Water features are a great addition to your lawn as it brings tranquility and provides a quiet and meditative space for you. However, it also attracts mosquitoes and other bugs that may distract you from an otherwise calming space. Most bugs are attracted to water features that hold shallow, stagnant water. These bugs are not only a nuisance, but they also sometimes carry diseases that may harm you and your pets.

Ensuring your water features are bug-free is important and easier than you think. Tactics like water circulation, promoting natural predators, and pest control will help you keep bugs away from you and your family.

Circulating Water Prevents Mosquitoes From Reproducing

The best way to keep mosquitoes away from your water feature is to prevent them from reproducing. Mosquitoes and bugs love stagnant and shallow water where they can breed and lay eggs. It provides the best habitat for larvae, as they need to regularly break the water service in order to breathe. Circulating water makes it difficult for mosquito larvae to do so.

Water bubblers, waterfalls, and fountains reduce stagnation and will help keep mosquitoes at bay. Mosquitoes don't lay eggs in moving water, so by installing these water features that circulate water, you prevent them from breeding and producing more pesky mosquitoes.

Keeping your water moving will also aerate it. This helps decrease algae that serves as protection for mosquitoes against predators.

Deep Water Features Are Inhospitable For Mosquito Larvae

Mosquito larvae also thrive in shallow water because it gives them protection from predators. They like to stay in shallow water for about 4 to 14 days, depending on the temperature.

When planning for the installation of your water feature, make sure the depth of the water is above 24 inches. This will ensure that your water feature is inhospitable for mosquitoes. The Iowa State University also recommends removing organic matter and excess vegetation at the edge of water features because these provide protection from predators and are food sources for larvae.

Promote Natural Predators Around Your Water Features

Dragonfly on a pink flower in a water feature near Pleasant Hill, IA.

Sometimes, it is best to let nature do its work and allow natural predators to consume mosquitoes as their prey. Introducing fish like minnows and koi to your water features can significantly help decrease or even completely eradicate the number of eggs laid by mosquitoes. They can also help promote the introduction of other predators such as backswimmers which also feed on mosquitoes.

Here are some of the most common mosquito predators:

  • Dragonflies
  • Nematodes
  • Birds
  • Frogs
  • Spiders

Rid Your Landscape of Mosquitoes with Professional Mosquito Control Treatments

Controlling the mosquito population is not an easy task to do, and sometimes you may need to call in professionals. Pest control services exist to offer tested and guaranteed solutions to your pest problems. Professionals like the ones on our team are highly trained and certified to safely and effectively apply pesticide treatments to your landscape, leaving you with a mosquito-free property.

Eradicate your mosquito problem today with our mosquito control program.

Do not let mosquitoes and pesky bugs take over your beloved water feature! Here at A+ Lawn & Landscape, we are dedicated to helping our customers enjoy a peaceful, mosquito-free summer night. When you sign up for our mosquito control program, you will receive multiple treatments starting in late April/early May, with around 5 weeks in between each treatment.

We offer our mosquito control treatments to commercial and residential properties in the Des Moines, Iowa area, including West Des Moines, Ankeny, and Urbandale. If your property is located nearby and you want to protect yourself, your family, and your pets this season from pesky mosquitoes, give our office a call today at (515) 289-2020.