None of us enjoy mosquitoes! We don’t like being bitten by these pesky bugs but very few of us take the necessary precautions to keep them away. Aside from just covering yourself with a bug repellent when you plan to be outdoors, there are quite a few simple steps you can take to avoid getting bitten by mosquitoes this year. The American Mosquito Control Association says in order to avoid mosquito bites, you need to remember the 3 D’s: drain, dress, and defend. We think there should also be an S for Spray! To ensure you have a mosquito free backyard oasis this summer, we are going to go over the 3 D’s in depth. Follow along so that you can be prepared to stick to them this mosquito season.
Drain!
Standing water is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes, so it is critical that you eliminate any possible breeding areas in your yard. By draining standing water you are giving mosquitoes less opportunity to breed, which also reduces the chance you will be bit by one. It only takes a bottle cap worth of water for mosquitoes to breed hundreds of eggs, so take the time to inspect your yard and drain any water filled containers that you find. Here is a checklist to help you out…
- Remove any tires that are lying around your yard– they are known to host thousands of mosquitoes eggs.
- Drill holes in the bottom of your recycling cans so that they cannot retain water.
- Get rid of debris from gutters to keep water from collecting in them.
- Keep your pet bowls clean and change their water routinely.
- Drain water from kids’ toys.
- Change the water in bird baths.
- Flip boats, canoes, and kayaks over to keep water from filling them.
- Try to keep water from pooling on the top of pool covers or tarps.
- Drain water from bottles, buckets, barrels, lids, candles, and anywhere else water might collect.
Dress!
Our customers have put in the work to keep their backyards mosquito free but what can they do when they trade their backyard for a night camping in the woods or a picnic in the park? You haven’t seen mosquitoes yet. In this case, it is important that you dress appropriately to keep mosquitoes from invading your personal space when you enter their territory. Something about dark clothing seems to attract mosquitoes, so if you want to enjoy a hike in the great outdoors, avoid wearing dark colors. Light colors are more difficult for mosquitoes to see, so they will be less likely to bite you. They are also able to bite through tight fitting clothes rather easily, so choose something that is loose fitting and long sleeved, if you can bear it.
Defend!
Perhaps the most common mosquito control method for homeowners who enjoy being out in their yard is defending themselves with mosquito repellent and surface sprays. However, it is important that you are aware of what you are purchasing; the best mosquito repellent is obviously an effective one, and there are only three repellents on the market that are recommended and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, so double check those labels for one of the following active ingredients: DEET, oil of lemon eucalyptus, or picaridin.
The AMCA, says that consumers must follow these guidelines when using repellents…
- Repellent should only be applied to exposed skin, not on clothing.
- Avoid spraying repellents near your eyes, nostrils, and lips.
- Do not apply repellents to children’s hands as they tend to touch their eyes and mouths frequently.
- If you are pregnant or nursing, minimize your use of repellents.
- Wash the repellent off when you go back inside your home.
We Think You Should Also SPRAY
At Green & Grow, we treat your property to control the number of mosquitoes that want to invade it. Spraying is essentially all the D’s in one! Reclaim your backyard with our Mosquito Control Services. We will come out and apply a barrier spray to rid your yard of mosquitoes and many other unwanted pests. The application needs to be done about every 3 or 4 weeks but works great!
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Contact us (859-314-LAWN) for more information or a free instant quote!
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About Green & Grow
About Green & GrowGreen & Grow is a full service lawn care company specializing in lawn mowing, fertilization & weed control, aeration & seeding, insect control, and more!
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