They’re uninvited, annoying, and love to crash your outdoor fun: mosquitoes. But before you bust out the citronella or start waving your flip-flop like a ninja, know this—Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control says the best way to avoid getting bit is to make your yard a mosquito-free zone.
Here’s how you can help:
1. Ditch the Standing Water
That flower pot saucer you forgot about? The kiddie pool you swear you’ll dump tomorrow? Mosquitoes love those. Anything that holds water for more than a few days becomes a
luxury nursery for them. Empty, toss, or scrub anything holding stagnant water at least once a week.
2. Scrub Buckets, Not Just Dump Them
Even if there’s no water in it, mosquitoes can lay eggs on the sides of containers—and those eggs can hatch once water returns. A quick scrub breaks the
cycle.
3. Keep Screens in Check
Check your window and door screens for tears or gaps. Mosquitoes are tiny, persistent jerks—don't give them an open invite indoors.
4. Say No to
Overwatering
Lawns and gardens love a good drink—but so do mosquitoes. Avoid watering so much that puddles stick around longer than your teenager’s dirty laundry pile.
5. Call in the Experts
If your mosquito
situation feels like a sequel to Jumanji, it might be time to call the Orange County Mosquito and Vector Control District. They’ll check things out (for free) and let you know if there’s something more going on.
More information and a OC Vector home inspection checklist
here.
