Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are the bane of summer and keep us out of our wonderful gardens and sitting areas. Citronella candles, mosquito plants (Lemon Pelargoniums), and smoke coils all have limited effectiveness at repelling the adult insects. Take steps to control them in your yard by eliminating their breeding sites. Standing water in pots, saucers, candleholders, buckets, watering cans, etc., must be emptied daily. Tall grass and overgrown weedy areas should be mown, and low areas where water stands should be leveled. ~ from: Emazing.com

Any areas of standing water (ravines, gullies, ponds, buckets, plastic sheeting, pet dishes) must either be eliminated or treated with a product containing Bt, a bacterial toxin that prevents the larvae from becoming adults. Bt comes in the form of grainy cakes which are safe to birds, fish, and pets. Bird baths, fountains, ponds, planters, or anything that holds water should receive a Bt treatment.

If you've done everything you can to eliminate mosquitoes in your own yard, but still have a problem, let your neighbors in on your prevention methods. Mosquitoes can travel a good distance, so you can only do so much. That is where coils, citronella candles, and sprays come in handy. Repellents containing the active ingredient di-ethyl-toluamide (DEET) are very effective. The higher the percentage of DEET, the longer your area will be protected. Be careful with such products and always wear gloves when applying.

Q. We have such a summer problem with Mosquitos. Do you have any recommendations in addition to that citronella?

A. With the West Nile Virus spreading the globe, precautions against mosquitos are very important. Think about where they breed and eliminate those spots. Here are a few ideas:

Keep grass and bushes trimmed. Dispose of containers such as tin or plastic containers, tires, bottles, cups, anything that may hold water. Make sure roof gutters drain properly. Clean them of leaf and stem blockage in the spring and fall and as needed. Do not allow standing water on flat roofs. Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas and hot tubs. If not in use, drain water completely and cover tightly. Keep water off pool covers. Change water in birdbaths every three days. Clean them with detergent every two weeks. Do not let standing water remain around flower and vegetable pots. Repair leaky outdoor pipes and faucets. Fill or cover gaps in the yard such as around flagpoles, bird feeders or pipes. Turn over plastic wading pools and wheelbarrows when not in use. Use covers or tarps if possible, but do not allow water to settle on top. Fill in low lying lawn areas. Consider rooting cuttings in sand instead of bottles of water.

Inside, change water in vases holding flowers or cuttings twice a week. Clean vases with bleach water. Make sure that doors and windows have tight fitting screens. Repair or replace all screens which have tears or holes.

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