Wasps, bees & flying insects
Mosquito control in Salt Lake City, UT
West Nile season in Salt Lake County has been running hot. A yard treatment and a walk-through of every spot that holds water cuts the bites on your own lot, alongside what the abatement districts do.
Most active
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall
- Winter
Quick answer
Mosquito control on a Salt Lake City lot works in two parts: treating the shaded foliage where adult mosquitoes rest during the day, and finding and removing the standing water where they breed. It doesn't replace the county abatement districts; it lowers the biting pressure in your own yard. Season runs until the first hard freeze, and treatments are repeated through it.
At a glance
- Best for
- Yards with heavy mosquito bites, events and homes near water
- Season
- Spring through the first hard freeze
- How it works
- Treating resting spots in shade plus removing standing water
- Visits
- Repeated through the season for best results
Overview
What yard mosquito control can and can't do
Adult mosquitoes spend the day resting in shade: dense shrubs, under decks, along fence lines and in tall ground cover. A yard treatment targets those resting spots so fewer mosquitoes survive to bite in the evening.
The other half is water. Mosquitoes breed in anything that holds water for a week or so: clogged gutters, flower pot saucers, buckets, tarps, old tires, bird baths and low spots in the lawn. A standing water audit finds those spots on your lot so they can be emptied or fixed.
What yard treatment can't do is control mosquitoes flying in from marshes, canals and river corridors a mile away. That's what the county mosquito abatement districts handle. Together, the two make a noticeable difference in the evenings.
What it covers
Mosquito services
Yard barrier treatments
Shaded shrubs, fence lines, under decks and other daytime resting spots treated through the season.
Standing water audit
A walk of the lot to find gutters, saucers, buckets and low spots that breed mosquitoes.
Treatments before outdoor events
A treatment timed a day or two before a party, wedding or reunion in the yard.
Botanical treatment option
Plant-based products for yards where you'd prefer them, with more frequent visits.
Before we arrive
Before a mosquito visit
- Empty buckets, saucers and toys that hold water.
- Unlock gates and open side yards.
- Keep pets inside until treated areas dry.
- Cover fish ponds or tell us where they are.
- Tell us about beehives or vegetable gardens nearby.
- Turn off sprinklers the morning of the visit.
- Tell us when an outdoor event is planned.
- Point out spots where bites are worst.
How the visit goes
How a mosquito treatment goes
Walk the lot
Find resting spots in shade and every source of standing water.
Remove breeding sites
Empty or flag containers, gutters and low spots for you to fix.
Treat resting areas
Shrubs, fence lines, under decks and ground cover where adults hide.
Protect beneficials
Keep treatment off flowering plants, ponds and vegetable gardens.
Repeat through the season
Regular visits until the first hard freeze keep numbers down.
Salt Lake conditions
West Nile season in Salt Lake County
In 2026 the Salt Lake County Health Department reported 709 West Nile positive mosquito samples statewide, about six times the 108 found at the same point in 2025, with 35 percent of one weekly Salt Lake City sample testing positive. Salt Lake County has three mosquito abatement districts, Magna, Salt Lake City and South Salt Lake Valley, and mosquito season runs until the first hard freeze. Yard work on your own lot complements what the districts do along wetlands and waterways.
Mosquitoes that carry West Nile tend to bite from dusk to dawn, so evening yards are where treatment matters most.
Sources: kutv.com, saltlakecounty.gov
Warning signs
Signs your yard is breeding mosquitoes
Sign 01
Bites every evening on the patio
Heavy biting at dusk means mosquitoes are resting close by.
Sign 02
Water that stands for days
Low spots, clogged gutters and saucers breed mosquitoes in about a week.
Sign 03
Dense shade and ground cover
Thick shrubs and ivy give adults a cool place to rest in the day.
Sign 04
A pond, pool cover or rain barrel
Uncovered water features and pool covers collect breeding water.
Sign 05
Worse after watering or rain
Numbers jumping after wet weather point to breeding sites on the lot.
Your options
Mosquito options compared
| Option | Best for | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Seasonal yard barrier | Most yards through summer | Needs repeat visits to keep working |
| One-time event treatment | Parties, weddings, reunions | Short-lived; timed a day or two ahead |
| Botanical option | Homes that prefer plant-based products | Shorter residual, more frequent visits |
| Standing water fixes | Every yard | Some fixes are on your side of the job |
Cost
What mosquito control costs
Mosquito work is priced per treatment and by how often you want it through the season.
Lot size
More shaded shrubs, fence line and ground cover means more to treat.
Number of visits
A season plan costs more overall but keeps numbers down all summer.
Event timing
One-off treatments before events are priced on their own.
Product choice
Botanical treatments usually need more frequent visits.
Water features
Ponds and rain barrels need extra care and planning.
Do it yourself?
What you can do
What you can do today
- Tip out standing water weekly: saucers, buckets, toys and tarps.
- Clean gutters so they drain completely.
- Change bird bath water every few days.
- Use fans on patios; mosquitoes are weak fliers.
What to leave alone
- Leaving pool covers or tarps holding water.
- Letting rain barrels sit open without screens.
- Relying on bug zappers, which kill few mosquitoes.
- Watering so heavily that low spots stay puddled.
Timing
How long a treatment lasts
- First eveningBiting drops noticeably in treated areas.
- Two to three weeksResidual treatments keep working in the shade, less in heavy rain or sprinklers.
- Through the seasonRepeat visits keep numbers down until the first hard freeze.
- Event treatmentsBest a day or two before the event for maximum effect.
Evenings back on the patio
Treating resting spots and draining standing water is the combination that brings evening yards back.
Call (801) 516-0135Shaded shrubs and fence lines are where mosquitoes rest during the day.
Dusts, residual sprays and mosquito traps from product lines like these, chosen for the nest and the spot.
- Tempo
- Demand CS
- Suspend PolyZone
- Alpine WSG
- In2Care
- Gentrol
FAQ
Mosquito control questions from Salt Lake homeowners
Still unsure? (801) 516-0135 is answered around the clock.
Nothing on one lot eliminates the risk, but fewer mosquitoes resting in your yard means fewer bites. Repellent and covering up at dusk still matter.
Every few weeks through the season, until the first hard freeze, works best for most yards.
We keep treatment off flowering plants and apply to shaded resting areas. Tell us about beehives nearby.
They treat wetlands, canals and larger breeding areas. Yard treatment handles the mosquitoes resting on your own lot.
Yes, there's a botanical option. It usually needs more frequent visits to hold up.
Yes. A treatment a day or two before an outdoor event is one of the most common requests.
Rivers, canals and wetlands hold water for breeding. Homes near them see more pressure all season.
Related services
More from wasps, bees & flying insects
From the Pest Library: West Nile season in Salt Lake County: a homeowner's checklist
Talk to us
Can't sit outside in the evening?
Call now to set up yard treatments for the rest of the season.
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