It can, because landscaping decisions affect how much standing water collects, how much shade your yard holds, and how freely air moves through it. All three directly influence mosquito populations.
Most people choose plants and hardscaping based on how they look. That’s understandable, but it is worth sparing a thought for pest control. Some landscaping choices can encourage or discourage mosquitoes, and it’s worth knowing which is which.
Dense plantings are the source of a lot of landscaping-related mosquito problems. With thick hedges, tightly spaced shrubs, and lush ground cover, mosquitoes can easily rest during the day. In Northwest Wisconsin, where properties often border wooded areas, heavy landscaping along the yard’s edge can blur the line between your yard and tree line in ways that invite mosquitoes right into your living space.
Mosquitoes need cool, humid microclimates to rest during the day. Tightly packed plantings give them these microclimates, which is why thinning out dense shrubs and leaving gaps between plantings helps as much as it does. Gaps let sunlight and air reach the ground in a way that tightly packed plantings would otherwise block.
The other key piece is drainage, as garden beds that hold water can also quickly become breeding sites for mosquitoes. This will often happen in decorative pots without drainage holes and low spots in the lawn where water pools after a rain.
People often ask about using plants to deter mosquitoes, but this approach makes less of an impact than most expect. So-called repellent plants like citronella and lavender just don't release enough essential oils to be effective in an open outdoor space. They are great additions to a garden, but they won't solve a mosquito problem on their own.
If you'd like professional help controlling mosquitoes on your Northwest Wisconsin property, Mosquito Squad of NW Wisconsin can help. Mosquito Squad treats the resting and breeding areas throughout your yard, reducing mosquito populations by up to 90% with technician visits every 21 days.
