*This article was written in part with Mosquito Squad. All opinions are my own.
Anyone that knows my girls know that they are not a fan of bugs or insects in any shape or form.
Even in the happiest place on earth, my girls found a way to have bugs sideline their fun.
See during one of recent trips to Disney, we were eating breakfast outdoors on the patio right outside the resort pool area. While eating Mickey Mouse waffles, a bumble bee decided to make itself known. Both my girls screamed something fierce. Plus, they ran for the hills or the closest door!
Disney World’s Mickey Mouse waffles, anyone??
I managed to calm them and was about to take them back to our table. This is when a dragon fly flew right in their path. And the screaming and running picked up once again. Long story short, we finished our breakfast indoors after that display.
But see we can’t always curb our outdoor play here. Especially in the warmer months in our own neighborhood, specifically our own backyard. See finally this past week, spring has found us in our local neighborhood. So outdoor and backyard play has taken hold once again this year. I mean who doesn’t love outdoor play. And this again is the time of the year I love the best in our neighborhood for this.
But still bugs and mosquitos come with this outdoor play. So that is why I have brushed up on ways to help with bugs, specifically mosquitos in our own backyard.
Do you need mosquito help in your own backyard, too?
Then read on now to find out how to protect your backyard from mosquitos.
6 Ways to Mosquito Proof Your Backyard
1. Keep Water at Bay.
During warmer weather, water has a way of pooling or collecting in some areas or containers. In this way, you will want to tip over anything that may hold or collect water. These may include bird baths, play sets with tire swings and tree houses, too.
2. Get rid of any older foliage.
See any older planting yard materials are a haven for mosquitos to inhibit and even breed, too. These include clippings, leaves and trash. But do plant plants, such as garlic or marigolds that mosquitos at bay.
3. Don’t use tarps if you can help it.
Tarps help to cover certain items in the winter time to keep safe from the elements. But in the warmer weather, these can catch water, if not stretched taut. So, if possible don’t use during the warmer months.
4. Take care of your home and you, too.
Proper maintenance of your home can help keep mosquitos at bay. This includes cleaning out gutters, keeping lawn cut, as well as weed free. Plus, before even heading outdoors, use tree oil. Why? Because tree oil is healthy and healing for humans. But for insects is quite toxic. So, it helps reduce getting bit by mosquitos. Plus even if you do get bit, it helps provide immediate relief.
5. Work with your neighbors.
Whatever precautions you take, try to discuss with your neighbors. In this way, you keep them in the loop, but hopefully they can do similar, as well.
6. Treat your yard.
When in doubt, use professional grade mosquito treatments for your home and yard area. See using a barrier treatment at home truly reduces the need for using DEET containing bug spray on both humans and pets, too.
There you have it some much needed mosquito and bug relief for your backyard.
Plus win big now!
Thanks to Mosquito Squad, you can now enter the #ProtectMySquad contest through Friday, May 18.
All you have to do is post a photo or video to their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or contest landing page using the hashtag #protectmysquad, tagging Mosquito squad on the respective platform and share your zip code, too.
[clickToTweet tweet=”@mosquitosquadco + @jcamerontv = #SquadGoals. Want to join in the fun? Post a photo with your #squad to enter for a chance to win a FREE yard treatment package this season. Check out how here now! #ad” quote=”@mosquitosquadco + @jcamerontv = #SquadGoals. Want to join in the fun? Post a photo with your #squad to enter for a chance to win a FREE yard treatment package this season. Check out how here now! #ad” theme=”style1″]
Once entries close, Mosquito Squad will randomly select 100 winners from across the country and announce them on May 25th on social media. Winners will receive a full season of America’s #1 mosquito elimination solution – the original Mosquito Squad Protective Barrier Treatment.
*Additional contest details, full terms and conditions, as well as real time entries can be found HERE.
**This post also has been linked up to FTSF with Kenya and Kristi for this week’s prompt, “My favorite thing about my neighborhood is…”
How do you mosquito poof your yard?
Now, tell me in the comments…
Meredith Spidel says
Ugh! The mosquitos were SO awful last summer. Thanks for these smart tips, Janine!
Janine says
My pleasure and happy to help with mosquitos this summer for you, too!
William Holland says
All great suggestions! We don’t have much of a mosquito problem here in Washington unless we forget and leave standing water around for too long….it only takes a few days of forgetfulness to have a problem with those little buggers.
