Mosquito Control - Inquiry

Have you used a professional mosquito control service?
If yes, success? Thoughts?

I've not used a professional service for mosquito control, however, I've got 2 things to share that I hope might be helpful to you.

1 - I grow Lemongrass around my house every year, and have NO mosquitoes at all. So far (this is year #4 now), I've only grown it in containers, and just outside every entrance to my home (2 on the front porch, 3 on the deck, and 1 outside the back basement door). We have had ZERO mosquitoes around those areas ever since I started growing the stuff and I absolutely swear by it. Next year I'm going to expand my plantings to be included in my garden beds as well.

2 - We just had to have Orkin come out to treat for a termite problem, and they also sprayed for ants. I'm not sure what they used for the ants, but they used Termidor for the termites, and there has been a major over-all decrease in insect activity ever since they started coming out. Thankfully I've NOT seen a decrease in spider activity, but interestingly there have been no mosquitoes in my garden beds near the house since that first ant-spray treatment.

Just some food for thought, hope it's of some help to you. =)

Thanks. SpeedieB
We have had so much rain...went from several years drought to a flood! Folks have lost their homes - so much rain in short downpours all thru the day. This is the view from outside the spare bedroom window--- I'd go outside to take a photo of the 'jungle' but the deluge would ruin the IPAD. The lemongrass is a great idea but not sure it would work with a forested area. I am going to try it outside the screened porch for sure. I long for our old property sometimes with it's nice open lawn and manageable plantings - where I could make sure there was no avoidable breeding places. There are so many places for breeding in logs and hollowed out things that I can't control. We never have mosquitos in house thank goodness. The termite guy is set to come in mid August - I will ask him for sure. Our dentist said he was getting eaten alive and used this service with non toxic application. I think he said $60/ treatment and it covers one acre. He has had no issues since - this year.

Check out what the Royal Botanical Gardens website has to say about Cymbopogon (Lemon Grass), ya might realize that it just might really love your growing conditions, forest included. =) http://www.kew.org/plants-fungi/Cymbopogon-citratus.htm And, in your zone it might behave as a perennial, which would be great! For me it's an annual, so I need to replace the plants each year, but that's ok 'cause it's not expensive and the rewards are worth it! Like you said, at least start with trying it inside the porch area. Oh, and try a stem or 2 in your tea, it's yummy!

I will try it. I am short on sun for as many hours as is needed to be able to plant in as many strategic locations as I should. It won't make it here thru winter. --the sources say not below 20 degrees. But I don't mind planting each year - do it with lantana. I am reading that it gets thick and woody and can dull saw blades. So, another reason to treat as annual but I am going to try some in pots and protect on the screened porch during winter too. Thanks for the links!

You're very welcome. Personally, here, I have never had mine get to that woody state, but then again, they behave as annuals for me so they don't last long enough to get woody. I really should take some fresh pics of the beauties on my deck, they're wonderful! They actually get a LOT less sun than the ones on the front porch, but they get oodles of bright shade. I'm beginning to think they may like that better.

Well, I have the pots and they can sleep in them thru the winter and if they wake up that would sure be great. I am taking out a itea ( Henry's Garnet ) to make room for a huge pot right by the porch.

Skeeters are very bad here too. Thanks for the info speedie. I'll be looking into lemon grass as well.

You're very welcome Amanda. Oh Goodie, I love being helpful! =)