For a mild mosquito problem, DIY steps like dumping standing water can help a lot. But if your yard is so overrun with mosquitoes that you have stopped using it, it’s usually worth hiring help.
The DIY mosquito treatment aisle is full of things that “sort of work.” Citronella candles can buy you a tolerable hour at a picnic table. A fan on the patio helps, since mosquitoes are weak fliers. Dumping standing water every week is a great step and costs nothing, but there are limits to how much this can do for you. If your mosquito problem is small, this might be all you need.
But if the mosquito problem is not small, then it’s a different story. Store-bought foggers and sprays knock down whatever's flying at that moment, then stop working. The mosquitoes you missed, plus everything drifting over from three neighbors' yards, are back before the weekend, so you spray again, and buy another can, and spray again. This doesn’t work well and the cost adds up fast.
Professional service works differently. A technician treats the shaded foliage where mosquitoes spend their days, the undersides of leaves, the dense growth along the fence, places a hand-pump sprayer doesn't reach well and most homeowners never think about. The treatment knocks mosquitoes down on contact and keeps working for about three weeks as more of them land on treated surfaces. It’s reapplied on a regular basis too. That means mosquitoes don’t get a chance to regroup between treatments and give you trouble.
Professionals also have trained eyes. They can spot the places mosquitoes are likely breeding and hiding. The label on a can of spray is not enough information to make that kind of judgment call.
If the re-spray treadmill has worn out its welcome, Mosquito Squad of Southern Westchester & Rockland County can help. Mosquito Squad pairs trained technicians with EPA-registered barrier treatment, helping protect your yard with up to 90% reduction in mosquito activity on a recurring 21-day cycle.
