7 Ways to Eliminate Insects from Your Yard

While I remember a time when Los Angeles was famous for the absence of mosquitos, that no longer seems to be the case. In fact, I was surprised to learn from a quick Google search that LA has the worst mosquito problem in the nation! And it is not those invisible blood suckers alone that can ruin an otherwise beautiful evening enjoyed outdoors. So, what can you do about it? Here are 7 approaches to reduce or eliminate the problem …

1. Inspect your plants

Surprisingly, your potted plants can become ecosystems themselves rife with little critters. Limit the number of plants you keep in locations you like to spend time in at night and make sure they are not too close to any door, which could invite the bugs into your home.

2. Eliminate Standing Water

Mosquitos love nothing more than standing water in any form – even on an old frisbee. This is particularly true if allowed to remain undisturbed for a couple of weeks. So, look out for any still water outdoors that could become a breeding ground for mini vampires.

3. Buy Citronella Candles

These candles will keep mosquitos away, but their effectiveness depends on the volume of fumes created and proximity to the person seeking shelter. It is also worth noting they have no effect on ants or spiders.

4. Switch to LED Lighting

All light attracts insects, but it turns out LED lighting substantially less than traditional lighting, or UV light traps, which some incorrectly believe attract less bugs (they sometimes attract more!). Experts do suggest turning the lights out when heading indoors, or to sleep.

5. Contain Food by Grills and Garbage Cans

This is a rather obvious one, but food attracts bugs and so limiting its time out in the open can have a salutary effect on the amount of insects present.

6. Examine Wooden Decks and Porches

if you have a wooden porch or deck, it's important to inspect it periodically since wood can attract carpenter bees and carpenter ants. Wasps also love to build nests there. Keep the structure sealed or painted to limit the attractiveness to our creepy little friends.

7. Schedule a Pest Control Appointment

If all else fails, bring in the experts.

Word/Phrase of the Week

Leaseback or Rent-back

Sometimes when you buy a property, the current owners might need a little more time before they can vacate the property and hand over the keys. This can be due to finding a new home, closing on their new escrow or possibly waiting for repairs to be completed. In all these cases, part of the arrangement can involve what is known as a leaseback or rent-back arrangement. When written into the offer, this allows the current owner to stay for up to a predetermined period of time (usually in days) at a predetermined rate (often the total costs associated with ownership at that time, though sometimes simply a daily rate). These arrangements can also include a lease deposit. In some cases, as just occurred to me, you can offer that free as a further enticement to the seller in a hot market like today.

Useful Links

For many, the laundry room is the least attractive and least efficient room in a home. Homekeepr, however, has some great ideas for how to improve both the look and utility of the space.

And while many of us don’t have a dedicated “boot room,” the idea from this article can be translated to any space where one leaves their shoes upon entering your home.

Finally, is an interesting little quiz that tells you the most important thing about yourself – namely, what kind of donut you are. It determines this based on your choices in building your dream home. Enjoy!