If you're like many, you spend all fall, winter, and spring looking forward to the warm days of summer, where you'll be able to relax on your back porch or patio while listening to the birds and other sounds of nature for hours on end. Unfortunately, it takes only a few mosquitoes or other biting bugs to spoil this mental picture, and you may find yourself constantly running for shelter to avoid developing itchy bites or welts. What are your best options when it comes to managing your local mosquito population? Read on to learn more about mosquito control and prevention methods. 

What are some ways to get rid of mosquitoes quickly?

In most cases, once a swarm of mosquitoes has already established itself on your property, you'll require professional treatment to get rid of all these pests. By spraying the perimeter of your yard and treating any sources of water (like lakes, creeks, or decorative ponds) with mosquito-killing insecticides, a mosquito exterminator will be able to quickly interrupt their life cycle and cut down their numbers before they can breed again. You should be able to notice an immediate improvement after spraying, with the full effects kicking in a few weeks later.

How can you prevent a mosquito problem in the future?

In addition to the quick-fix methods that can kill mosquitoes that have already overrun your property, there are some preventive methods that can keep your yard pest-free (or nearly pest-free) for summers to come.

The quickest way to eliminate future mosquito issues is to tackle any standing water in your lawn or garage—even something as small as a shallow stagnant pool inside your outdoor trash can can provide the perfect breeding ground for mosquitoes, exponentially increasing your mosquito population before your very eyes. By dumping out any pooled water in old tires, wheelbarrows, and other pieces of equipment, as well as draining flower pots and flower beds that may become waterlogged after every rain, you'll be able to minimize the risk of turning your lawn into a mosquito habitat. 

Another way to curb your mosquito population during future summers is to keep your grass cut fairly short and to regularly trim any bushes or brush   Although mosquitoes are mainly drawn to pools of stagnant water during breeding season, they also tend to congregate (with other unwanted insects) in brush piles, overgrown bushes, and other lawn features that can provide them with a safe place to shelter. Ensuring your lawn is neat and trimmed can go a long way toward reducing the amount of mosquito treatment you'll need to perform during future summers.