How to Discourage Mosquito Growth in Still Water Without Harming Plant Life

Place top-feeding fish into the still water. These fish -- including goldfish, top minnows and gambusia -- will eat mosquito larvae from the top of the still water.

Stop feeding the fish in the pond starting in late spring and lasting until the late summer. This encourages the fish to eat the mosquito larvae and eggs in the water.

Cut back plants along the pond or other still water area, using loppers, so there are no thick clumps. Prune out one-third of the stalks from clumps like cattails so the fish can swim through them and eat the mosquitoes. You do not need to cut down all vegetation.

Mix a larvicide with water as directed on the package if you don't want to put fish in your area of still water. Pour the larvicide into the still water. Larvicide kills mosquito eggs and larvae, but does not harm plant life.