue won’t harm bees or butterflies 
• It takes 20 minutes or less to apply to an average size yard
• It’s made with steam-distilled natural essential oils 
• Customers love it! Check out the reviews here. 
  
  When you’re ready to refill your ready-to-use sprayer, reach for Outdoor Pest Control Concentrate. Concentrates come in several sizes and let you refill your sprayer several times.  It’s a great way to reduce single-use plastic and do something to lessen your eco-impact.
  
  

Ready for an added layer of protection against mosquitoes? For the family, go with personal Insect Repellent. For dogs and cats, Flea & Tick Pets + Home will do the trick. Both come in four fresh scents powered by natural essential oils: Cedarwood, Peppermint, Lemongrass, and Rosemary.

Pro tip: Bundle and save with the ultimate Mosquito Mayhem Survival Kit!