Mosquito infestations are very common during the summer, especially around areas with water. Unfortunately, these pesky insects are known to cause itchy bumps on skin and can also spread Zika virus, West Nile virus, and other harmful diseases.
To prevent them from making a home in your backyard it’s important to remove standing water sources. However, if you own a swimming pool, this can’t happen. Luckily, properly maintaining your pool with chlorine and a pool filter system can help deter them. Aside from keeping your pool water clean, there are other methods that can also help homeowners keep their pool area pest-free.
Why Do Mosquitoes Like Pool Areas?
You may have noticed certain times of the day that mosquitoes seem to be most prominent around the pool. That is because most mosquitoes prefer hot temperatures, which is when your kiddos will also be out poolside and enjoying the heat.
Hot weather and warm water are necessary for the laying of their eggs. Eggs are laid on the water and hatch into mosquito larvae which then feed on organic matter and breathe oxygen from the surface of the water. After a couple of days, they turn into full-blown, skin-piercing little monsters. They no longer need the water to live and breathe off of, but having a continual blood supply swimming around is enough incentive to stay and hang out.
7 Easy Tips for Keeping Mosquitoes Away From Your Pool
Here at EarthKind®, we are all about keeping the harmful chemicals away and providing natural ways to rid your life of pests. Below is a list of methods to help keep mosquitoes away from your pool and out of your yard without using harmful insecticides:
1. Get Rid of Stagnant Water
If your yard has any unnecessary water holes or bogs, they should be taken care of. Standing water could include a wheelbarrow or gutter that has collected rainwater over time, a spot in your yard that rarely gets sun and never seems to dry, or even a water feature like a bird bath.
Be sure to clean (squeegee up) any small pools of water that collect on the deck or cement around the pool. The pool itself is a different story. Since you cannot simply drain it whenever you like, using a pool cover when it is not in use will help keep mosquitoes away.
2. Mount a Bat House
One bat eats about 500 mosquitoes every night! Although they might seem unsightly and even a little creepy, bats are actually beneficial creatures to have around for natural pest control. Mount a bat house or two around the perimeter of your yard and watch your mosquito problem disappear almost overnight.
3. Use a Fan
Whether you are able to mount a fan above your pool or use a box fan when outside, mosquitoes will steer clear of the wind. Who needs nice hair when you’re in the pool anyway?
4. Screen the Pool
If you have the option of building a screen around your pool, this works great for mosquito control as they will not be able to gain access to the area and will have no other choice but to try out your neighbor’s pool (oops!).
5. Use Mosquito Repellents
One of the best ways to keep mosquitoes away from your pool is to keep them away from yourself first. Using a mosquito repellent product like Stay Away® Mosquitoes creates a personal shield, so pests don’t get close to you or linger around the pool area.
Stay Away Mosquitoes is a DEET-free spray that is powered by picaridin, a CDC-recommended ingredient proven to be highly effective. This unscented spray provides up to 14 hours of protection from mosquitoes and ticks, and can also keep other pests like biting flies, gnats, and chiggers away. When used as directed, this repellent is safe for pregnant women and children.
6. Add Repelling Plants and Scents to Pool Area
It is widely known that mosquitoes don’t like the smell of citronella (which is a huge bonus for us!). Adding citronella candles or planting citronella grass near pool areas can help keep them away.
You can also design your landscaping with mosquito control in mind by using plants such as lavender, marigolds, basil, mint, rosemary, geranium, peppermint, and even garlic. For best results, place these plants in pots around patios and pool decks or mix them throughout the yard to create a natural, layered barrier against mosquitoes.
7. Keep Lights on at Night
When it gets dark mosquitoes, much like other bugs, are attracted to light. So if you are enjoying a nightly dip in the pool, it’s a good idea to keep tiki torches or a yard light lit about 20 feet away. Just be cautious if the light is next to a door—you don’t want them sneaking in behind you!
Can Mosquitoes Live and Lay Eggs in Your Pool?
While mosquitoes can lay eggs in standing water, a properly maintained chlorine pool is generally not a suitable place for them to reproduce. The chlorine and pool chemicals make it difficult for mosquito eggs and larvae to survive. However, if the pool maintenance is neglected, say the chlorine levels drop, the pump isn’t running, or stagnant water collects on the surface, they can still find places to breed, especially in areas like pool covers, skimmers, or puddles around the pool.
Adult mosquitoes don’t live in a properly maintained pool. They won’t thrive in chlorinated water, but they may still linger around the pool area because of the easy access to people and the blood meals they provide. This means keeping the water clean and circulated not only helps prevent mosquito breeding, but also reduces how attractive your pool area is to them.
Stop Mosquitoes Before They Take Over Your Backyard Pool
With the ongoing concern of the many viruses they carry, the itchy, red bumps on your skin are no longer the biggest risk from mosquito bites. Diseases like West Nile virus, Zika, and dengue fever make mosquito prevention an essential part of keeping your family safe.
Pools can easily become a hotspot if they are left untreated or stagnant, giving mosquitoes the perfect place to breed. Even a small amount of standing water in pool covers, skimmers, or around the deck can quickly turn into a mosquito breeding site.
That’s why preparation is the best prevention. Keeping your pool properly chlorinated and circulated, removing standing water, and adding natural repellents around the pool area can go a long way in reducing risk.
For extra protection when you and your family are enjoying time outside, pair these steps with a trusted plant-based repellent like Stay Away® Mosquitoes. Shop online or in a store near you.
