Summertime Mosquito and Tick Control and Prevention

Being able to entertain and hang out in our outdoor spaces is the main reason we put so much time, effort, and money into our landscapes. However, your plans could come to a screeching halt if your yard is infested with mosquitoes and ticks.

Here in Delaware, the most common ticks are the Black-legged ticks, or deer ticks, and lone star ticks. Ticks are tiny creatures that are very hard to see. They dwell in dark shady places like in the grass under trees, long grass, or overgrown areas where they lie in wait for an animal or unfortunate human to pass by. Ticks are brown, black, reddish-brown, or yellowish in color and can bite in any stage of their life cycles. Ticks prefer the blood of deer and humans over any other mammal and are known to be hosts to diseases such as Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and Lyme Disease.

Not only are they annoying but Mosquitoes can carry deadly diseases such as West Nile and the Zika virus. In order to get the most out of your lawn and landscape this year, follow these helpful tips on controlling and preventing mosquitoes and ticks.

Eliminate Water Sources

When it comes to mosquitoes, it should be well known that they love wet, damp areas like swamps. But a female mosquito only needs to find a tablespoon of standing water to lay her eggs in. After a shower, our yards could be turned into ideal mosquito breeding areas if you don’t take preventative action quickly. After it rains, go around your yard and dump all anything that is retaining water. This could be rain gutters, flower pots, patio furniture, toys, tarps, puddles, old tires, and birdbaths.

Clean Your Water Features

Don’t worry, you don’t have to give up your beautiful water features to win the war on mosquitoes.

Just be sure to follow these tips to prevent your water features from becoming nurseries for mosquitoes.

• Change water in birdbaths once a week.
• Chlorinate and maintain pools regularly.
• Add fish in ponds to eat mosquito larvae.
• Keep water in motion with a pump or agitator.

Protect Yourself With Mosquito Repellants

Before you head outdoors or on that camping trip, be sure to pack some mosquito repellant. Repellants work exceptionally well at masking the scents that mosquitoes use to hunt us down. Be sure to read the label and only get products recommended by the CDC and contain the chemicals DEET, Picaridin, or the oil of lemon eucalyptus.

Uninviting Ticks From Your Yard

If you or your children come in with a tick on them, the chances are you have unknowingly invited them into your yard. Ticks latching onto humans is not very common but if your yard makes the ideal home for them, they will move in.

Mow Grass Regularly

Ticks live in tall grass where they can easily jump and latch onto unsuspecting hosts. Taller grass provides cooling shade from the harsh summer sun. By keeping your grass mowed regularly you can make sure your yard is uninhabitable to ticks.

Call the Tick and Mosquito Experts at Delaware Valley Turf

Don’t let ticks and mosquitoes ruin your outdoor plans this summer. Call the pros at Delaware Valley Turf. Our tick and mosquito program is designed to keep annoying pests out of your yard year-round so you can enjoy it the way it was meant to.

Call today at 610-328-4170 or leave a message here. Take a look at our beneficial lawn care programs for residential and commercial customers and follow us on Facebook for all the latest news and updates. Check out our monthly blog for more helpful lawn care tips and tricks.