Help! My New Home is Swarmed: How to Rid Your Yard of Mosquitoes

You toured your new home on a sunny afternoon. The high sun showed off how much natural light the kitchen will get, while a gentle breeze helped you picture your summer evenings in the backyard.

But little did you know that both of those things were hiding the yard’s mosquito problem.

The unfortunate reality is that far too many people have no idea that their new home has a mosquito problem until they try to enjoy their first sunset in the backyard. And they soon find themselves being chased inside by a swarm of buzzers.

There’s no need to panic! Before you fall down a rabbit hole of buyer’s remorse, try these tips to reclaim your yard from the mosquitoes. 

Overview: How to Get Rid of Mosquitoes in Your Yard

It’s actually quite simple. The first step is knowing what attracts mosquitoes, and the second step is removing those things from your yard.

This includes:

• Getting rid of standing water

• Preparing your pool with the right chemicals

• Staying on top of your lawn maintenance and landscaping

• Cleaning your gutters

• Being strategic about how, when, and where you BBQ

• Calling in mosquito control professionals

These simple steps can go a long way and help you take back your backyard.

Here’s a deeper dive into each step.

Get Rid of Any Standing Water

Let’s start with a simple thing that can have a big impact. What are mosquitoes attracted to? They seek out and breed in stagnant, standing fresh water.

They then use that standing water to lay hundreds of eggs at a time. And it’s important to know how little water we’re talking about! Some species can breed in as little as 1 teaspoon, or a standard bottle cap of stagnant water can produce over 100 new larvae. Now imagine what that old rain-filled tire next to the shed could mean.

Find and drain any and all sources of standing water. This may include:

• Empty cans

• Buckets

• Flowerpots and planters

• Old tires

• Trash cans

You’re also going to want to drill holes in the bottoms of recycling bins that are kept outdoors.

Prepare Your Pool

But what about the largest possible source of standing water, a swimming pool? 

When your pool is not in use, you’re going to need to drain your swimming pool covers of rainwater. And when in use, stay on top of cleaning and chlorinating your: 

• Swimming pools

• Outdoor saunas

• Hot tubs

As for the kids, be sure to empty any small plastic swimming pools when not in use.

Landscaping and Lawn Maintenance

If the previous owners didn’t stay on top of their lawn maintenance, this can hurt you in one of two ways.

First of all, you may have lingering standing water if your soil is compacted or you have other drainage issues. Puddles of water shouldn’t stay on your lawn for days after a rainstorm. They are a sign that you have drainage issues, and you’re creating a breeding ground for mosquitoes.

The second issue is that mosquitoes like to rest in tall grass and dense shrubs during the day. Trimming your lawn down to a healthy height and staying on top of your mowing habits can make a big difference.

Clean Your Gutters

Everyone hates doing this task, but mosquitoes love it when you don’t do it.

All that dead and damp organic materials that collect in your gutters and eavesdrops can attract mosquitoes. Even if you clear your yard of all standing water or places for them to hide, the real problem could be above you.

How often should you clean them? That all depends on your local weather and how many trees you have in your yard. The simple answer is that you should do it once in the spring, and if you start seeing more and more mosquitoes in the yard, it may be time to get back on the ladder again.

BBQ Strategically

Besides standing water, what else are mosquitoes attracted to? The heat and carbon dioxide (CO₂) that your BBQ produces.

We get it. The whole reason you bought a home with a backyard is to enjoy evenings full of family and food. We definitely don’t want you to stop grilling! However, you should consider:

• Avoid peak bug times around dusk and prepare your food a little earlier in the evening

• Set your BBQ up in areas that get more wind, or away from your guests

• Consider candles or other solutions in that area

These steps will ensure that the griller doesn’t get swarmed and everyone has a great dining experience.

Call in the Professionals

At Mosquito Hero, we have spent decades committed to the health and beautification of residential landscapes, working to give homeowners a place where they can comfortably relax and feel proud to call home.

“We brought in Mosquito Hero so that we could enjoy our hot tub in the summer time, as the bugs are very bad where we live. It works really well and the service was awesome. We will be using them again this year!” A 5-star Google review.

You can start right now by getting a free quote for your yard.