How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes in Your Grass & Lawn

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End the guesswork and stress of lawn maintenance. Let our experienced team put their expertise to work making your lawn healthy and beautiful. How to Keep Mosquitoes Out of Your Yard Aside from being annoying, mosquitoes can also be dangerous, as mosquito bites can transfer a number of diseases. The most common mosquito-borne diseases in the U.S. include the West Nile virus, Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika virus. To avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes, consider using some of the methods below.

It’s summertime, and you’re ready to relax in your beautiful backyard, but there’s a problem - hundreds of blood-sucking mosquitoes in the grass invading your peaceful oasis. To help get rid of these nasty pests so that you spend your summer with family and friends soaking up the sun, we put together this list of tips and tricks to help you get rid of mosquitoes.

Avoid Standing Water

Because female mosquitoes can lay hundreds of eggs in as little as 1 cup of water,  avoid shallow water or even damp soil that’s prone to flooding. Drain any form of stagnant water regularly, such as buckets, birdbaths, pet bowls, flower pots without proper drainage, or any other container that collects water. For larger areas of standing water, such as pools and ponds, we recommend treating it with liquid larvicide or BTI, a naturally occurring bacterium that is toxic to mosquitoes.

Use Chemical Repellents

One of the most common ways to get rid of mosquitoes in grass insects is  using traditional chemical mosquito repellent. Make sure that the repellent contains 30% to 50% DEET—the most common active ingredient in insect repellent. For children over 2 months, use 10% to 30% DEET and don’t use any repellent on infants under 2 months. Keep in mind that chemical repellents only offer temporary protection, as the effects of DEET wear off after 12 hours. If you don’t want to use DEET, you can  make your own natural mosquito repellent by mixing certain types of oil, such as coconut and neem oil, with water and spraying it directly onto your skin.

Set a Mosquito Trap

Another option is setting mosquito traps, which can be  purchased online or in a grocery or hardware store. Some traps use light, such as bug zappers, while other traps use smell to lure in mosquitoes. You can also make traps using sugar water and a plastic bottle.

Burn Candles

Mosquitoes can be kept at bay by  burning candles or using essential oil diffusers with scents such as lavender, citronella, lemon, eucalyptus, lemongrass, clove, tea tree, and peppermint.

Invest in an Electric Fan

Did you know that mosquitoes can not fly against wind greater than about 10 mph? To keep the air moving and the insects at bay, simply  set up oscillating fans, especially around porches or areas where people congregate.

Maintain a Clean Yard

Mosquitoes love to inhabit shady spots close to the ground such as  the underside of plant leaves, brush, thick weeds, or tall grass—basically, anywhere it is damp, cool, and dark. To avoid this, regularly mow your lawn, trim bushes, and clean up any yard waste. Additionally, consider using cedar mulch around your home, bushes, and flower beds. The natural cedar oils repel mosquitoes and the mulch soaks up excess moisture, which deters the insects from settling in your plants.

Attract natural predators

Mosquitos have many natural predators that may be able to help keep them at bay, including:

• Dragonflies
• Frogs
• Spiders
• Turtles
• Bats

Additionally,  certain species of fish and birds can also naturally deter mosquitoes. To attract birds such as swallows, hummingbirds, sparrows, and woodpeckers, set up feeders and birdhouses away from your back patio. You can also install a backyard pond and fill it with fish such as bass, bluegill, catfish, goldfish, guppies, koi, and the aptly named mosquito fish.

Change the Lighting

Many insects, including mosquitoes, are drawn to light. To reduce the number of bugs you attract,  consider using sodium lamps, yellow bug lights, or warm LED lights in outdoor fixtures. It also helps to switch off outdoor lights when not in use.

Choose Your Plants Carefully

Avoid planting ground covers, such as ivy and pachysandra, and plants that require tons of pruning, as they provide natural shelter to mosquitoes. Instead,  grow plants and herbs that naturally repel the pests, such as: