How to Keep Mosquitoes Away from Your Patio

With warmer weather on its way, you are likely spending more time outside on your deck or patio. It’s a great place to enjoy the sunshine and flowers in the sanctuary of your own backyard. Whether you are lounging outdoors to read a book or entertaining friends, your patio is a great place to both celebrate and relax. But, no matter who you invite to join you, there’s always one unwanted guest that crashes a patio party: the mosquito!

We don’t want these biting pests to ruin your time relaxing or entertaining outdoors, so here are our recommendations on how to get rid of mosquitoes on your patio.

How to Keep Mosquitoes Away From Your Patio

Set up fans

Mosquitoes are not strong flyers, so something as simple as plugging in a few oscillating fans can help blow the bugs away. As an added bonus, the moving air will feel nice and refreshing for your guests on a warm day.

Try citronella candles or tiki torches

Large mosquito traps and repellent lamps can be conspicuous and ruin the mood of a classy patio party, so you can instead try citronella candles or tiki torches to add to the ambience. Create an island oasis vibe, by arranging tiki torches filled with citronella fuel around your patio. However, be aware that these solutions are only effective short-term and sometimes do not work at all. In a recent study by New Mexico State University citronella candles failed to effectively ward off mosquitoes.

Consider your lighting

It’s no secret that bugs are attracted to light sources. However, some lights are more enticing than others. White bulbs will act as a beacon, but if you change to yellow lights, fewer pests will be drawn in.

Invite bats to the party

Bats are a natural predator of mosquitoes and other insects, so having them around can help to lower pest populations. These animals are also great for local ecosystems because they pollinate plants. Send out the “bat signal” by installing a bat house, which is similar to a bird house. You can make your own or buy one from a conservation organization or an outdoor store.

Evict mosquitoes from your backyard

You want to make your backyard inviting for bats, but not for mosquitoes. Follow our everyday tips to fight the bite on your property, such as surveying your yard for possible breeding sites and locations where mosquitoes harbor. You’ll want to eliminate standing water, and remove excess grass, leaves, firewood, and clippings from yards. You can also use mosquito dunks in permanent water fixtures like rain barrels or bird baths.

Offer insect repellent for guests

If mosquitoes are still lingering around after these preemptive measures, offer your guests mosquito repellents. Spray repellents will gradually lose their effectiveness as time lapses, and during application they can leave guests in a cloud of fog. Repellent wipes or lotions are another option, allowing you to apply the product onto skin without spreading it through the air. It’s important to note that not all repellents are created equal and some may not even remain effective past half an hour.

Call in the professionals

If you are not a fan of lathering DEET and repellents onto your skin or are desiring more long-term effectiveness, hire the pros to take care of the mosquitoes. Mosquito Squad of Greater Washington DC to find out more about our barrier treatment solutions that will keep mosquitoes away for up to 21 days. You can sign up for our seasonal package, or simply schedule a one-time event mist right before your outdoor gathering.

We’re here to help you keep the party crashers away so you can reclaim your patio for spring and summer fun!