Only in Canada can you expect to get snow in the first half of the month and hot, sticky weather by May 24 weekend! We don’t doubt that you found out over the holiday that even lower temperatures couldn’t keep mosquitoes from waiting in the wings.

If your goal is to spend more time outdoors this spring and summer, then you need a plan to keep mosquitoes and other biting pests at bay. Here are a few tips to take to heart for a pest-free patio this season.

Cold Doesn’t Kill Your Mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are resilient, which is why in many places of the world they are a problem year-round. In order for the cold to kill mosquitoes, the temperature needs to dip below 10 degrees Celsius. Your cold snap also has to last for a bit in order to really make a dent in your mosquito population.

That’s why even with temperature fluctuations, it’s essential to plan ahead for the mosquitoes you’ll encounter outdoors this summer.

Create a Pest-Free Oasis

You can change a few simple things in your outdoor patio area to keep mosquitoes and other pests to a minimum, allowing you to enjoy the outdoors. Here are five easy ways you can count on reduced mosquito population in your outdoor living space:

• Reduce moisture
• Keep things tidy
• Choose the right plants
• Maximise airflow
• Mist them out

Reduce Moisture

If there’s one thing that calls to mosquitoes and pests everywhere, it’s water. Mosquitoes need water to reproduce, so eliminating even just a cap full of water around your home is going to help. Work to eliminate standing water in places it commonly collects and mosquitoes are attracted to, such as:

• Leaky outdoor faucets
• Birdbaths
• Clutter around the yard that can collect water, such as children’s toys
• Gutters should be clean and direct water away from the house
• Fill in holes or uneven spots in the lawn where water can collect

Keep It Tidy

You should also try to keep your outdoor spaces nice and tidy, especially areas on the patio and around the grill. Pests are attracted to food crumbs and empty glasses. If you leave things like this out, then you’ll attract flies, ants, and other biting pests to your relaxing patio area.

Choose the Right Plants

Many people love to make their outdoor living spaces come alive with greenery but if you want to deter pests from making a home in your home, then you need to be careful about the plants you choose.

Mosquitoes, much like people, love a shady place to cool off. The undersides of leaves are the perfect location for pests to hide, as are dense ground covers. You should choose insect-repelling plants for your gardens such as bee balm, lemon verbena, rosemary, pennyroyal, and mint. Also, the more butterflies and hummingbirds you can attract, the better!

Maximise Airflow

Make sure you have things properly spaced on your outdoor patio to encourage airflow. This can have a big impact on pest problems that can creep up since less moisture will attract fewer bugs. Think about installing a fan on your porch or covered patio.

Mist Them Out

 

If you want to get a real jumpstart on mosquito prevention, then a licensed pest control expert is just the ticket. Toronto pest control professionals like Greenleaf can treat your patio and home with long-lasting repellants that help to keep pests away so you can enjoy the summer sun.

We hope you enjoy your outdoor patio this year by keeping pests at bay with these easy tips!

 

About the Author:

Daniel Mackie, co-owner of Greenleaf Pest Control, is a Toronto pest control expert and a regular guest on HGTV. He is renowned in the industry as an innovator of safe, effective pest control solutions. Mackie and business partner Sandy Costa were the first pest control professionals in Canada to use detection dogs and thermal remediation for the successful eradication of bed bugs. In his free time, he is an avid gardener.