Introduction: Mosquitoes, The Uninvited Guests
Mosquitoes are like that one relative who overstays their welcome – annoying, persistent, and utterly unwelcome. My yard was their favorite vacation spot, thanks to a natural spring and overgrown bamboo planted by Mr. Ex. If you’ve ever been ambushed by mosquitoes just walking from your car to your house, you’ll understand my desperation.
The Battlefield: My Wet, Wild, and Bamboo-Ridden Yard
Picture this: a yard that was once a mosquito paradise, complete with a spring running through it and bamboo so dense it could house a panda colony. The previous owner, Mr. X, thought installing a drainage pipe would help. While it did, in part, the mosquito problem persisted, thanks to the still wet environment and the bamboo jungle next door.
My Mosquito Control Arsenal
- Spartan Mosquito Eradicators with a new tube once a month
- Cutter Backyard Bug Control Spray, spraying every 2-3 weeks depending on rainfall but lightly across all areas of the yard.
- Mosquito Repelling Plants, such as lemongrass, rosemary, basil, lavender, mint, and catnip (I am not a fan of citronella or marigolds, but those work too)
After trying everything short of offering them tiny eviction notices, including hiring the pros at $2000 per season, which still left me barricaded indoors, I finally found the magical combo: Spartan Mosquito and Cutter Backyard spray, combined with a plethora of mosquito-repelling plants. This dream team transformed my mosquito-infested yard into a peaceful haven. If only I’d known sooner that the solution was as simple as arming myself with the right mosquito repellents for the yard, I could have saved myself a lot of bites and bucks.
Spartan Mosquito Eradicators: The Silent Assassins
Preparation and Installation
The Spartan Mosquito Eradicators work like little Trojan horses for mosquitoes. They’re tubes filled with a sugar solution that attracts mosquitoes, which then die after consuming the mixture. Simple, yet effective.
Here’s how to set them up:
- Unscrew the white cap and fill the container with warm water. They do recommend using distilled or bottled, so I heat mine up on the stove for a few minutes.
- Shake it well to mix.
- Replace the white cap with the black one, which has tiny holes for the mosquitoes to access the liquid (so be sure not to shake it afterwards)
- Hang the tubes around your yard, about 6 feet off the ground and 80 feet away from areas where you spend time. If 80 feet is hard for you, just be sure they are away from anywhere you and your kids hang. I have one across the corner on my neighbor’s tree because his front yard is large and far enough away from him and us, then I hang one behind each of our storage sheds.
- 100% American Made
- Do-It-Yourself Mosquito Killer
- Kills mosquitoes that may carry West Nile Virus, Zika Virus, Dengue Fever, St. Louis encephalitis,…
- Place 4 tubes (2 boxes) per acre on your perimeter/property line (more than 4 tubes can be used).
- SPARTAN MOSQUITO PRO TECH IS NOT AVAILABLE TO RESIDENTS OF California, and outside the United States
My Setup
I strategically placed three tubes around my property: one behind each shed and one across the street at my neighbor’s corner (with their permission). This setup kept the mosquitoes away from my immediate living space.
The Results
Did it work?
Abso-freakin-lutely!
Despite a few articles out there, in a sea of great reviews, claiming it did not work for them, it most certainly worked for me. One even went as far as citing they placed a camera on the tube and it detected no mosquitos. I didn’t need a camera, because I sure as heck did see it swarming with them.
The first month we used Spartan tubes, I had one in the driveway flowerbed because it’s the furthest point from the home that is till my property(It butts up to the corner.) However, I’m the one who has to weed that bed and when I did, I was overwhelmed by mosquitos, but only in that one spot of the yard. So I asked my neighbor if I could place it on his trees, and it has been truly transformative.
Spartan Mosquito claims to be effective for up to 30 days, and I could agree with that estimate, but they also do tell you to keep a close eye on it after heavy rains. If it gets diluted, it could have an opposite effect and just breed the little Gremlins.
I personally found it to be a solid investment. My mosquito bites decreased dramatically, and I could finally enjoy my yard without feeling like a human pincushion. However, I really hate bugs, so I layered up the treatments just in case of any gaps, with Cutter.
