Home Maintenance Tip: How to Keep Mosquitoes Out of Your Yard

Now that warm weather has arrived, so have the mosquitoes. There are over 200 species of mosquitoes in the United States of which 60+ species are native to North Carolina. Mosquitoes are not only a nuisance but also are also responsible for the transmission of serious diseases such as malaria and encephalitis including the West Nile virus.

So, what can you do? Prevention is the key. Keep mosquitoes out of your yard. To do this, you must understand that water is required for two stages of the four-stage life cycle of the mosquito. Eliminating potential breeding sites is a key step since very little water is needed to be the next best breeding spot for future mosquitoes. Here are some actions you can take in your yard:

• Clean your gutters so that there can be no standing water in them. Make sure that the downspouts are draining.
• Rinse out bird baths twice a week.
• Make sure boats, canoes, wheel barrows and other objects do not become containers for water.
• Dump excess water in flower pot bottoms, garbage can lids and children’s play equipment.
• Fill in holes in the yard where water collects after rains.
• Get rid of miscellaneous objects such as buckets and tires that can hold stagnating water.
• Make sure that covers and tarpaulins don’t have folds that allow rain water to accumulate.
• Clean, chlorinate and circulate swimming pools. If your pool will be unattended for a period of time, cover it.
• Treat garden ponds and keep them aerated.

Prepare in advance for those summertime backyard cookouts by helping to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in your yard.

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If you have questions about your home’s foundation or foundation repairs, contact Atlantic Foundation and Repair at 919-855-0855.