Watering the right amount is a key factor in the health and enjoyment of your lawn. If you water too little, you’ll have unsightly dead patches. If you water too much, excessive moisture can cause lawn diseases and attract mosquitoes.
Read on to find out how proper yard maintenance can help you prevent mosquitoes and enjoy your yard more.
Mosquitoes Need Moisture
Do you know what your lawn and mosquitoes have in common? They both need water. mosquitoes require abundant moisture to live and reproduce, so a lawn with excess moisture can cause an infestation of these pests. An oversaturated lawn can also allow a thick layer of thatch to form, which protects mosquitoes and other insects from sunlight, predators, and even some pesticides. With proper maintenance and irrigation, your yard will be healthier, more enjoyable and less likely to harbor mosquitoes.
Signs You’re Overwatering Your Lawn
Watering your lawn too much can cause more problems than just mosquitoes. Too much water stunts root growth and makes your grass more vulnerable to fungus and disease.
Here are three ways to tell if you’re watering to excess:
Squishy Soil
A simple way to check if your lawn is oversaturated is to perform what’s called a “step test”. Soil that’s overwatered will have a squishy or soggy feel. You can check your soil by stepping on your lawn in multiple places (as long as you haven’t watered very recently). If it’s squishy in all or most of the places you step, you should consider watering less.
Weeds and Fungus
In a properly watered yard, patches of mushrooms and weeds will stick out like a sore thumb. Watering your lawn can aid the growth of fungus and weeds which may attract insects. If you notice weeds or mushrooms sprouting in your yard, you likely need to water less.
Runoff
Sometimes soil can be completely saturated. This prevents additional water from being absorbed and creates runoff that strips the lawn of important nutrients, which are carried away to the sidewalk or street. It’s important to be aware of this phenomenon as your grass will be more prone to disease, insect invaders, fungi, and weeds.
How to Prevent Mosquitoes
Step one for preventing mosquitoes is to ensure you’re not overwatering. Daily watering is probably not needed, even if you live in an arid climate. The ideal amount of water your lawn should get is 1 – 1.5 inches per week. Three days of irrigation a week for 30 minutes each day will give your grass roughly the correct amount of water.
Experienced Mosquito Control
Even if your yard doesn’t have any standing water, you can still have a mosquito problem. If you live in Northern NJ and mosquitoes are preventing you from enjoying your outdoor space, the exterminators at Eastern Pest Services can help. Our technicians will find the source of the mosquitoes, eliminate them and help keep them away. Contact us for a free quote!
