Standing water and dense overgrown plantings give mosquitoes places to breed and hide. If you regularly trim vegetation and make sure water doesn’t have a chance to pool, that can help curtail mosquitoes.
A beautiful landscape and a mosquito-friendly one can look a lot alike. That doesn’t mean that you have to sacrifice beauty to get away from the pests, though.
The biggest problem, by far, is standing water. Mosquitoes breed in it. Landscaping supplies give them plenty of opportunities like birdbaths, untreated ponds, rain barrels, decorative containers, plant saucers, and clogged drainage. Even water-holding plants and tree hollows count. None of it has to be much, and a small amount of standing water for a few days is enough. Even drainage issues can lead to standing water, which is why you sometimes see mosquitoes breeding in low areas along building foundations.
Thick shrubs, tall grass, heavy ground cover, ivy, and deep mulch beds are also common sources of trouble. Each of these will hold humidity and create cool, shaded spots. Mosquitoes hide in those places during the hot and dry parts of the day.
Most of this is manageable if you know what to do. You can improve drainage in low spots, thin and trim dense plantings to let light and air in, and keep water features moving or stocked with mosquito-eating fish. And above all: dump containers that collect water.
If you're tired of a yard that looks great but can't be enjoyed at dusk, Mosquito Squad of Southern Westchester & Rockland County can help. Mosquito Squad treats the shaded resting areas where adult mosquitoes shelter and helps you target the breeding sources, helping protect your yard with up to 90% reduction in mosquito activity on a recurring 21-day cycle.
