8 Tips for Keeping Mosquito Free at Home In Essex County

Death, taxes and… mosquitos?

The airborne pests are an almost-taken-for-granted part of life in Essex County, and with the warm weather of spring come more skeeters.

While “the elimination of all mosquitoes is nearly impossible,” according to the Essex County’s Division of Environmental Affairs, there are ways that homeowners can fight back.

Here are eight tips to reduce mosquito populations around the home:

• Dump all standing water from containers around the home. This includes children’s pools, flower pots, tarps, garbage cans, and anything else that may hold water.
• Clean out bird baths once a week.
• Eliminate standing water or low areas in your yard.
• Clean the gutters on your house.
• Use an aerator or fish in any ornamental ponds,
• Drill holes in the bottom of recycling containers that are left outside. Drainage holes that are located on the sides collect enough water for mosquitoes to breed in.
• Remove any discarded tires from your property and recycle them.
• Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, even if they are not being used. A swimming pool left unattended can cause a mosquito problem throughout the whole neighborhood.

Click here for more information about mosquitos and control efforts in Essex County.

File photo courtesy of frankieleon via Flickr