When should mosquito treatments start each year?
As soon as overnight temperatures stay above about 50°F and the first standing water appears, which for Redmond usually means spring. Starting early keeps the first generation small. Most Redmond providers open seasonal schedules in spring and run them through the first frost.
How do I choose a mosquito control provider?
Ask three things: what will you spray, where, and how often. A good Redmond provider names the product, explains why the schedule is every 3–4 weeks, and talks about standing water before chemicals. Be wary of anyone who promises to eliminate mosquitoes from a Redmond yard for good.
What if the mosquitoes are coming from my neighbor's property?
You cannot treat their yard, but you can reduce what arrives. A barrier treatment on your side of the fence catches adults that fly over from a neighboring Redmond lot. Larvicide on your own water, plus a call to Redmond code enforcement about abandoned pools, covers the rest.
Is mosquito spraying safe for pets, kids, and bees?
Reasonably, yes, if the applicator follows the label. The biggest risks on a Redmond property are drift onto flowering plants, which harms pollinators, and overspray into ponds, which harms fish. Ask the Redmond provider what product they use, and request Bti-only larvicide near any water with fish.
Can I get rid of mosquitoes permanently?
Permanent elimination is not realistic; adults arrive from elsewhere. Eggs also survive dry for months. What a Redmond provider can deliver is a season with far fewer bites, repeated each year. The work is ongoing, like mowing, and a Redmond seasonal plan treats it that way.
Did people hire mosquito professionals because of Zika?
Mostly not, at least by intention. For Redmond, Washington the relevant figure is this: in the 2016 survey TNS Global fielded for Mosquito Squad, only 6% of U.S. homeowners planned to book professional treatment because of Zika, compared with 34% planning repellent; the provider-sponsored poll captured intentions, not purchases, and did not report its sample size. Providers serving Redmond should be able to explain how their recommendation fits what they actually found on your property.
Did most people change anything because of Zika?
Nearly half did not. The national picture, which Redmond has no reason to escape: in the 2016 survey TNS Global conducted for Mosquito Squad, nearly half of U.S. homeowners (46%) reported no change in plans after Zika coverage, outnumbering those planning repellent, do-it-yourself work or professional treatment; the company-sponsored poll did not publish its sample size. In Redmond, ask providers to put the number of visits and any re-treatment terms in writing before work begins.