It’s tempting to embrace the chilly winter months, trusting the cold to prevent problems with pests. After all, most pests, like mosquitoes, die in winter, right? Well, winter could be a great time to start thinking about how you’ll prepare for mosquito season. Being proactive can help save you the hassle of dealing with a mosquito infestation and look forward to the warmer weather. Learn how you can get ready for mosquito season and ways Mosquito Joe® is here to help.
Why Preparation Matters Before Mosquito Season
As the weather warms up, you’ll surely want to spend more time enjoying the outdoors. But this can be difficult when the mosquitoes decide to join you. That’s why it’s essential to prepare for mosquito season. They aren’t just annoying creatures with their buzzing and biting. They also pose health risks by carrying harmful illnesses. If you prepare for mosquito season, you can help protect yourself and your family.
Risks of Mosquito-Borne Diseases
Mosquitoes can bite people or animals infected with illnesses, taking in their pathogen. Then, the infected mosquito can inject the pathogen into their future hosts through their saliva. What may seem like a harmless itchy bump could cause a potentially life-threatening illness.
The types of diseases mosquitoes carry vary based on location. Some common mosquito-borne illnesses include:
- Chikungunya virus
- Dengue fever
- Malaria
- West Nile virus
- Yellow fever
By striving to protect your yard from mosquitoes, you can help protect yourself and your loved ones from these illnesses. Don’t wait for peak mosquito season to take action — be proactive.
Benefits of Proactive Mosquito Prevention
In addition to helping protect against mosquito-borne illnesses, early mosquito control offers the following benefits:
- Improved comfort outdoors, free from buzzing and biting
- Less mosquito breeding that could lead to infestations
- Reduced pest control costs with regular maintenance
- Protection for pets from bites and mosquito-borne illnesses
Step-by-Step Guide to Preparing Your Yard
There are several things you can do yourself to prepare for mosquito season. Consider these mosquito prevention tips before they overtake your outdoor living space.
1. Eliminate Mosquito Breeding Grounds
Mosquitoes breed in areas with standing water, so to help keep them out of your yard, eliminate excess water and moisture and regularly check your yard for potential problem areas.
Empty and clean birdbaths frequently, change pet water bowls daily, and dump out water that collects in buckets, wheelbarrows, and unused containers. Be mindful of flower pots and their saucers, as these can easily collect water after rain or watering. Additionally, address any drainage issues in your yard, such as low spots where water tends to pool, and make sure your gutters remain clean and free of debris to prevent water from collecting.
2. Practice Regular Lawn Maintenance
Keeping your lawn well-maintained is one of the most effective ways to deter mosquitoes from your yard. Mosquitoes thrive in areas with overgrown grass, dense vegetation, and accumulated debris, as these provide shade and moisture—ideal conditions for them to rest and breed.
Start by mowing your lawn regularly to keep it short, as tall grass provides mosquitoes with cool, shaded areas to hide during the day. Be sure to rake and dispose of piles of leaves, grass clippings, and other yard debris that can trap moisture and create additional hiding spots. Also, trim overgrown bushes, hedges, and shrubs to reduce the dense vegetation that mosquitoes are drawn to.
By combining these efforts, you’ll create an open, dry, and well-maintained yard that is far less attractive to mosquitoes, ultimately reducing their presence around your home.
3. Use Mosquito Repellents
Before mosquitoes swarm your property, you can plant citronella grass, lavender, marigolds, basil, rosemary, or lemon balm. These plants naturally repel these pests to help keep your space bite-free. Consider planting them around the perimeter of your property, near your patio, and in other areas where you plan to spend your time.
4. Schedule Professional Barrier Treatment
Get ahead of mosquitoes by proactively spraying your yard. Mosquito Joe offers barrier spray services that last for up to 21 days. By scheduling mosquito spraying, you can target the first mosquitoes that enter your yard and help keep them from breeding. Mosquito traps and automated misting systems are also available. Call us today to discuss what option will be best for you and your home.
Protecting Pets During Mosquito Season
Humans aren’t the only ones vulnerable to mosquito bites when the warmer weather hits. Mosquitoes can also go after pets, giving them itchy bites and putting them at risk of mosquito-borne illnesses like heartworm. As you get ready to deal with these pests again, plan how to protect your furry friends, too.
- Consider setting up closed-in outdoor spaces like screened tents where you can spend time with your pet and keep insects out.
- Seal your home off from mosquitoes by installing screens and sealing off any potential entry points.
- Research pet-friendly mosquito repellents you can apply to your pet before spending outdoors.
- If your pet will be exposed to mosquito bites, talk to your veterinarian about heartworm protection.
- Maintain your outdoor space by mowing your lawn, trimming shrubs, and keeping your yard free of debris where mosquitoes could thrive and wait to bite your pet.
- Understand the symptoms of mosquito-borne illnesses that your pet could develop so you can look for symptoms and seek treatment if needed.
- Look into professional mosquito control services, such as those from Mosquito Joe. Keep in mind that there are also eco-friendly options available for you to explore.
Benefits of Mosquito Control Services
Don’t wait until mosquitoes are a big problem at your home. Follow these mosquito prevention tips and contact your local Mosquito Joe for a free estimate for professional, ongoing defense in your yard. Treatments are tailored to your property and our products are applied by certified and trained technicians. Our comprehensive pest control services are available to you all year round. We have locations with trained service personnel across the country. The Mosquito Joe professionals at each location are experts at identifying and controlling the specific pests in their local area. We tailor our services to your particular needs so you, your family, and your pets can enjoy your home and property in peace, free of pests.
Contact Mosquito Joe for pest control throughout the year. All our work is backed by the Neighborly Done Right Promise™ and our Mosquito Joe Satisfaction Guarantee, so you know you’ll be pleased with the results. Request a free quote at the top of this page, or give us a call. We are here to help families and pets enjoy outside.
This article is intended for general guidance only and may not be applicable to every situation. You are responsible for determining the proper course of action for your property and your situation. Mosquito Joe is not responsible for any damages that occur as a result of any advice or guidance derived from blog content. For the most accurate guidance, contact an independently owned and operated Mosquito Joe for more information and a professional on-site assessment.
