Three ways to get rid of mosquitoes in your garden this summer (and a common myth!)
In just a few steps you can eliminate mosquitoes from your backyard so you can have an outdoor get-together this summer without mosquitoes crashing the part.
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Few things can end a summer gathering faster than mosquitoes. The good news is that the most effective mosquito control is free, but it starts long before guests arrive. Instead of focusing only on the adult mosquitoes responsible for the bites, you should think like a mosquito and target the places that they are trying to breed.
Ryan Katz is a pest management expert with Graduate Pest Control. He says by midsummer, mosquitoes are the most common complaint Graduate Pest Control hears from homeowners, and most property owners assume the mosquitoes biting them on a summer evening flew in from somewhere nearby. In nearly every case, Katz says they did not.
Ryan Katz takes a tour of my garden to find some common areas that mosquitoes could be hiding and breeding like the bottom of plant saucers under my patio plants and even piles of mulch and rain gutters. It's important to cheeck tarps, bird baths, furniture covers, and any small containers left outside for standing water and dry them out.
Katz explains that mosquitoes need just need enough water to fill a bottle cap to breed. Just a week of standing water is enough time for larvae to grow and in 2 - 3 weeks that larvae will become adult mosquitoes too. Dump out their breeding grounds and you'll notice immediate results because mosquitoes do most of their biting close to their breeding sights.
Many homeowners also choose to create a protective perimeter around their yard with mosquito fogging treatments. This can help reduce mosquitoes that may drift in from neighboring properties. However, mosquitoes should not already be breeding within the treated area. Source reduction should always come first, with perimeter treatments serving as an additional layer of protection.
One common myth is that simply planting mosquito repelling plants will solve the mosquito problem. While some plants contain compounds that mosquitoes may dislike, growing them in a garden does not provide meaningful control of an active mosquito population. Eliminating standing water remains far more effective than relying on plants alone.
A quick property inspection today can help ensure your backyard stays comfortable for family, friends, and Fourth of July guests all week long.
About Graduate Pest Control
Ryan Katz is a second-generation pest management specialist and owner of Graduate Pest Control, a family-owned company that has served NYC and Long Island since 1983. Founded by his father, Arnold Katz, who holds a B.S. in Entomology from the University of Georgia, Graduate has grown entirely through word of mouth and still serves its very first client. Ryan’s background spans entomology, construction, landscaping, and horticulture, giving him a wider view of the conditions that drive pest pressure on a property. He presents internationally on rodent exclusion and leads Graduate’s Integrated Pest Management programs across the region.
