Mosquitoes in the backyard
Q&A
A reader asks:
What can I do to keep the mosquito population down now that a big mosquito summer is predicted after all this rain?
Carol replies:
Summertime is mosquito time, but you can reduce your chances of getting bitten by mosquito pests by making sure that your backyard is not a mosquito breeding zone. Female mosquitoes lay their eggs in standing water, so emptying pools of standing water is the best way to prevent future populations from hatching. Make sure to empty birdbaths and swimming pools at least once a week. Get rid of old tires, unused buckets and trash cans that can hold rainwater. Clean clogged roof gutters. Place a Mosquito Dunk in birdbaths, ponds and anywhere water collects. The active ingredient in Mosquito Dunks is a naturally occurring bacterium that kills mosquito larvae but isn’t harmful to other living things. A six-pack of Mosquito Dunks sells for $12 to $14 at home centers, hardware stores and gardening stores.
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Carol Stocker has been writing about gardening for the Boston Globe for 30 years. She has won the top newspaper writing award of the Garden Writer's Association of American three times. Her newest book is "The Boston Globe Illustrated New England Gardening Almanac."
Mosquito Dunks rock! I've used them for years, and they work great!