Water needs to move or disappear

The best practice is simple: eliminate standing water that sits for more than a few days.

Mosquitoes breed in still water, and it doesn’t take much. A bottle cap full is enough. Gutters are the biggest hidden problem—leaves and debris block the downspout, water pools, and in a week you’ve got a new generation. Clean gutters at least twice a year, and check after heavy rain.

Plant saucers are second. If you water plants and the saucer collects water, dump it every couple of days. Or do what I do: fill them with sand or gravel so water can’t pool. Same for bird baths—change the water every three days. Buckets, old tires, kiddie pools, even the dish under your pet’s water bowl. If it holds water and you’re not actively using it, flip it over or store it indoors.

One thing people miss: corrugated downspout extensions. Those ridges hold water like tiny swimming pools. Replace them with smooth PVC or tilt them so they drain completely.

Future You will thank yourself when you’re not turning ankles into a buffet.