Happy Weekend, Janine!
Janine says
Totally here you on this and definitely can be an issue here, too if that happens. Happy Weekend back at you, too Bill!!
Jen says
I didn’t know about marigold’s and mosquitoes! I need to plant some. Thanks for the heads up on this and other repelling tips 🙂
Janine says
My pleasure and I know marigolds definitely was a surprise to me when I started looking into this, too!
Kenya G. Johnson says
We use bad bad chemicals. We used to have someone come and spray monthy but my husband did some research and bought everything he needed to do it himself. I can enjoy sitting outside of our house now.
Janine says
Glad you can sit outside again now, too without fear of mosquitoes being an issue.
Stacey Kaplan - Independent Scentsy Consultant says
When I lived in South Florida we had someone spraying as well, Kenya. I loved the fact it kept them away but hated breathing in all those toxic chemicals.
Kristi Campbell says
We have a service that comes out. I hate mosquitos almost as much as I hate ticks. I mean, I hate them, but I hate ticks more because they STAY IN YOUR SKIN, you know?
Janine says
I know and completely agree Kristi on both with you!!!
clark says
timely subject matter… not so much mosquitoes as gnats (in the early evening) and horseflies in the daytime. one is annoying, the other, rather painful! lol man, horseflies can be vicious. I have learned that their preferred habitat is in the zone between full sun and shade… they don’t seem to like direct sunlight
the gnats though they seem to be convinceable if the right repellant is employed.
have a good not-snowing-weekend!
Janine says
Clark, you know me so well, especially that last line. Because as much as I am not a fan of mosquitos, I am even more so not a fan of that “s” word! LOL 😉
Pat B says
I did a double take when I saw the Silver Creek Falls sign. You’ll need to read my post to see why. LOL
Fortunately, we have not had a lot of mosquitos here on our property, but when I go where there are lots of them, I quickly take refuge. They really like me, as do no-see-ums. The no-see-ums have the knack of biting a person and it isn’t until the next day the person discovers a quarter-size red swelling that doesn’t disappear until a week or so later. They find any bare skin, no matter how small the area, to target.
I have tea tree oil for other things but not as a repellent. Thank you for the tip!
Janine says
Pat, I totally get it now and you definitely had me intrigued if nothing else by your comments about the falls sign 🙂 That said happy to share this and a few more tips here still!
Tamara says
We really need to do it! New England is AWFUL for mosquitoes and we live in the middle of the woods near standing water. And we can’t really do much about the woods and the water, but we can about the bugs!
Janine says
Tamara, I truly hope you can do something soon and I agree at least when can indeed do something about the bugs if nothing else!
Stacey Kaplan - Independent Scentsy Consultant says
I never knew marigolds kept those nasty little flying things away. I got to the point, I stopped going outside because I was tired of being a pincushion, plus they carry all sorts of nasty diseases. These are amazing tips! Thanks so much!
Janine says
Happy to share and thank you also for sharing with me, too Stacey! 🙂
Diane Roark says
Janine,
Now, is the time to get ready for the mosquitos. Unfortunately, they are coming! I cannot wait to try rubbing a dab of tea tree oil on this summer. I hope it works. We bought a huge (like 10 wick or so) candle that is supposed to get rid of mosquitoes but it takes so much more to fight them. Thank you for all the other ideas.
HAVE A GREAT WEEK!
Diane
Janine says
Happy to share the other ideas with you, too. And have a great week ahead, as well now Diane 🙂
Seana Turner says
My husband is a mosquito magnet. I can always tell when dusk arrives because he starts swatting his legs. We are having a big, outdoor event in September so I will keep these tips in mind! Thanks for sharing:)
Janine says
Happy to share and glad you can hopefully use for your upcoming event, too Seana 🙂
Dana says
I didn’t know tea tree oil is helpful for bug bites – good to know! My son is always the one who gets bitten, and I’ve already seen a few mosquitoes out this spring.
Janine says
Happy to share with you about tea trees oil and hope it can indeed help your son, to with the mosquitos this spring now.
AnnMarie John says
We’re currently redoing our backyard, cutting down trees etc, and one of the things we do is make sure that there is no stagnant water. While we don’t really have a mosquito problem, it’s best safe than sorry, especially since they’re disease carriers. There are also special torches that you can use that can keep them at bay.
Janine says
Couldn’t agree more and thanks also for that further tip, too! 🙂