Consistent attention to standing water, regular pruning and smart irrigation practices will help you spend less time spraying and swatting.
Mosquitoes may be a fact of life in South Central Texas, but they don’t have to take over your summer. After recent rain, it’s no surprise if you’re facing an infestation — mosquito populations can explode seven to 10 days after a rainfall event.
If you’re swarmed the moment you step outside, with more than five bites per minute, you’re likely facing elevated numbers of mosquitoes. So how can you keep your landscape from becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes?
Remember, healthy water-saving landscapes naturally invite birds, dragonflies and other wildlife that help keep insect populations in balance. So it’s always best to opt for the least toxic solutions first.
The most important step isn’t even a spray — it’s eliminating places where mosquitoes lay their eggs. Just a bottle cap of standing water can become a nursery for hundreds of wriggling larvae. Imagine all the opportunities presented by plant saucers, pet bowls, stacked flowerpots, buckets, watering cans, clogged gutters, toys and tarps. After it rains, a quick spin around the yard to drain these culprits can work wonders.
For bird baths, Bti (Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis) mosquito dunks can be used to target mosquito larvae without harming birds or pets. (Their active ingredient is a naturally occurring bacteria.)
When in doubt, carry on and keep mowing and pruning. Many mosquitoes congregate in dark, poorly ventilated corners of the landscape during hot days, so keeping vegetation strategically trimmed can improve air circulation.
Turning off irrigation helps too. If at least a half-inch of rain has fallen per week (as it has almost every week since April) you can let your irrigation take a break. Running sprinklers during rainy weather gives mosquitoes even more places to breed and that water is slower to evaporate in humid conditions. Established WaterSaver plants prefer the soil to dry out between waterings anyway, so turning the system off benefits both your landscape and your water bill.
If mosquitoes are still making outdoor time unpleasant, consider adding a trap. Unlike bug zappers, which kill many beneficial insects, modern carbon dioxide or scent-based traps are specifically designed to target mosquitoes. Position them well away from patios and seating areas so they lure mosquitoes away from you, rather than towards you.
Consistent attention to standing water, regular pruning, smart irrigation practices and targeted mosquito control will help you spend more time enjoying your landscape — and less time spraying and swatting!
