Effective, Long-Lasting Backyard Mosquito Control Solutions

Mosquitoes are more than just annoying – they can make spending time in your backyard miserable. If you’re looking for a solution that actually works and doesn’t require constant effort, you’re in the right place. There are tons of products out there, from cheap sprays to pricey systems. Some offer long-term relief, while others are temporary fixes.

We’ve broken down the most popular options, comparing their effectiveness and cost to help you find the perfect solution for a mosquito-free backyard so you can enjoy your outdoor space again.

DEET Spray

  • Effectiveness: High, for personal protection. 
  • Cost: Low. 
  • Advantages: Directly applicable to skin, provides immediate protection, widely trusted and used.
  • Drawbacks: Requires frequent reapplication, can cause skin irritation in some people, not suitable for infants under two months.  
  • Example: OFF! Deep Woods Insect Repellent.

Citronella Candles

  • Effectiveness: Low; effectiveness is area-specific and diminishes with wind. 
  • Cost: Low. 
  • Advantages: Easy to use, provides ambient lighting, natural. 
  • Drawbacks: Limited range of effectiveness, continuous burning required, effectiveness varies with wind conditions.  
  • Example: Cutter Citro Guard Candle.

Bug Zappers

  • Effectiveness: Low for mosquitoes; more effective against other flying insects. 
  • Cost: Low. 
  • Advantages: Passive; continuously kills flying insects. 
  • Drawbacks: Ineffective specifically against mosquitoes, kills beneficial insects, can be noisy and unsightly.  
  • Example: Flowtron BK-15D Electronic Insect Killer.

Mosquito Repelling Plants

  • Effectiveness: Low.  Mosquito-repelling plants provide very limited mosquito control.  
  • Cost: Low. Repellant plants are generally inexpensive.  
  • Advantages: Non-toxic and safe for use around children and pets; Enhances garden aesthetics.
  • Drawbacks: very limited in repelling mosquitoes, mostly anecdotal evidence supports their use.
  • Example: Lemongrass, Marigolds, Lavender.

Bug Bombs (Total Release Foggers)

  • Effectiveness: Moderate; provides immediate knockdown of mosquito populations.
  • Cost: Moderate.
  • Advantages: Can treat large areas quickly.
  • Drawbacks: Effects are temporary, potential toxicity, not safe for use around children and pets during application. 
  • Example: Hot Shot No-Mess! Fogger.

Thermacell Devices

  • Effectiveness: Moderate. High within a limited area (15-foot radius).
  • Cost: Moderate for initial purchase and refills.
  • Advantages: Portable, scent-free, no skin application needed.
  • Drawbacks: Limited coverage area, ongoing cost for refills, operates on cartridges that must be replaced. 
  • Example: Thermacell MR300 Portable Mosquito Repeller.

Mosquito Trap

  • Effectiveness: Moderate.
  • Cost: Moderate. High initial investment, moderate ongoing costs for attractants and propane.
  • Advantages: Continuous, long-term control, environmentally friendly as it uses attractants to trap mosquitoes and not pesticides.
  • Drawbacks: Requires regular maintenance, initial setup cost is significant, effectiveness can vary based on placement.
  • Example: Mosquito Magnet Patriot Plus Mosquito Trap.

Event Fogging

  • Effectiveness: High for short-term relief.
  • Cost: Moderate to high depending on the area.
  • Advantages: Professional fogging can cover large areas effectively.
  • Drawbacks: Temporary, potential environmental impact, and requires professional handling.
  • Example: Black Flag 190095 Propane Insect Fogger (for DIY use).

Monthly Spray Service

  • Effectiveness: High.
  • Cost: High; requires ongoing payments.
  • Advantages: Professional application ensures thorough coverage, effective for large areas.
  • Drawbacks: Regular expense, uses pesticides that might affect non-target species, requires scheduling around availability.
  • Example: Local pest control companies and national franchises offering monthly plans.

Mosquito Misting Systems

  • Effectiveness: Very High.
  • Cost: High initial setup and moderate ongoing costs.
  • Advantages: Automated system, extensive coverage, very effective in reducing mosquito populations.
  • Drawbacks: High initial cost, maintenance required, potential environmental and health risks if not properly maintained. 
  • Example: MistAway Gen 1.3 Drum-based Mosquito Misting System.

Screened Enclosures

  • Effectiveness: Very high.
  • Cost: Very High.
  • Advantages: Provides a mosquito-free zone, permanent solution, adds to property value.
  • Drawbacks: Expensive to install, requires maintenance, can obstruct views. Very vulnerable to damage by hurricanes/high winds.
  • Example: Custom-built screened patios or commercially available pop-up screen rooms.

Which Mosquito Solution is Right for Your Backyard?

We’ve plotted the relative effectiveness and relative cost of each backyard mosquito solution on the chart below. 

The more durable, longer-lasting solutions are shown in a red font. The event-based, temporary solutions are shown in green.  

We’ve also noted with a superscript whether each solution is primarily DIY (do-it-yourself) or a professional service.

Key Takeaways

You Get What You Pay For  

The most effective solutions are screened enclosures, mosquito misting systems, and monthly spray service. These are also the most relatively expensive.

They offer long-term control and are usually provided by professionals. We’ve included screened enclosures because they are very popular in some parts of the U.S.

Temporary Solutions Are The Most Cost-Effective 

You clearly get the most bang for your buck with Deet-based repellents, a temporary solution that offers very high effectiveness at a  low cost. There are some moderately effective temporary solutions that aren’t too costly – event fogging, mosquito traps, Thermacell and Bug Bombs (total release fogger).

The Lowest Cost Solutions Aren’t Effective

The lowest cost solutions – Citronella Candles, Bug Zappers and Repellant plants on the property – aren’t really solutions at all. Though citronella candles do provide some nice ambient light, they won’t do a great job at preventing, or especially eliminating, mosquitos. 

Monthly Spray Service vs Mosquito Misting System

From our point of view, if you’re looking for an effective, long-lasting solution, where you can just go out and enjoy your backyard without thinking about mosquitoes, your choice is really between subscribing to a monthly spray service or installing a mosquito misting system. Of course, each of those options has its own relative advantages and disadvantages that you’ll have to consider.

We try to be even-handed, but it’s tough.  We manufacture the most functional, reliable and durable mosquito misting systems on the planet. Learn more about MistAway’s systems.