Mosquito Prevention and Standing Water
Removing any standing water from your yard can help reduce the chances of mosquitoes breeding in your yard. It’s an important step to take in mosquito control. With West Nile virus and other mosquito-borne diseases, it’s nothing to take lightly.
Where Can Standing Water Be Found In Your Yard
Even a small puddle can be used by mosquitoes, so check carefully inside of everyday items. Things to check for water include
- empty flower pots
- saucers or trays under your outdoor pots
- buckets
- plastic bags
- outdoor kids’ toys
- old dog dishes
- ends of drainage pipes that might be elevated
- wheelbarrows
- drainage ditches
- aluminum cans or plastic drinking bottles
- trash cans
- clogged rain gutters
- holes in tree stumps
- watering cans
- tarps
- old car tires
Bird Baths
Even your birdbath can be a breeding site for mosquitoes if not washed out frequently. A cleaning of about once a week should keep mosquitoes from breeding in the water.
Garden Ponds
Ornamental ponds can also be a breeding site for mosquitoes. Adding fish that feed on larvae can be a good preventive measure, but if your pond is fish-free, you can also try aerating the water or adding larvicide pellets/discs/dunks to kill mosquitoes (read the instructions carefully to be sure it is safe for your specific use). Flowing water isn’t good habitat for mosquito larvae.
Collected Rainwater
If you collect rainwater for use in your yard, make sure it is properly contained and all holes are screened or covered. You might also consider adding pellets, dunks, or discs that are designed to kill mosquito larvae. Carefully read the proper use and safety text on the larvicide package to ensure you can use it on water you plan to use in the yard.
Low Areas in the Yard
Draining ditches, ruts in the dirt, and low areas in your yard can also collect standing water. When possible, try filling these areas or use drainage techniques (installation of French drains, etc.) to try and drain these areas after rain. In drainage ditches, be sure to clean out any debris that might keep the water from draining properly.
Swimming Pools
Keep your pool adequately chlorinated and clean regularly. If you have a pool cover, remove standing water on it after it rains.
Additional Resources
Check out these links for more information and great photos
- http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/hd/westnile/wnveliminate.htm
- http://blog.pested.psu.edu/2012/08/13/got-mosquitoes-get-rid-of-standing-water/
- http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvbid/westnile/qa/prevention.htm
- http://www.sdcounty.ca.gov/dpw/watersheds/watershedpdf/sw_rainbarrel_mosquitoes.pdf
