Mosquito Control Guide
How barrier treatments work, how often they're needed, and how to stop mosquitoes from breeding in your own yard.
Mosquitoes can make a yard unusable on summer evenings, and they can carry diseases like West Nile virus. Many lawn care companies now offer mosquito control alongside lawn treatments, since the same technicians are already on the property.
Most programs use barrier treatments. A technician applies product to the shady, humid spots where adult mosquitoes rest during the day: under shrubs, along fences, beneath decks and in dense plantings. They also look for standing water where mosquitoes breed.
What it includes
- Barrier treatments to shrubs and resting areas
- Treatments every three to four weeks in season
- Standing water inspection
- Larvicide for water that can't be drained
- Special event treatments before parties
- Tick control in many programs
- Advice on removing breeding sites
- Re-service if mosquitoes return between visits
How the service works
Walk the yard
The technician finds resting areas and breeding sites like clogged gutters, buckets and low spots.
Treat
Barrier treatments go on the foliage and shady areas where mosquitoes rest.
Remove breeding sites
Standing water is dumped or treated, and you get tips to keep it from coming back.
Repeat
Treatments repeat through the season, since each one lasts a few weeks.
Mosquito season
In the North and Midwest, mosquito season usually runs from late spring through the first hard frost, roughly May through September.
In the South, the season starts earlier and lasts longer, often from March into November along the Gulf Coast. Programs there typically include more visits.
Questions to ask a lawn care company
- How often will you treat, and for how many months?
- What products do you use, and are they safe around pets?
- Do you treat for ticks too?
- What happens if mosquitoes come back between visits?
Common questions
How long does a mosquito treatment last?
Most barrier treatments last about three to four weeks, depending on rain and weather. That's why programs schedule regular visits through the season.
Will mosquito treatments harm bees?
Responsible technicians avoid spraying flowering plants and focus on shady resting areas. Ask your company how they protect pollinators.
Can I get a one-time treatment for a party?
Many companies offer special event treatments applied a day or two before an outdoor gathering.
What can I do myself to reduce mosquitoes?
Empty anything that holds water at least once a week: buckets, toys, plant saucers, birdbaths and clogged gutters. Mosquitoes can breed in a bottle cap of water.
Know a lawn care company doing great work?
We're always looking for local companies to celebrate. Lawn care companies can reach out to be featured, too.