Moist springs often bring an onslaught of mosquitoes, and if you are a homeowner, you may be wondering what you can do to prevent it. Fortunately, there are ways to have a virtually mosquito-free lawn. You may have to engage in a few of these recommendations, but they will help to reduce the number of mosquitoes with which you come into contact.
Mosquitoes are dependent on water for survival. They live in water during their first week of survival, and eggs must hatch in water. Therefore, if you remove any standing water, you will have less mosquitoes. If you live near a pond or other standing water that cannot be removed, you’ll have to invest in other activities.
Citronella candles are a controversial product in the elimination of mosquitoes, but studies do provide some evidence that they work. They aren’t going to eliminate all mosquitoes, but they will reduce the risk of mosquito bites by about half. Of course, this depends on how close you are to the candle.
One interesting and understandable way to get rid of skeeters is by putting a fan outside. Mosquitoes prefer stagnancy, and the simple air movement from a fan can deter them from sticking around.
Of course, there are always pesticides. These can be highly effective, but they can also harm the environment. Pesticides get washed into runoff water and end up in our fresh water supply. They are necessary evils in some circumstances, but it is better to use more organic and Earth-friendly products.
Lastly, there are many flowers that repel insects. Marigolds, basil, and lavender are only a few on the list of plants that mosquitoes don’t really like. Plant these flowers, light some citronella candles, and plug in a fan. You’ll be mosquito-free in no time.
If you aren’t allergic to mosquito bites, then you’re still going to have a reaction. If you are allergic, then you’ll be very motivated to invest in some of these techniques. Swollen skin, itchiness, and the chance of disease spread are all good reasons to start prevention efforts. Your spring, summer, and fall will benefit from less pests buzzing around. You’ll also get to spend more time outdoors in the comfort of your mosquito-free lawn.
Watering the lawn is typically a chore for the homeowner. That is why so many people have invested in smart watering systems. These complex systems monitor the weather, and they turn on at optimal times to reduce the wasting of water. The high-tech nature of this has made watering the lawn an afterthought. The smart watering system takes care of it. Yet, you still see people moving sprinklers out in their front yard. Even more perplexing is the person outside watering their lawn with a hose. He or she will spend hours making sure every bit of their lawn gets a drink. Typically their lawns do look good. This might cause the smart irrigation system own to question the benefits of hand watering.
If you have cool season grass, spring is an excellent time to aerate. Because many of us are spending our time at home in the wake of a pandemic, this is a different year for aerating. In fact, you might want to consider a handheld aerator this year. It may be perfect for spring 2020 in Marietta, GA.
When you are planning your spring lawn care, plan on using some elbow grease and reap the benefits of hard work. Using a handheld aerator will offer an opportunity for some mental health enhancement, and you’ll still get the lawn care you desire.
You are not likely going to accidentally know when is the right time to fertilize your cool season tall fescue lawn without looking it up. The truth is, there isn’t much time left to fertilize before this grass leaves its peak growing season and enters warm spring and summer months.
One of the many wonderful things about spring is that your bermudagrass lawn ends its dormant period and begins to green up. The grey undertones of winter transform into vivid greens and a rainbow of spring’s colorful flowers. You want your spring green-up to be perfect, so it is tempting to get out there and fertilize early. If you have bermudagrass, don’t do it. Wait for the right time to fertilize, and you’ll have beautiful bermudagrass until winter dormancy returns.
Just because there’s a pandemic, it doesn’t mean that your grass has stopped growing. In fact, many people have a lot more time to do yard work now that they are staying home. That is why it is important to order lawn care and lawn care supplies when the stores are closed.
Many people are staying home due to the coronavirus pandemic, and that is a great thing for virus prevention efforts. However, many of us are also getting stir crazy without our in-person social connections. One way to elevate the spirits during this time is to do some fun lawn activities. You’ll get outside, which is healthy for the body and spirit. You may be encouraged to stay home and socially isolate for more than a month, so make sure you make the best of it by engaging in lawn activities.
There are a few lawn care chores that you need to do on nice days. Most people aren’t too anxious to get outside to work on rainy days anyway, but windy days are another matter. A light to moderate breeze might feel nice when doing manual labor in your lawn, but there are a few things you should avoid when it’s windy.
One overlooked option when choosing a lawn type is clover. Clover turf has some strong advantages, but many Americans consider it only a weed…something to be removed from a lawn. If you have children who will play in the lawn, clover will stain clothing more so than grass. Otherwise, it is a viable option that will lead to residential lawn bliss in many cases.
If spring has been more of a deluge than a sunny emergence from winter, your lawn is probably soaked. Even lawns with decent drainage can become waterlogged if the rain continues for too long. If you have standing water, it is important that you remove it if you want your grass to live. However, if your lawn is just incredibly wet, there are some activities to avoid.