Spring is less than a month away but here in Fort Worth, it feels like it arrives much sooner. Because of our great weather, we enjoy more warmer days and a longer growing season than the rest of the country. Unfortunately, it also means that we have a longer mosquito season. So as you prepare to get your yard cleaned up and ready for spring, be conscious of mosquitoes and learn how to control them.

Mosquitoes can drop in unexpectedly to any outdoor party you have planned. The best way to combat mosquitoes is to always be aware of them and take steps to protect yourself and family from them. These annoying insects don’t just drive off your guests but they can carry deadly diseases such as Zika, West Nile, Eastern Equine Encephalitis, and Dengue Fever. Keep reading to find out how you can take mosquito control into your own hands.

Clean Clogged Gutters

Gutters are an important feature of your house. Its main purpose is to direct water away from your home and foundation. Gutters can become clogged with leaves and other debris which can render them useless. When it rains, water will overflow and pound the soil around your foundation. This can lead to expensive foundation repairs and basement flooding. But that’s not the end of it. A clogged gutter retains water and we all know who loves standing water. The average home has about 120 to 250 feet of rain gutters. That’s a lot of standing water if they clog. So take a few minutes out of your day to check on your gutters to ensure you aren’t harboring a mosquito sanctuary on your roof.

Maintain Your Screens

There’s nothing like a summer breeze blowing through your home at night. But all that could be ruined if there’s an annoying mosquito trying to take a bite out of you. Go around your home and inspect all your screens. The tiniest rip or tear can allow mosquitoes to enter and terrorize you inside your home. You can usually get your screens repaired at a hardware or window store. 

Make a Mosquito Trap

It’s time to take the fight to the mosquitoes. A mosquito trap is an easy and fun way to reduce the number of mosquitoes in your yard. All you need are a few household supplies: A one or two-liter soda bottle, masking tape, and something to cut with. 

Cut the soda bottle near the top where it starts to bend inward. Nest the top half of the bottle into the bottom half so it looks like a funnel. Then all you need to do is tape it and add the bait: Add 1 cup of hot water to 1 cup of sugar and mix in a teaspoon of yeast. The concoction will be irresistible to mosquitoes who will follow the scent to their death.

Natural Mosquito Repellants

Although mosquito repellents that contain DEET are highly recommended by the CDC, not everyone responds the same to it. Some people are allergic to DEET and therefore cannot benefit from its protection. All-natural mosquito repellants are becoming a more and more popular alternative to chemical repellents. Products that include ingredients such as basil, lemongrass, citronella, lavender, tea tree, and thyme. You can even make your own home-made mosquito repellents by mixing water with essential oils.

Call the Mosquito Pros at DFW Mosquito

Don’t let mosquitoes keep you from enjoying your backyard this summer. Call the experts at DFW Mosquito and get set up on a year-round mosquito control program that will keep these pests out of sight and out of mind. 

Are you hosting a special event such as a graduation, wedding, birthday, or holiday and don’t want your guests running home in fear? Call and ask about our mosquito control for special events.

After you sign up, our mosquito control specialists will assess your property and create a program that fits your needs. Give us a call at  (817) 615-4944 or send us a message. Forget to follow our blog for helpful mosquito control tips in Texas.