

Gardens and gardening are among the great joys in life. Mosquitoes can take a bite out of this pleasurable pastime unless preventive strategies are taken to minimize problems.
Chicago Botanic Garden Recommendations
The following preventive steps can be taken to eliminate mosquitoes in gardens.
Eliminate Areas of Standing Water
Efforts should be focused on preventing adult mosquitoes from breeding. During warm weather, mosquito eggs can develop into larvae and then into adult mosquitoes in water that has been left standing for seven to ten days.
Beginning in April until the first hard frost, weekly check your property, garden, alley, home exterior, and garage for any standing water or debris that might hold even the slightest amount of water. Household items might include cans, rain barrels, tires, buckets, garden tools, wheelbarrows, plant pot saucers, and children’s toys. The following precautions can also prevent the breeding cycle:
Wear Protective Clothing
Wear socks and shoes, long pants, and long-sleeved, light-colored shirts when outside. Protect children and babies with proper clothing and mosquito netting.
Use Repellant
Consult your family doctor for recommendations of mosquito repellents appropriate for you and your family. Research indicates that repellents containing 30 percent DEET offer adequate protection against mosquitoes. Consult a pediatrician for appropriate and safe children’s products. As with all insecticides, read and follow label directions.
Plan Your Gardening
Mosquitoes are most likely to bite during the hours immediately before and after dawn and dusk. Plan your gardening to avoid the times when mosquitoes are most active. If virus-infected mosquitoes have been reported in your area, consider staying indoors during their peak biting hours. Mosquitoes favor shady, moist areas of a yard and rest in dense shrubbery; they are active from spring to the first hard frost in the fall.
Please contact Plant Information Service at (847) 835-0972 or via email at Click here to show mail address for more information about West Nile Virus and mosquito treatment in your area.