July 21st, 2010 9:41 AM

Via Maggie McFarland,Pearland Realtor, Pearland Texas Real Estate (RE/MAX One - Maggie McFarland):

Due to the recent rain we received, we are experiencing one of nature's cruelest jokes: the mosquito!  I don't know about you, but out of every bug, I loathe the mosquito the most!  I thought a blog about how to combat these pesky creatures were just the way to start off the week!  While it will be impossible to get rid of every mosquito, these tips will help ensure that you take proactive measures to gain the upper hand!

 

First, remove every source of standing water you can find around your home. This includes water sitting in old tires, in flowerpot saucers, in tin cans, children's pools, in barrels or in birdbaths, which should be cleaned thoroughly once a week. Also make sure rain gutters are cleaned out so that a blockage doesn't allow standing water to form.  Some also suggest to drain a couple of small holes in any outdoor trash cans or recycling containers can keep them from accumulating water.

 

Another method for reducing mosquitos is to utilize a pest control company who offers mosquito control. They can help you identify likely breeding areas and in most cases offer highly effective treatments that will help deter activity from these biters.

 

If you are looking for a more natural approach to rid your lawn of mosquitoes, try the following:

• If you're using the barbeque, throw a bit of sage or rosemary on the coals to repel mosquitos. # An effective natural bug repellent, mix one part garlic juice with 5 parts water in a small spray bottle. Shake well before using. Spray lightly on exposed body parts for an effective repellent lasting up to 5 - 6 hours. Strips of cotton cloth can also be dipped in this mixture and hung in areas, such as patios, as a localized deterrent.
• Neem oil is a natural vegetable oil extracted from the Neem tree in India. The leaves, seeds and seed oil of the Neem tree contain sallanin, a compound which has effective mosquito repelling properties. Neem oil is a natural product and is safe to use. Look for new Neem Oil-based commercial products on the market.
• Planting marigolds around your yard works as a natural bug repellent because the flowers give off a fragrance bugs and flying insects do not like.
• Look For DEET-free mosquito repellent touse on family members.  Products with DEET can cause rare toxic reactions.

 

Locally, Mosquito control in Pearland is handled by the counties. Pearland is part of several counties, and the mosquito control numbers for each are listed below:

 

Brazoria 281-331-6101 ext. 1532, or 281-756-1532

Harris 713-440-4800

Fort Bend 281-342-0508

Galveston 800-842-5622

 

Be forewarned, however, they are all receiving a lot of calls right now so you may need to leave a voice mail. To speed things up, they will need your subdivision as well as your name, address, and phone number.

If you have any tips on how to keep those pesky mosquitoes away - do share!

Whether you are buying or selling Real Estate in Pearland Texas it just makes sense to use a Realtor® that knows the area!  I live here, work here and play here - I call Pearland Texas home!  For more information regarding Pearland Texas be sure to visit my website:

• PearlandHomeTeam.com - Homes for Sale in Pearland Texas, Schools, Home Selling Tips, Buying a Home Tips, Foreclosures, Weather and Community Information. 

   Become a member of Pearland HomeTeam's Facebook

Type the characters you see in this picture, click "Submit" when finished.

		This helps us prevent automated programs from creating bogus contacts and adding them to your contacts database.