Why Does My Lawn Attract Mosquitos?

mosquitoes in a puddle in the lawn breeding

How you water your lawn has a large impact on your lawn’s health. And that’s not just because too little water can lead to dry patches. Watering your lawn too much can be just as bad–and maybe even worse. It can stunt root growth and cause lawn diseases. It also serves as an open invitation to mosquitoes. That’s right: overwatering your lawn attracts mosquitos.

How Does Overwatering Your Lawn Attract Mosquitos?

An oversaturated lawn is like a day at the beach for mosquitoes. The grass forms a thick layer of thatch, which protects them from sunlight, predators, and even pesticides. This allows mosquitoes to congregate in large numbers safely, at which point they start breeding, and rather than a few annoying buzzers in your ear you’re suddenly dealing with a whole swarm.  

Try not to overwater, and make sure your lawn has good drainage. This will give you a healthier yard overall, and one that’s less likely to harbor mosquitoes.

Avoid Squishy Soil

The easiest way to know if you’re watering your lawn too much is the “step test.” Wait a few hours after your next watering, then step on the grass in a few different places. Soil with adequate drainage should feel normal. If, however, the lawn feels squishy or soggy where you stepped, you should water less.

Watch Out for Weeds and Fungus

In a properly watered yard, mushrooms and weeds should be relatively rare because the grass absorbs most of the water. When you water excessively, weeds and fungi are able to get the water they need to grow and produce. And it’s a vicious cycle, too: weeds and fungi attract pests, which further degrade your enjoyment of your yard.

Runoff Strips Nutrients from Your Lawn

Soil has a saturation point. Once it reaches that point, it’s unable to absorb any more. But the excess water has nowhere to go–so it turns into runoff. This runoff siphons off important nutrients as it flows into the sidewalk and gutter. This leaves your lawn less healthy overall, and less able to fend off diseases, pests, weeds and mushrooms.

Prevent Mosquito Outbreaks by Saving Water

Unless you’re in the midst of a heatwave, and even then, your lawn probably doesn’t need daily watering. Experts say that the ideal amount is about 1 – 1 ½ inches per week. That breaks down to about thirty minutes of sprinklers three times per week. So, give it a shot and see how your lawn responds. Less water will save you money on your monthly bill, and it’ll help mosquitoes to buzz off!

Experienced and Trusted Local Mosquito Control

Let’s say you’ve done everything you possibly can to prevent them, but your lawn is attracting mosquitos anyway. Well, that’s Michigan for you. But don’t worry–the expert exterminators at Griffin Pest Solutions can help. Our technicians will find the source and eliminate all of your mosquitoes and their eggs, so you can go back to enjoying your yard. We’ve been serving MI since 1929–over 90 years!–and we’d be proud to serve you.

Contact us today for a free quote.

Everything You Need to Know About Mosquitoes This Summer

What you should know about mosquitoes this summer

Mosquitoes are a fact of life in Michigan during the summer time. If you live in Michigan during the summer, you are going to contend with mosquitoes at some point. There’s just no getting around that.

You can’t avoid mosquitoes, but you can protect yourself against them. The best way to do that is to understand how they work. We’re here to help with that. Here are our answers to the mosquito questions our customers ask us the most. If you want to make it through summer even relatively unscathed, here’s what you should know:
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When does mosquito season start?

When does mosquito season start?The primary factor that determines when mosquitoes reach peak activity is the outdoor air temperature. Air temperatures consistently around 50°F or higher are ideal for Michigan 60-odd mosquito species. When it gets warm enough, mosquitoes either awaken from hibernation or hatch from their eggs.

Usually, mosquitoes start emerging in Michigan around mid-May. On years when we experienced an early or abnormally warm spring, however, mosquitoes have emerged earlier than usual. Mosquitoes also reproduce throughout their season, so the earlier they get started, the more mosquitoes we have to worry about. As you’re no doubt aware, mosquito season is well underway in Michigan this year.

