Remove standing water, protect your skin with an EPA-approved repellent, and call a professional when the source is beyond your fence. Mosquitoes breed in still water, and a bottle cap of it is enough. In Citrus County, with its rivers, canals, lakes and rain, a few habits cut the numbers a great deal. When you have done them and the bites continue, City Green offers mosquito misting.
How Do You Keep Mosquitoes Out of Your Yard?
Remove the water they breed in, protect yourself outdoors, and call for help when the source is outside your property. Those three steps cover most of what works, and the first one does most of the work.
UF/IFAS says eliminating standing water is the best way to keep mosquito populations low. Citrus County has plenty of water, so the habits below are worth building into your routine.
Why Does Citrus County Have So Many Mosquitoes?
Citrus County has a great deal of water, and mosquitoes need water to breed. The county sits on the Gulf coast and holds spring-fed rivers, lakes, canals, ditches and saltmarsh. Summer rain adds more still water to yards.
The Citrus County Mosquito Control District, founded in 1953, treats saltmarsh, urban and freshwater habitats because mosquitoes breed in all three. Homes near Kings Bay in Crystal River or along the Homosassa and Halls rivers sit close to that water. Being close to water does not mean a yard cannot be improved, but it does mean source reduction matters more.
Start With Standing Water
Walk the yard after every rain and empty anything that holds water. A state review of the Citrus County Mosquito Control District found that emptying containers around homes is its most common way of removing breeding sites.
- Buckets, flowerpots and plant saucers
- Bird baths, which need fresh water every few days
- Kiddie pools, toys and wheelbarrows
- Used tires, tarps and any folded plastic that collects water
- Pet bowls and water dishes outdoors
- Air conditioner drip trays and low spots that stay wet
Gutters, Drains and Plant Saucers
Clogged gutters and drains hold water for days, and they are easy to overlook. UF/IFAS recommends clearing gutters and flushing container water gardens so water does not sit.
Check the places that are hard to see: roof valleys, drain pipes, the dish under a potted plant, the fold of a pool cover and the cups of a palm frond. A palm frond can hold a small pool of water long after the rain stops.
Ponds, Ditches and Canals
For water you cannot drain, such as a pond, ditch or canal, the Citrus County Mosquito Control District is the first call. The District treats larvae in these areas with larvicides and insect growth regulators, uses mosquito fish and runs surveillance, including weekly trap collections.
The District also investigates mosquito problems and removes breeding sites around homes, so contact it if your neighborhood has a problem. You can use its service request form to report standing water or a mosquito problem that neighbors share. A stagnant pond behind several homes is a District matter and a neighborhood matter.
Yard Care That Helps
Trimmed shrubs and short, tidy plantings give adult mosquitoes fewer shady places to rest during the day. Clear leaf litter where it collects, and pick up fallen palm fronds that cup water.
City Green does not provide mowing, trimming or landscaping, so a lawn crew or a landscaper handles that part. The mosquito benefit is a bonus on top of what a tidy yard already gives you.
Protect Yourself While You Are Outside
Wear an EPA-approved repellent on exposed skin whenever you are outdoors at dusk or near water. UF/IFAS recommends EPA-approved repellents, and DEET is the recommendation in areas with mosquito-borne illness.
Long sleeves and light clothing add some protection. UF/IFAS notes that the repellent effect of many natural products has not been determined, so treat plants, candles and similar items as extras, not as a plan.
When Does Yard Treatment Make Sense?
Yard treatment makes sense when you have removed standing water and mosquitoes still keep you indoors. It also suits a family that uses the pool, lanai or patio often, or a home with heavy mosquito pressure from nearby water.
Our mosquito control service uses misting treatments to cut down the mosquitoes that settle into your yard. It does not remove every mosquito, because rain, wind and a neighbor's standing water all affect the result. Source reduction still matters.
We serve Crystal River, Homosassa and the rest of Citrus County. If you have a thatched structure, ask about tiki hut treatments too. A free estimate comes first, and there is no contract.
- Remove standing water. Empty containers after every rain and clear the gutters. This stops new mosquitoes from hatching in your yard.
- Report water you cannot drain. Use the Citrus County Mosquito Control District service request form for ponds, ditches and canals.
- Protect your skin. Use an EPA-approved repellent whenever you are outside at dusk or near water.
- Call us if the bites continue. Call (352) 601-0682 for a free estimate on mosquito misting for your yard.
Key Takeaways
- Standing water is the main source, and emptying containers is the first step.
- Clear gutters and drains, and check palm fronds and plant saucers.
- The Mosquito Control District treats larvae and public areas and also investigates problems around homes, so contact it first and add private yard treatment if you want more.
- Use an EPA-approved repellent, and treat natural remedies as extras.
- Misting cuts down the mosquitoes that habits cannot reach.
Frequently Asked Questions
What attracts mosquitoes to my yard?
Standing water above all, since mosquitoes lay eggs in it. Shady, dense plantings give adults a place to rest during the day. Rain and nearby water add to the problem.
Why are there so many mosquitoes after rain?
Rain fills containers, gutters and low spots with still water, which gives eggs a place to hatch. Empty containers after each rain to interrupt the cycle.
Does the county spray my neighborhood?
The Citrus County Mosquito Control District treats larvae and public areas with larvicides, aerial and truck treatments, and runs surveillance. A state review of the District also describes residential investigations and source reduction around homes. You can use its service request form to report a problem, and private yard treatment can be added on top of what the District does.
Do mosquito plants and fans work?
Results vary. UF/IFAS says the repellent effect of many natural products has not been determined, so do not rely on them alone. Removing standing water and wearing an EPA-approved repellent are better supported.
When should I call a mosquito company?
Call when you have emptied the water and still get bitten within minutes of stepping outside. Call too if you host gatherings or use the pool often, or if the water source sits outside your property.
Related Services and Areas
Questions about your own property? Contact the City Green team or visit the home page to see everything we do.
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