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We spend the winter dreaming of backyard dinners and lazy afternoons on the deck, often forgetting that in reality, it's man vs. mosquito. That said, there are ways to cut down the number of mosquitoes buzzing around your deck and patio. You don’t have to overhaul your yard to make it tolerable; just pay attention to where mosquitoes like to hide, breed, and bite, and consider different methods of mosquito control.
“Mosquitoes thrive in areas with consistent rainfall and ground temperatures above 60°F,” shared Emma Grace Crumbley, an Entomologist at Mosquito Squad Plus.
She explains that most areas start seeing mosquitoes in April or May and deal with them through September. If you live in the South, that window can stretch even longer. She also highlights that climate shifts are also changing mosquito patterns; some places are now seeing more mosquitoes, earlier in the season, and in bigger numbers.
1. Get Rid of Standing Water, the Ideal Breeding Ground
This is the most important step. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in still water—just a bottle cap full is enough for mosquito eggs.
Take a look around your yard after it rains. That leftover puddle in the wheelbarrow or the saucer under a flowerpot? Perfect for female mosquitoes. Not intended to point fingers, Crumbley knows us all too well. “Many homeowners are unintentionally creating an incredibly attractive environment for mosquitoes to thrive and multiply quickly by letting stagnant water go unchecked.”
Be sure to check:
- Buckets and pails
- Kiddie pools and toys
- Bird baths and pet bowls
- Gutters and downspouts
- Tarps and covers
- Planters and saucers
- Sprinkler puddles
- Clogged drains
If you can’t remove the water (like in a pet bowl), clean and refill it often.
2. Give Mosquitoes Fewer Places to Hide
Water isn't the only breeding ground for pesky mosquitoes... they hide in the shade too. When it gets really hot, they rest in cool, dark spots like under your deck, in tall grass, or behind outdoor seating, drawn out by your human scent and body heat. (If you thought you were getting eaten up while you sat innocently on your patio chaise... you were right.)
Keep grass short and trim back plants that crowd your patio or deck. Tidy up clutter that can trap moisture or offer cover. If you’ve got a woodpile nearby, keep it dry and stack it tight to avoid extra hiding spots from becoming a mosquito magnet.
3. Add a Fan or Screen
Mosquitoes are weak fliers, so anything that creates a breeze can help. A simple outdoor fan can make it harder for them to land = fewer mosquito bites.
Screens work too. If you use your deck or patio a lot, enclosing it with a screen keeps mosquitoes at bay without changing the whole setup. You’ll get fresh air without the bites.
4. Let Nature Help
Some creatures love to snack on mosquitoes. Frogs, birds, fish, and certain beneficial insects will go after mosquito larvae before they become a problem. If you have a pond or water feature, take a look at who lives there.
Encouraging those natural predators can help keep the mosquito population lower. Just make sure that the water is moving or balanced so you don’t end up attracting more bugs than you scare off.
Adding lemon balm and citronella grass to container gardens helps. Some folks swear by spraying lemon eucalyptus oil, cedar oil, or burning citronella oil candles. If you have a sensitivity to those strong scents, try Thermacell's E65 Rechargeable Mosquito Repeller. It clears mosquitoes in a 20-foot radius, leveraging DEET-free metofluthrin as the repellent active ingredient.
5. Make Your Yard Less Inviting
Beyond water and shade, there are a few more things that make common household pests keen to disrupt outdoor activities:
- Overgrown vegetation
- Piles of wet leaves
- Unused planters or pots
- Leaky hoses or irrigation systems
- Dark or damp corners under furniture
6. Try Professional Treatments If It Gets Bad
If you’ve tried the DIY route and still feel like you’re under attack, it may be time to call in help. The team at Mosquito Squad Plus offers a barrier treatment for mosquito infestations that keeps them away for up to 21 days.
And for people looking natural mosquito repellent options, they have that, too. “[It's the] Essential Botanical Insecticide, a natural treatment formulated from a blend of plant-based ingredients designed to help protect against several outdoor pests, including mosquitoes," notes Crumbley.
