There are over 3 million residential lawns in Florida. Keeping those lawns and ornamental plants well-maintained and healthy reduces leaching and surface water runoff and keeps pollutants out of the ecosystem. Not only that, well-planned landscaping can be an effective mosquito control.
Landscaping for Mosquitoes
There are several proactive steps you can take in your landscaping to repel mosquitoes, including:
Get Rid of Standing Water — Mosquitoes lay their eggs in stagnant water, so look for areas where water accumulates. Cover the areas with stone or spread topsoil and reseed. Inspect your irrigation system to be sure it is not overwatering areas and creating standing puddles.
Use Mosquito-Repellent Plants — Mosquitoes can’t stand the aroma of a variety of plants and flowers, including mums, marigolds, mint, lavender, and basil. Plant these around your porch or patio to help keep the pests away from you.
Remove Wind Screens — Mosquitoes are fragile flyers and the slightest breeze gives them trouble. To make it hard on the mosquito to fly around you, landscape with features that won’t impede air flow.
Encourage Mosquito-Eating Predators — Bats, purple martins, and spiders all love to dine on mosquitoes. Attract bats with a bat box in your yard. Purple martins require bird houses built just for them located in clear areas, so they feel safe from their predators. Don’t remove every spider web you see. In addition to mosquitoes, spiders will help control many other harmful pests.
Use Cedar to Mulch — The smell of cedar repels a host of insects, including mosquitoes. As the cedar dries out, the scent does too, making it ineffective as a repellent. It will need to be replaced when this happens, and you will have to balance the harmful insect repellent properties with the fact that it may also repel beneficial insects.
Keep Lawn Mown and Tall Weeds Removed — Weeds and tall grass are a haven for mosquitoes during the heat of the day. Removing this safe home will help prod mosquitoes to look elsewhere and leave you alone.
Challenger Irrigation Can Help
Besides fighting mosquitoes, a healthy lawn can control other pests as well. Being proactive with your landscaping can reduce or eliminate pest issues before they can become a major problem. If you live in Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, or Citrus counties, call us to inspect and repair your existing irrigation system, or see us to install a new one, and keep your lawn and landscape healthy and pest free.