Why are mosquitoes so bad in the summer?

Heat affects how quickly mosquitoes grow at every stage of their life cycle. External temperatures determine the incubation period of mosquito eggs. The hotter it is outside, the faster mosquito eggs hatch. Hot weather allows mosquitoes to remain active longer, so they eat more and grow faster.

Mosquitoes that grow faster reach reproductive maturity faster and lay eggs faster… you see where this is going. Michigan’s summers tend to be humid as well as hot, which is even better for mosquitoes. Michigan’s mosquitoes rely on humidity to stay hydrated while they hunt. They also lay their eggs in sources of standing water. Mosquitoes populations are always highest during summer, but they’re particularly huge during wet summers. Expect more mosquito activity than usual the day after a rainstorm.

Where are mosquitoes most active?

Where are mosquitoes most active?Although they can live just about anywhere, mosquitoes prefer to live near water. Mosquitoes require a water source to reproduce and lay their eggs. Most mosquitoes prefer stagnant, standing sources of water like swamps or bogs. They’re not picky, however, and they don’t need much water either. Virtually any quantity of stagnant water is sufficient for a mosquito to lay eggs in.

Mosquitoes also prefer living in dark, damp areas. Like any living thing, mosquitoes can become dehydrated and die. Though they thrive in heat, sunlight overheat and dehydrate too quickly. Living in dark, damp areas allows mosquitoes to stay active longer and reproduce more frequently. The ideal mosquito hot spot is a still pool of water located in a relatively heavily-forested area. If you live near water and/or sources of thick vegetation, expect a heavy mosquito presence near your home.

When are mosquitoes most active?

Mosquitoes are active all the time, but they’re most active at dawn, dusk, or nighttime. Mosquitoes don’t hunt quite as aggressively during the middle of the day because they don’t want to dry out in the hot summer sun. When the sun isn’t beating down at full strength, mosquitoes feel much more comfortable. They’ll stay out hunting longer and range much further from their usual, dark and humid haunts.

Keep in mind, however: mosquitoes are always active somewhere, even if you can’t see them out in the open. If mosquitoes can keep cool and hydrated enough to manage it, they’ll happily hunt and swarm all day. If you’ll be near a shady forest, lake, or swamp, prepare for mosquitoes no matter what time it is.

How do I keep mosquitoes away from my home?

How do I keep mosquitoes away from my home?Mosquitoes can hunt anywhere, but they only live where they have a reliable source of water. If you can keep them from getting that water, you won’t have to deal with mosquitoes reproducing and laying eggs near your home.

Look for and clean up any sources of stagnant, standing water both inside and outside your home. Outside your home, fix leaking faucets, hoses, and other plumbing fixtures. Look for places where puddles may naturally form on your lawn after rain or while you’re sprinkling. Remember: mosquitoes don’t need much water at all. Even tiny puddles left behind in drainage ditches, planters, storm drains, or plant baskets provide more than enough. Inside, make sure your sump pump works, fix plumbing leaks, and consider investing in a dehumidifier.

How do I keep mosquitoes away while I’m outside?

Apply bug spray whenever you’re going to spend time outside, especially in areas where mosquitoes may be prevalent. Apply the spray as often as its label specifies to any uncovered areas of your body except your face. If you’re going to spend time in an area where mosquitoes will be prevalent, wear long clothing. Cover vulnerable areas such as your armpits, knees, elbows, and ankles as much as possible.

Avoid spending an extended period of time outdoors after dark, especially in mosquito-prone areas. If you’re camping or participating in a similar outdoor activity, bring appropriate mosquito barriers. Make sure you have enough bug spray at all times, and continue to apply it regularly. Sleep and, if possible, eat under a mosquito net. Keep your campsite clean and clutter-free, and make sure there’s no standing water nearby.

 

If the mosquitoes around your home have become intolerable, don’t hesitate to give Griffin a call. We’ll help keep the bloodsuckers away so you don’t have to be afraid to walk outside your own home.