10 Ways to keep mosquitoes off your porch or deck
Who wants to step out on their lovely porch or deck to grill a few steaks only to be swarmed by mosquitoes? Here’s our list to help you spend more time outside on your beautiful deck this summer – without pesky mosquitoes!
1. Empty Standing Water
The most effective way to control mosquitoes is to eliminate or treat the standing water. Stagnant water is where mosquitoes lay their eggs and their larvae live and grow. Fixing these areas is going to be the most long term solution for your home.
- Make sure all containers (from gutters to children’s toys) are empty of water.
- Try to fix any locations where water regularly collects, so that it does drain properly.
2. Fix under deck drainage with Sand or a French Drain
Sometimes the area under your deck can provide a perfect mosquito breeding habitat. The best solution for that is to put sand down where puddles regularly form. This will help to keep the mosquitoes from being able to lay eggs. Now, if sand alone does not solve the problem, then you may have into install a French drain to make sure under your deck is dry.
3. Put Mosquito Dunks in any standing water
Mosquito dunks are available at most home repair stores and online. These are for places on your deck with standing water that you can’t empty, like a bird bath or water feature. They last up to 30 days and are non-toxic.
4. Clean out your gutters
Your gutters can be another source of standing water that you don’t even see on a daily basis. Clean them out so that they can drain properly.
5. Turn on or Bring out the Fan
Mosquitoes can’t fly in over 2 mph winds, so if you can set up a oscillating fan to cover the area that will help to keep the buggers away.
6. Install potted Mosquito Repellent Plants
Many plants are mosquito repellent and often have many benefits (like herb or scent) beyond repelling insects. These include Citronella, Mint, Rosemary, Lemon Grass and more. Make sure to have you pots to drain them properly, and you aren’t creating extra standing water.
7. Trim the Grass and Bushes
Long grass or thick bushes can provide extra water for mosquitoes to lay eggs and develop. Keeping the bushes and plants around the deck or porch well trimmed can help remove areas for insects to find water or breed.
8. Burn Mosquito Repellent Incense
Mosquito repellent Incense is said to be more productive when it comes to keeping your deck or porch bug free because the mosquitoes really dislike the smoke. There is an Amazon brand that is seems to be very popular.
9. Put in Bird and Bat houses
Invite in animals that will eat your mosquito problem. Birds and Bats are known to eat mosquitoes – installing bird houses for them is a great way to help make your yard more fun and add some nature.
10. Pull out the DEET
Worst case scenario: you can always pull out the DEET repellent. It is the most effective solution if all of the above options fail.
Let us know if you have any other recommendations on how to keep the little buggers away from your decking. Below in the comments.