How to Make Your Deck Mosquito Proof

Mosquitoes can be quite a nuisance for homeowners who venture outside to enjoy their yards and gardens. However, mosquitoes don't just pester even the most patient of people; these insects can carry serious diseases like malaria, West Nile virus and several strands of encephalitis. The diseases they carry cannot only affect people, but they can also be passed to animals. Protecting yourself, your family and your pets from mosquitoes while relaxing on your patio or deck is easy and inexpensive to do.

Fans
Fill dirt
Mosquito netting
Product containing Bti (bacillus thuringiensis israelensis)
Yellow "bug lights” or LED lights

Instructions

- 1
  
  Replace the water in bird baths often to prevent mosquitoes from gathering.
  
  Drain any areas or containers near your deck that hold standing water. Stagnant water attracts swarms of mosquitoes and will become a breeding ground for more mosquitoes. Prevent water from collecting and becoming stagnant by using fill dirt to build up low areas and flushing items containing water -- like bird baths or pet water bowls -- often.
- 2
  
  Clean gutters every three months to prevent mosquitoes from gathering.
  
  Clean the gutters surrounding your deck. Gutters trap debris and stagnant water, which is a haven for mosquitoes and their eggs.
- 3
  
  Bti will kill mosquitoes, but it won't harm you, fish or plants.
  
  Use a product containing bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, or Bti, on bodies of water that can't be drained or flushed, such as swimming pools, fish ponds or ornamental fountains. The Bti is consumed by the mosquitoes, and then kills them.
- 4
  
  Well-placed fans can keep mosquitos at bay.
  
  Place fans around your deck and keep them running. Mosquitoes can't maneuver in air currents faster than two miles an hour. The fans will keep away the mosquitoes, and they'll keep you and your deck space cool.
- 5
  
  Keeping grass short makes it less hospitable to mosquitoes.
  
  Landscape the lawn and garden area surrounding your deck. Keep grass short and hedges trimmed to help water evaporate and increase sun and wind exposure, all of which helps keep out mosquitoes.
- 6
  
  Mosquitoes aren't attracted to all light frequencies -- just some.
  
  Replace existing light bulbs in deck lighting fixtures with yellow "bug lights" or LED lights. These lights have frequencies that don't attract mosquitoes, unlike some lights.
- 7
  
  Netting can be pulled back when there aren't mosquitoes around so you can enjoy the outdoors.
  
  Install mosquito netting around your deck. The netting is inexpensive and easy to install. It can be installed with a rolling track that surrounds your deck, or the netting can be hung with mounting hooks.

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