Mosquitoes are a pest that no one likes to deal with, especially when you are trying to enjoy your time outside. They dole out painful, itchy bites, and those bites can also come with harmful diseases with undesirable side effects, such as West Nile virus or Eastern Equine Encephalitis.

These pesky insects can ruin a fun time outside pretty quickly, so how can you get rid of them to be able to enjoy your outdoor living space? Here are some of our tips to get rid of mosquitoes in Des Moines, West Des Moines, Ankeny, and other cities in central Iowa.

1. Use our mosquito control service.

A mosquito biting a person's arm near Des Moines, IA.

Starting in late April to early May, we begin applying routine mosquito control treatments. These are applied every 5-6 weeks for a total of four treatments during mosquito season. Our teams use a backpack fogger to distribute the product. We spray around the entire perimeter of your home or business, as well as any shaded or dark landscaped areas. If you have any standing water or bodies of water on your property, we will cover those areas as well.

Need extra treatments? Talk to our pest control professionals about scheduling more.

2. Have us install plants that naturally repel mosquitoes.

Another way to repel mosquitoes is to install plants in your landscaping and around your building that naturally deter them. As an added bonus, many of these plants are incredibly beautiful and/or give off a pleasant scent for humans, such as:

  • Lavender
  • Marigolds
  • Citronella
  • Rosemary
  • Geraniums
  • Mint
  • Sage

Lavender, for example, emits a great smell for humans, but the smell can, in some cases, block a mosquito's ability to smell. Citronella is a commonly known repellent and is used for candles that give off that smell. Its lemony scent repels mosquitoes easily. Our landscape designers can come up with a way to integrate these plants into your planting beds.

3. Remove any conditions or environments that attract them.

Stagnant water spawning mosquitoes near West Des Moines, IA.

An easy way to get rid of mosquitoes is to simply remove the conditions that attracted them to your residential or commercial property in the first place. Mosquitoes love dark, wet environments and breed in any areas of standing water. The first thing to do is to get rid of any standing water on your property if you can. Pour out any containers that may have water in them, or if you have a drainage issue in your lawn, have us do some grading work to redirect water flow.

You can also find them hiding in thick, leafy areas in your landscape beds. Consider having your plants trimmed back so that there are not as many dark and leafy sections within the landscaping.

Do you need help getting rid of mosquitoes in your yard? Give us a call to schedule treatment.

In West Des Moines, Des Moines, Ankeny, and the surrounding cities of central Iowa, we provide mosquito control treatments. If you need help getting rid of these pests in your yard, then call us today at (515) 289-2020 to schedule your first treatment!