How to Keep Mosquitoes Off My Lawn

Mosquitos can ruin your outdoor fun.

Mosquitos can ruin your outdoor fun.

Enjoying your garden can be challenging if mosquitoes have taken over your lawn. These nuisance pests can quickly put a damper on your outdoor enjoyment; the females bite and suck blood, and they might transmit diseases to humans and animals. Fortunately, various steps can be taken to keep mosquitoes off your lawn. It might take some trial and error, but with determination, you can reclaim your property in no time.


Remove water puddles and other sources of standing water from your lawn. Mosquitoes need water to breed. They lay their eggs on standing or slow-moving water, so eliminating these sources from your lawn will make your property less attractive to them. In addition to filling soil depressions and unclogging rain gutters, also remove old tires, cans, buckets, pet water bowls, and any other containers that might hold water.


Monitor the irrigation of your lawn to ensure that you're not overwatering, and making water accumulate on your lawn. You might have to re-adjust your sprinkler setting or water less often. Also, ensure that any potted plants around your lawn are draining properly.


Spray your lawn with insecticide to eliminate mosquitoes. Insecticides that contain cyfluthrin, tetramethrin, phenothrin, lambda-cyhalothrin, and permethrin, can offer temporary relief from mosquitoes. For instance, if you plan on having an afternoon picnic or party outside, spray the lawn the day or morning beforehand. Insecticides can last about two days. Use a fogger, a hose-end applicator, or ready-to-use aerosols, to spray the lawn, emphasizing tall grass, the perimeter of the lawn, flower beds, and tall plants.


Grow mosquito-repelling plants to keep the tiny pests at bay. Basil (Ocimum basilicum), which is hardy to U.S. Department of Plant hardiness zones 9 through 11, and bachelor's buttons (Centaurea cyanus), hardy to USDA plant hardiness zones 3 through 8, are some examples of plants that will keep mosquitoes out of your garden.

Things You Will Need

  • Insecticide
  • Mosquito-repelling plants


  • When using insecticides, keep kids and pets off the lawn until it's dry. Read the label instructions carefully for exact, safe re-entry time.

Photo Credits

  • Creatas/Creatas/Getty Images
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