While they might not seem as harmful as other types of pests, mosquitoes and the diseases they bring are absolutely no joke. Even if you view mosquitoes as mostly annoying but largely harmless, you need to do your best to prevent mosquito bites by sourcing the best mosquito control in Frisco. Even if you’re not worried about mosquitoes breeding and taking over your outdoor property, you should be worried about the diseases they can carry and spread with their bites. If you don’t want to unnecessarily expose yourself to Zika or West Nile virus, it’s in your best interest to stop mosquitoes before they get completely out of control. If you don’t know where to start, here are some tips for keeping mosquitoes away for good.
Plant Anti-Mosquito Flowers and Herbs
If you want to start with a homeopathic approach, you’ll be happy to know that you can find tons of natural mosquito-repellants in nature. Many of these plants and herbs, like lavender, catnip, lemon balm, horseradish, basil, peppermint, rosemary, and garlic, and easy to buy or plant in your own backyard. Planting the seeds of these powerful repellants won’t just discourage mosquitoes from sticking around. If you’re careful to plant your flowers in the right areas, you can keep mosquitoes moving by making your yard a fully hostile environment for nests and mosquito eggs by making sure there isn’t an inch of ground free from nearby repellants. If you have a cat at home, you can kill two birds with one stone by growing your very own catnip supply. While it does take a while for plants to grow, don’t forget that you can also buy any of these ingredients easily at a nearby store. You can place them on the windowsill or around your outdoor area to make sure bugs keep their distance.
Remove Any Stagnant Water
Mosquitoes love bodies of water like lakes, pools, and puddles. They find these to be a perfect breeding ground and will lay their eggs in pools of stagnant water to quickly infest your outdoor area with tons of baby mosquitoes in no time. They don’t just breed in large bodies of stagnant water, either. Even if your gutters are dirty or clogged, they could end up collecting rainwater which could make for a cozy home for a mosquito family. This is why you want to keep water out of your space, from water stuck in a drain to small puddles collected on the top of a pool cover after a storm. You can never be too careful when you’re dealing with mosquitoes. Keep everything as dry as possible, and keep your grass cut short to prevent too much density and water retention on your lawn.
Use Citronella and Other Repellants
If you’re not a fan of the homeopathic way, you can always opt for stronger repellants like DEET or citronella. While citronella comes in many forms, such as candles and sprays, it’s not the most pleasant-smelling option, and neither are sprays containing DEET. However, when it comes to keeping mosquitoes far away from your skin, they’re unparalleled in protection. If you don’t like the idea of using DEET, there are a few gentler options on the market that have the same proven levels of efficacy. Remember that you should never assume a mosquito bite is harmless. These insects carry all kinds of diseases and blood-borne illnesses with them wherever they go, and you can’t be too careful when it comes to protecting yourself and your loved ones from infection.
Keep Food Indoors
Mosquitoes, much like any other bugs and even larger animals, are drawn to rotting foods and sweet syrups like honey. If you want to keep your home bug-free in general, it’s best to keep things tidy, especially when it comes to your outdoor areas. If you leave a big bowl of fruit out or by the window, you could end up attracting the attention of some unwanted guests. While mosquitoes aren’t overly attracted to fruits in the way that fruit flies and other bugs are, they’re always looking for a way in. If you’re going to keep food out, stick to the mosquito-repellent variety. Treat your mosquito problem like a vampire problem and keep some garlic on the windowsill. Pepper your kitchen with herbs and foods like rosemary and horseradish. Don’t invite mosquitoes to your door by leaving a half-drunk glass of water or alcohol on the porch table, and don’t forget to wear mosquito repellant with at least 20% DEET content on your person whenever you’re spending a significant amount of time outdoors.