Mosquito Control and Tick Control So You Can Use Your Yard Again

Signs Your Yard Has a Mosquito or Tick Problem

A few bites on a summer night are normal. Steady bites, or ticks showing up on people and pets after time in your own yard, mean the yard itself is producing or holding them.

If you find a tick attached, the CDC’s tick bite guidance covers what to do next. See a doctor if you have concerns.

Health Risks: Lyme Disease and West Nile Virus

Most bites are just itchy. Some carry disease, which is why yard control matters most in high-risk areas and for families who spend a lot of time outside.

• West Nile virus

  The CDC calls it the leading cause of mosquito-borne disease in the contiguous U.S. Most infected people never feel sick, but over 1,300 people a year develop severe nervous system illness.

• Lyme disease

  Spread by infected blacklegged ticks, most often in the Northeast, mid-Atlantic and upper Midwest. Early signs can include fever, headache, fatigue and a spreading rash.

• Other tickborne illnesses

  Different ticks carry different diseases depending on the region.

• Pets

  Dogs and outdoor cats pick up ticks in the same places people do.

If you develop a fever, rash or other symptoms after a bite, see a doctor. Treating the yard lowers tick numbers, but it isn’t protection against tick-borne illness on its own.

DIY Mosquito and Tick Control vs a Pro

Repellent on your skin and dumping water are things everyone should do. Treating the whole yard is where a licensed pro makes a difference.

Treatment Options Compared

Most plans combine two or three of these. Knowing what each one does makes the pro’s quote easier to follow.

Ask how the pro protects bees and other pollinators. University of Wisconsin researchers note that barrier residues can harm beneficial insects that land on treated plants.

Tick Control: Making the Yard Less Tick-Friendly

Ticks need humidity, shade and hosts like deer and rodents. Changing the yard’s layout cuts tick numbers and makes treatments last longer.

How to Prepare for the Yard Treatment

A few minutes of prep helps the pro reach every resting spot and breeding site.

• Dump standing water and point out spots you can’t drain
• Bring in toys, pet bowls and laundry from the yard
• Close windows and ask the pro when to turn off sprinklers
• Bring pets inside during treatment
• Mention gardens, fish ponds and beehives near the property
• Unlock gates so the pro can reach the back of the yard
• Mow before the visit, not right after

How Much Do Mosquito Control and Tick Control Cost?

Yard treatments are priced mostly by property size and how many visits the season needs. These typical ranges help you know what to expect.

Sources: Lawn Love mosquito control cost guide, 2026 (mosquito visit pricing); AlwaysDoBetter 2026 pest control pricing guide (plan pricing).

What moves the price up or down

• Yard size

  more ground to cover means more product and time.

• Woods, water and shade

  properties next to woods or water need more visits.

• Number of visits

  a longer season in the South means more treatments.

• Ticks added

  tick perimeter work may be priced separately.

• Larvicide for ponds or drains

  an add-on in some plans.

When Are Mosquitoes and Ticks Most Active?

Season length depends on where you live. The CDC puts mosquito season at roughly June through October across much of the country, with West Nile cases peaking in late summer.

• Early spring

  First adults in warm states · Adult and young ticks become active as it warms

• Late spring

  Activity builds after rain · Young ticks (nymphs) active; small and easy to miss

• Summer

  Peak biting, especially after storms · Nymphs and adults active

• Late summer

  West Nile risk highest · Activity continues

• Fall

  Slows with the first frosts in the North · Adult ticks active again on mild days

• Winter

  Mostly dormant except in warm states · Adults can be active on warm days

In Florida, the Gulf Coast and Southern California, mosquitoes can be active most of the year.

Questions to Ask the Pro

These questions help you compare plans and avoid surprises.

• 1

  What will you treat, and where?

  Ask about resting areas, water and yard edges.

• 2

  How often are visits, and for how many months?

  Get the schedule in writing.

• 3

  How do you protect bees and pollinators?

  Flowering plants should be avoided.

• 4

  How long do people and pets stay off the yard?

  Usually until dry or as the label directs; confirm.

• 5

  Do you treat for ticks too, or only mosquitoes?

  Some plans are mosquito-only.

• 6

  What happens if bites come back between visits?

  Many providers offer re-treatment; ask.

• 7

  What’s your state license number?

  Yard applications are state-regulated.

• 8

  What should I fix in the yard?

  A good pro points out breeding spots.

Personal Protection Between Treatments

Yard treatment cuts numbers but doesn’t replace protecting yourself, especially on hikes and in high-risk areas. For Lyme disease prevention, the CDC recommends these steps.

• Use an EPA-registered repellent

  DEET, picaridin, IR3535, oil of lemon eucalyptus, PMD or 2-undecanone.

• Check for ticks after time outdoors

  armpits, ears, belly button, behind the knees, hair, waist and between the legs.

• Shower within two hours of coming inside

  it can wash off unattached ticks.

• Dry clothes on high heat for 10 minutes

  this kills ticks on clothing.

• Check pets daily

  and ask your vet about tick prevention.

• Repair window and door screens

  keep mosquitoes outside.

Why Call Bastion for Mosquito and Tick Control

Most people call after a summer of bites. One call to Bastion gets a pro on your yard who does this every season.

• One number for any pest.

  Mosquitoes, ticks and fleas can be handled on the same visit in many areas.

• Breeding spots, not just spraying.

  The pro walks the yard for standing water and tick habitat before treating.

• Fast scheduling.

  Same-day or next-day service may be available (call to check), which matters before an event.

• Typical costs upfront.

  You know the usual range before the pro arrives.

License check tip: Yard spraying is regulated by your state. Pest control companies must hold a state license, so ask for the number at the yard walk and check it on your state agency’s site before the first treatment.

Mosquito & Tick Control by state

Local guides with state rules, seasonal timing and licensed providers near you.