How to Prevent Pesky Mosquitoes in Your Yard

Mississippi summers bring the heat and fun, but they also bring one tiny, annoying thing: MOSQUITOES. Not only are they annoying, but as we all know, they can also be very dangerous and spread diseases like the West Nile and Malaria. Mosquitoes can lay up to 250 eggs at a time that hatch in a short period of 7-15 days. The key here is to prevent this pesky bug from ever taking up residence in your yard. The best step of prevention is to try and eliminate all areas of breeding ground that can be found in your yard, and Picture Perfect Places is here to help!

5 WAYS TO PREVENT PESKY MOSQUITOES IN YOUR YARD:

1. CALL FOR WEEKLY/BI-WEEKLY LAWN MAINTENANCE - Tall grass and overgrown shrubs are like pinning up a "Welcome Home!" sign for mosquitoes. Consistent mowing and trimming of bushes and shrubs will help deter mosquitoes from lingering in your yard.

2. KEEP YOUR GUTTERS CLEAN - Cleaning the inside of your gutters is like cleaning the top of your refrigerator... You never know how gross it is up there until you climb up and start cleaning! Here is a simple equation to explain the problem that unclean gutters create: Clogged gutters = standing water. Standing water = mosquitoes. Picture Perfect Places will be happy to climb the ladder and unclog your gutters (and kill a few mosquitoes while we are at it, too)!

3. INSTALL A FRENCH DRAIN - Any yard without proper water drainage will, naturally, be a breeding ground for mosquitoes and their infinite number of eggs. Call Picture Perfect Places for a free estimate for french drain installation in your yard today!

4. GET RID OF THE JUNK - We know the struggle. Sometimes an unseen backyard becomes the "catch-all" area. Whether it be tires, trash, tree limbs, or old toys, these easily collect water and coerce mosquitoes to come and live. Picture Perfect Places will come and haul off all of your unwanted accumulation. Email or call me (Keith) for more details.

5. PLANT MOSQUITO-REPELLING PLANTS - A few of the most well-known plants to repel mosquitoes for the Jackson, MS zone include: Basil, Catnip, Mint, Lemon Grass, and Lemon Thyme. There has been some debate back and forth about the efficiency of plants in deterring mosquitoes, but the previous plants have many more benefits to offer as well. Basil, Mint, Lemon Grass and Lemon Thyme can all be used in cooking, and Catnip (which your cats will love!) and many of the herbs stated also contain butterfly nectar. I would send the mosquitoes in my yard packing in place of the occupancy of beautiful butterflies any day!

If you find yourself at your wits end this summer with the incessant buzzing and biting that mosquitoes bring, give Picture Perfect Places a call. We will work with you to help prevent those pesky mosquitoes!

-Keith-
601-594-9991