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Won't this become a stagnant water breeding ground for mosquitoes?

John Lawton Jeffcoat III

8 years ago

Small areas of open water that are not filtered and not moving... essentially decorative puddles... may look like nice mini-reflecting-pools, but they will surely become an unhealthy and stagnant water breeding ground for mousquitoes during the warm months. How does the landscape architect prevent this?

Ceres · More Info

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Comments (4)

PRO
Enroot Landscape Planning and Design
8 years ago
Indeed mosquito and dragon fly larvae have been seen in this water feature despite the fact that there is usually a small bubbler pump with filter recirculating the water. Periodic cleaning of the filter and a shot of bleach help keep the water clear. By mid summer there are always frogs that take up residence here and they keep the larvae in check. This trough attracts bIrds, bees, and other pollinators too (and even once a baby snapping turtle)! It's wonderful to create landscapes that provide beauty and interest while supporting/spurring mini ecosystems.
John Lawton Jeffcoat III
Original Author
8 years ago
If you have a bubbler and a filter... plus that clever idea of adding a bit of bleach... that should keep the mosquitoes from taking over. Thanks for clarifying that for Houzz visitors.

- John Jeffcoat (Greatsite.com)
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Bearcubus
5 years ago
It would be kind of cool if the water feature actually attracted mosquitoes laying eggs, so that the eggs could be destroyed by bleach and predators. I've read that most home exteriors house a multitude of small mosquito-breeding venues, including drainpipes.
Glen Jennings
3 years ago
Or you could just buy mosquito dunks on amazon and drop it in once a year so the only thing it hurts are mosquitoes 🤷🏼‍♂️

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