Cutter Backyard Bug Control Spray: The Backup Plan
I like Cutter because unlike most of the other hose sprayer yard control, as long as I wet it down a bit beforehand and don’t do it midday in the hot blaring sun, Cutter won’t burn my grass. I keep my mower on a high cut and cut my grass 2X weekly, but it’s always got a bit of length.
A higher cut not only looks healthier, it is healthier grass. It’s greener and the root system is much stronger, so I stopped getting those patches of dried, gross straw in the middle of my lawn or worse, no grass at all, because it doesn’t stress grass nearly as much. However, mosquitos often lurk in the shadows of the dark green grass and forge their attack on my poor unsuspecting legs, then my ankles swell up like they did after 26 hours of labor with my son.
- The information below is per-pack only
- KILLS FAST: Kills mosquitoes, listed ant types, fleas and other listed insects
- QUICKFLIP HOSE-END SPRAYER: Hose-end-sprayer activates spray at the flip of a switch – just grip,…
- LASTS ALL SUMMER: Controls up to 12 weeks against house crickets, carpenter ants, harvester ants,…
- COVERAGE: Treats up to 5,000 square feet of lawn
Application
Cutter Backyard spray is my go-to for immediate mosquito reduction. It’s easy to use:
- Prespray the lawn with a good soaking. I usually just wait for a sprinkler cycle which ends by 6am on days it’s scheduled and I apply it immediately after. It takes about an hour or 2 to dry(1 hour, but the grass will take longer because of pre-spray) so that time works well. .
- Attach the bottle to your garden hose, remove the safety clip(I save this and reclip it. A bottle lasts me at least 3 maintenance applications)
- Spray your lawn, trees, and shrubs. Try to get the underside of trees, especially if it’s a common area to gather.
Pros and Cons
- Pros: Instant results, affordable, covers a large area (each bottle treats up to 5,000 sq ft).
- Cons: I feel it needs reapplication after significant rain or once a month-ish. I do lighter “Maintenance applications” every 2-3 weeks depending on the rainfall, but my yard also sits over a stream and my whole block is always wet. To me, not a big deal and well worth it
The Great Debate: Does Spartan Mosquito Really Work?
Critics argue that Spartan Mosquito is overpriced and lacks transparency about its effectiveness. A review by Tiffany Selvey at Static Media suggests that while installation is simple, quantifying its effectiveness is tricky since mosquitoes die elsewhere. However, my experience was overwhelmingly positive, and the decrease in bites was noticeable.
Conclusion: Winning the War Against Mosquitoes
After a year of battling mosquitoes with Spartan Mosquito and Cutter Backyard spray, I’ve finally reclaimed my yard. No more sprinting from the car to the house or dousing myself in bug spray. If you’re fed up with mosquitoes crashing your outdoor parties, give this dynamic duo a try. Trust me; your skin will thank you.
Pro Tips for Mosquito Control
- Eliminate Standing Water: Mosquitoes breed in stagnant water, so ensure there’s none around your yard.
- Trim Overgrown Vegetation: Like my bamboo nightmare, dense vegetation can harbor mosquitoes.
- Keep grass cut regularly, again, overgrown vegetation can harbor mosquitos and cause standing water, which therefore breeds mosquitos, like little nasty Gremlins.
- Use Fans: Mosquitoes are weak fliers, so a good breeze, especially by doorways, can keep them at bay during outdoor gatherings.
- Plant barriers: Plant mosquito-repelling plants around the perimeter of gathering areas. I have walls of lemongrass, lavender, and other spices surrounding my back patio and my front porch. I add them to flower pots and hanging baskets too.
Final Thoughts
Mosquito control doesn’t have to be a losing battle. With the right tools and a bit of strategy, you can enjoy your yard without the constant annoyance of mosquito bites. But for those times when they get you anyway, try the BUG BITE THING, which is amazingly effective. Happy outdoor living!
- Removes insect venom, saliva, and other irritants left under the skin using suction
- By removing the irritant, the body stops producing the reaction that is causing you to itch & swell
- Works on: mosquitoes, bees, wasps, biting flies, no-see-ums, chiggers, sea lice & more
- Compact, lightweight, reusable and easy to carry
- Clinically Proven, kid friendly, 100% guarantee
Last update on 2024-11-21 at 06:38 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API. This page contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
