Five Yard Changes That Cut Mosquito Populations Fast

Mosquitoes only need a bottle cap of standing water to breed, and most of it is closer to the house than people expect.

The five changes

• Clear and re-pitch gutters so they drain fully
• Empty planter saucers, bird baths and toys weekly
• Fix low spots in the lawn that hold water after rain
• Thin dense shaded shrubs where adults rest during the day
• Treat ornamental ponds or add mosquito-eating fish

Where treatment fits

Once the sources are reduced, a monthly barrier treatment on foliage and under decks holds the remaining population down through the season.