8 Reasons Your Backyard Is Infested With Mosquitoes

No one wants a yard that’s infested with mosquitoes. These tiny bugs can wreak havoc on your skin, with one mosquito biting you multiple times and causing painful, itchy bumps. There’s no limit to how many times a single mosquito can bite you, so even just having one in your yard can be a nuisance. But having an infestation can make it nearly impossible to be outdoors without feeling like you’re getting eaten alive.

If you’ve noticed many mosquitoes in your yard and think it’s becoming an issue, there are solutions you can consider. Keep reading to learn about eight common reasons your backyard is infested with mosquitoes — and how you can address the issue.

1. There’s Standing Water in Your Yard

Standing water is one of the top mosquito lures, as mosquito larvae and pupae reside in water with no flow. In fact, if you have standing water in your yard, mosquitoes might lay their eggs in the water and eventually take over your yard as the eggs hatch. Things like bird baths and pools might attract more mosquitoes into your environment. 

Solution

Thankfully, you don’t have to get rid of your gorgeous underground pool or beloved bird bath to keep the mosquitoes away. Typically, chlorine in pool water will make your pool less attractive, and agitating your bird bath water will likely deter mosquitoes.

As for other standing water in your yard, be sure to avoid overwatering your plants, clean out your gutters, soak up rainwater that’s piled on yard equipment or decor, and consider aerating your lawn.

2. You Have Wood Piles in Your Yard

Many people have wood piles in their yard for fires and other purposes. However, if not stacked or protected properly, these wood piles can attract pests like rodents, mosquitoes, and other critters. Mosquitoes love wood piles because they offer them a place to hide and escape the rain, sunlight, and other threats. 

Solution

While the obvious solution to this issue is to get rid of your wood pile, this isn’t always necessary. In fact, you can easily ensure mosquitoes don’t infest your wood pile by covering it with a tarp. Just make sure you pull it tight enough that it doesn’t collect rainwater, creating the issue above of stagnant water.

3. Your Yard Contains Excessive Overgrowth

Excessive overgrowth of weeds, shrubs, brush, and grass can attract mosquitoes for the same reasons as wood piles: mosquitoes love to seek shelter in tall grass and overgrown shrubbery. Vegetation — especially when it’s not properly maintained — provides an excellent hiding spot for the pest to seek shade.

Solution

You don’t need to eliminate all your beautiful vegetation to keep the mosquitoes at bay. Just ensure you keep your lawn properly mowed, regularly weed your garden, trim your shrubs, and clean any debris that accumulates in your garden. If you keep your yard well-maintained, you shouldn’t run into many issues.

4. Your Gutters Are Dirty

Dirty gutters are a prime suspect for mosquito infestations, as they can collect dirt, debris, twigs, leaves, and water. Mosquitoes thrive in this environment, as decaying leaves actually provide them with the necessary nutrients for growth. Additionally, as mentioned previously, standing water is the perfect place for their eggs, larvae, and pupae to thrive. 

Solution

Cleaning your gutters regularly is an easy fix to this problem. If you’ve recently had a bad storm, check that your gutters didn’t collect too much debris and water. When you notice your gutters overflowing with gunk, use a gutter scoop to remove the buildup before mosquitoes make it their new home.

5. You’re Overwatering Your Plants

Overwatering your plants, grass, and garden can lead to — you guessed it — standing water. As mentioned above, this stagnant water attracts mosquitoes and offers a place for them to lay their eggs. You’ll likely notice more mosquitoes in your yard if you have a habit of overwatering your vegetation to the point of it pooling next to your plants.

Solution

Solving this particular issue is simple: don’t overwater your plants. Give your plants as much water as they need and nothing more. If you notice any water is collecting around your garden or in your potted plants, cut back on the amount you’re feeding them. And if it’s been particularly rainy, check with the soil to understand whether you really need to water the plants again. They might already have enough moisture from the weather.

6. You Left Food Out

Many homeowners enjoy eating or hosting meals outdoors in their yards, but leaving food out for extended periods of time can attract mosquitoes. These tiny, pesky bugs especially love fruits, vegetables, and leftovers that have been sitting out. Additionally, mosquitoes like nectar, so anything sugary (for example, juice, honey, jam, etc.) can be a prime subject for a mosquito’s feast.

Solution

You shouldn’t have to avoid outdoor meals just because of mosquitoes. If you’re eating outside and want to avoid getting eaten yourself, consider setting up fans to deter them for the time being. This will also help keep other bugs, like flies and gnats, away. 

Additionally, clean up your food as soon as you’re finished. If you have a garbage bag or can outside for your guests to toss their trash, place it away from your space so it doesn’t attract mosquitoes near you.

7. Your Grass Is Too High or Has Too Much Thatch

Thatch is a buildup of both living and dead organic plant matter. This is a common issue in lawn care and attracts many types of bugs. In fact, it can easily become a breeding ground for mosquitoes, as the buildup is often humid and dense. Similarly to overgrown shrubs and grass, thatch also protects mosquitoes from the sun.

Additionally, as mentioned earlier, overgrown grass is another safe space for mosquitoes to hide. If you don’t cut your grass regularly, you’ll likely experience more mosquitoes in your yard.

Solution

You can remove thatch from your lawn by raking, applying enzymes and microbes to encourage decomposition, and aerating your lawn (which will also help prevent the issue). The less thatch on your lawn — and the better-maintained it is overall — the fewer bugs you will encounter.

Another obvious solution is to ensure you mow your lawn at least once a week, perhaps more depending on the lawn.

8. Your AC, Hose, or Other Water Sources Are Leaking

During the warmer months, many people will install window AC units. If you’re one of those people, you likely know they sometimes have a tendency to leak water. Additionally, water sources like hoses or sprinklers can often leak, causing a buildup of hot, standing water — which, by now, you know, is a mosquito’s dream. 

Solution

As soon as you notice water leaking from anywhere in your yard, address the issue so you don’t end up attracting mosquitoes to your outdoor sanctuary.

Bottom Line

Mosquitoes can carry serious diseases like Zika virus, Chikungunya virus, dengue, and malaria in many areas of the world. While mosquito bites are usually harmless and mildly irritating, it’s best to prevent infestations from occurring in your yard. Relaxing outside shouldn’t come with a nuisance of countless itchy bites and the worry of possible infections. Using the above advice, eliminate the potential mosquito attractants from your yard to enjoy a mosquito-free environment.