Standing Water and Mosquitoes: How to Protect Your Yard & Family

Did you know that you might have hidden mosquito breeding zones all over your yard? If you have any areas of standing water, these can become mosquito hotspots that can lead to major trouble.

If you’re experiencing frustration because you can’t seem to get rid of mosquitoes or you just want to do everything you can to protect your family from these dangerous pests, then getting rid of standing water is a vital first step.

In this article, we will explain why standing water and mosquitoes go hand-in-hand, how to identify problem areas around your property, and what else you can do to get rid of mosquitoes in your yard.

New England mosquitoes: A nuisance and a health concern

As you probably already know, mosquitoes are prevalent here in New England. There are more than 50 species of mosquitoes that we’re aware of in Massachusetts and more than 40 in Maine and New Hampshire. 

People often associate mosquitoes with the painful and itchy bites that they leave behind after sucking your blood. This is a reaction to the mosquito saliva that is injected into your body. 

But there are also serious health concerns associated with mosquitoes. If a mosquito has bitten someone infected with a pathogen, they can carry and transmit that to other hosts.

Not all mosquitoes transmit disease. Unfortunately, three of the more common types of mosquitoes in New England do. 

They include:

• Aedes Mosquito (can carry Zika, Yellow Fever, and Dengue Fever)
• Anopheles Mosquito (can carry Malaria)
• Culex Mosquito (can carry West Nile and Eastern Equine Encephalitis)

If you, your family, your friends, and your pets spend time in your yard, then mosquitoes might be a major concern.

We understand that you want to be able to spend time outside without worrying about mosquitoes. An important step in doing so is getting rid of standing water. Let us explain why.

Does standing water attract mosquitoes?

Yes, standing water does attract mosquitoes. 

That’s because they need this water to complete their life cycle. Mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water. Water is necessary for their larvae to hatch. 

Once hatched, the larvae feed on organic matter that is found in stagnant, standing water.

Most properties have multiple areas of standing water. Some are obvious while many will come as a surprise. Eliminating as many of these as possible can play a role in reducing your property’s mosquito populations.

Mosquitoes and standing water: Identifying problem zones

As we’ve mentioned, most properties have many areas of standing water. Some are more complicated than others to eliminate. Here are some common places where standing water tends to accumulate on properties.

• Low spots in yards and garden beds: If you have a low spot in the lawn or in a plant bed, you might need to fill in those areas to avoid water pooling. Of course, if it’s a significant issue, it could require re-grading.
  
  
• Buckets, containers, flower pots, and pot saucers: If you’ve left any sort of container in your yard or maybe have various flower pots around, these spots can end up collecting excess water. Make a point to dump out flower pot saucers or to keep buckets and other containers turned over.
  
  
• Tarps and pool covers: While swimming pools themselves are not a problem for mosquitoes since the water is circulating, the pool cover could be a problem. Tarps over wood piles and in other areas of the property can also collect stagnant water.
  
  
• Children’s toys and kiddie pools: Toys and small kiddie pools left in the yard can also be problematic. Don’t leave kiddie pools filled with water for days at a time. This water will become stagnant and your child’s play spot could soon become a mosquito hotspot.
  
  
• Garbage and recycling bins: Make sure you keep a lid on items like garbage cans and recycling bins so that water does not collect in them. 
  
  
• Clogged gutters: Gutters are one of those “hidden spots” that people tend to forget about. They are “out of sight, out of mind.” But clogged gutters can be a mosquito’s favorite breeding site. That’s because they not only have standing water but lots of debris that can become feeding material for newly hatched mosquito larvae. Keep in mind that areas where gutters empty out in the yard might also be mosquito zones if the water is pooling. Take steps to improve drainage in your yard if this is the case. A service like aeration and overseeding can help. But you might also require a drainage solution like a French drain.

Why you need to spray for mosquitoes in your yard

There’s no question that eliminating areas of standing water is an important step to get rid of mosquitoes in your yard. However, it can’t be the only step that you take.

For one, it’s pretty much impossible to eliminate EVERY area of standing water on your property. Mosquitoes require as little as a thimble-full of water to lay eggs. That means that there are going to be potential breeding zones that you miss. 

While you still need to make your best effort to eliminate standing water, there’s just no way that you’re going to get all of them.

Being realistic, there are also going to be times that you simply don’t keep up with this task. You might be busy or on vacation after a rainstorm, and mosquito breeding might take place before you get a chance to do anything.

Plus, even if you’re highly diligent about getting rid of standing water on your property, you can’t control what your neighbor is doing. If they have clogged gutters or other stagnant water collecting, a mosquito problem could be breeding right next door.

For this reason, you also want to spray for mosquitoes in your yard.

Professional mosquito control is going to be the most effective way to get rid of mosquitoes in your yard.

Choosing mosquito yard treatment in Southern Maine & Northeastern Massachusetts

With a pest as dangerous as the mosquito, a multifaceted effort is important. That means you should keep up with eliminating areas of standing water while ALSO investing in professional control.

At Seacoast Turf Care, serving in Northeastern Massachusetts and Southern Maine,  we target prime mosquito habitats with our product. Most people do not realize that mosquitoes are actually weak flyers and will stop frequently to rest. That means the bushes and shrubs around your property are prime hot spots for mosquitoes. We will treat those areas and others where we know mosquitoes will hang out.

When you invest in professional protection, you are gaining valuable peace of mind that these pests won’t be a serious threat to your family. When you choose the right company, you can also feel confident that you aren’t making a compromise with unsafe products or poor service.

At Seacoast Turf Care, it is our mission to put an end to what’s bugging you. We know that mosquitoes can be a source of frustration and stress. But we’re here to help.

Want to stop worrying about the danger of mosquitoes on your Southern NH, ME, or Northeastern Massachusetts property? Get mosquito control pricing today.

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