What Attracts Mosquitoes to Your Yard?

Many people may have a mosquito problem in their yard and often get frustrated when they can’t get rid of them. Besides working with Mosquito Joe of West Chester PA for spraying mosquito barriers, there are several things you can do to help.
The number one thing that attracts mosquitoes to your yard is standing water. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant, still water, which is necessary for their young to hatch and mature. That’s why is it so important to keep your yard free of standing water. Here are a few tips:

Keep the Gutters Clear

If water can’t drain out of your gutters, water will pool there, which is the most common area for mosquitoes to lay their eggs. This one is simple—just keep your gutters clean so that they can do their job of bringing water away from your home to the right draining location.

Clean up After the Kids

It’s so important to thoroughly empty kiddie pools, water tables, buckets and shovels, and cups and toys after the kids are done playing. The best advice is to dry them off and store them in a dry shed or garage so they are not left outside to gather water from the rain or sprinklers that may be set to go off at night.

Take a Walk Around after the Rain

If you have a chance to put your rain boots on and head outside after it rains, this is the best time to see where water may be collecting that you may not realize. Some often overlooked water-collecting culprits include:

  • Old tires: if you have a gearhead in the family, don’t leave old tires laying around outside your home or garage. Water can easily pool and never drain from an unused tire left sitting on the driveway or propped against the garage.
  • Tarps: if you have a tarp covering anything in your yard-a pile of firewood, yard equipment, or outdoor furniture, make sure it fits very snugly on the item it’s protecting. Any drooping or sagging in the tarp or cover will allow for water to pool.
  • Pet Bowls: if you spend time outside and often have a bowl of water or food outside for your dog or cat to drink or eat out of, be sure to bring that bowl inside so water does not fill it up unintentionally and sit to wait for a mosquito to make it her home.
  • Gardening tools: Make sure that empty flowerpots and tools like shovels are not left outside to collect water. Be sure to drain the hose after use, and check flowerpot saucers for signs of collecting stagnant water that could also be inviting to mosquitos.
  • Keep a lid on garbage: dispose of old barbecue grills, car parts, etc. that may be tossed away on the side of the house or behind a shed. Be sure you have lids on your garbage cans, and make sure they are being used rather than left face up, collecting water, on the driveway next to said garbage can.
  • Maintain your lawn: overgrown trees, brush, weeds and tall grass are things mosquitoes love. Keep your yard well-kept may help keep mosquitoes out!

Remember, almost anything that holds water — even a small amount — can turn into a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Mosquitos can lay eggs just about anywhere water can collect. By taking the time to clean up and maintain your yard, you’ll be making it a nicer place to spend time for you, and not as inviting to the pesky mosquitos.

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Clean Your Gutters This Fall, and Thank Us Later!

When you think of fall yard maintenance during October in West Chester Pennsylvania, you probably think about raking leaves, cutting the lawn, seeding the lawn, pulling out the annuals, pruning and cleaning out the flower beds, or planting some beautiful orange and yellow seasonal mums! And perhaps setting up a scarecrow and some Halloween lawn decorations… but don’t forget how important it is to clean the leaves and other debris out of your gutters too! It’s so important to make sure the water is draining properly from your gutters to eliminate the chances of a breeding grounds for mosquitoes.

Dirty gutters can result in stagnant water sitting still trapped in your gutters, and stagnant water can result in a breeding ground for mosquitoes. There are so many other benefits to keeping your gutters clean. Clean gutters can also prevent a leaky roof or water damage to the interior or exterior of your home. By ensuring the flow of rainwater is steady and heading away from your roof and walls, safely past your beautiful landscaping, out to the lawn or down to the street, you’ll be sure your home is well protected not only from stagnant water, but also water damage and leaks.

How often should gutters be cleaned?

If you guessed twice a year, you’d be correct! Ideally, gutters should be cleaned once in the late spring and once in the late summer or early fall. However, if you have a lot of trees surrounding your house, and especially a lot of tree coverage over your home, you may consider increasing the clean-out every few months to ensure they are maintained. If it’s too much work to clean yourself, enlist the help of a professional, or consider investing in gutter guards to help protect your gutters from collecting debris and getting clogged. However, keep in mind that even if you do have gutter guards on your home, you should still check for debris that can’t easily be seen, to ensure the gutters are still clear.

Why Clean Gutters in Fall?

House gutters in the pouring rain

Besides the obvious debris of leaves, mosquitoes can stay active, and in fact even thrive, in the fall temperatures. They don’t fully go away until temperatures drop to below 60 degrees consistently. Here in West Chester Pennsylvania, that can sometimes mean November-December, which makes October a great month to dedicate to giving your gutters some TLC. Being proactive to ensure there are no possibilities for breeding grounds for mosquitoes will keep you and your family, your pets and friends safe if you’re planning to spend time outside this fall.

Schedule Your Barrier Sprays

Many people don’t realize that mosquitoes are still alive and very active in the fall, so be sure to schedule a fall barrier spray for your yard and especially if you are planning a party or event outside at your home during the months of October and early November! Call our office at 610-228-0938 to discuss and schedule an appointment.

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