Tips for Keeping Mosquitoes at Bay

Many Florida residents move here to enjoy a beautiful waterfront view from their own backyard. Or, even if you choose a home further inland, Tampa and St. Petersburg neighborhoods are typically not too far from the ocean or lakes where you can swim or get a tan. However, with all of this beautiful water comes the many pests that are attracted to its habitat. The worst and most common offender is the mosquito.

Mosquitoes are attracted to standing water which means they are common on lakefront properties or houses with pools. They are a nuisance to most Florida home and business owners throughout the summer. Plus, with the host of viruses that they carry, mosquitoes are very dangerous to you, your family, and your pets. 

FloriFence wants you to enjoy your backyard once we’ve installed a new privacy fence, but you can’t do that with mosquitoes. Here are our top four tips for keeping them away in the summertime: 

• Remove any standing water from outdoor areas. Mosquitoes need standing water to lay their eggs, so it’s best to dump out rainwater and keep a cover on your pool to prevent mosquito populations from growing. 

• Wear the right lotion. Mosquitoes are often attracted to moisturizers, lotion, and sunscreen that contain lactic acid or alpha hydroxy acids. Read the labels before wearing your favorite moisturizer outside, and be sure to load up on bug repellant in addition to your sunscreen or lotion. 

• Plant bug repellant herbs. If you’re interested in gardening, herbs like lavender, basil, rosemary, and citronella will help deter mosquitoes from your yard.

• Hang a bat house on your fence. You may think that bats would be unwanted pests in your home. However, these nocturnal creatures can eat up to 500 mosquitoes in an hour. If you hang a bat house on your new fencing, you’re less likely to find them in your house and more likely to see them in your yard providing free pest control. 

FloriFence is here to make your entire backyard experience an enjoyable one. To learn more about our services, contact us or explore more on the blog.