The Lake Martin Mosquito Survival Guide
If you own a home on Lake Martin, you know August evenings on the dock are a war zone. Here's our 30-day yard-barrier system, and what NOT to spend money on.
Lake Martin is paradise from March through November — until the sun goes down. Then it's a no-fly zone unless you're a mosquito, in which case it's an all-you-can-eat buffet.
Our Alex City office has been treating lake homes since 1958. Here's what actually works, what doesn't, and how to think about mosquito control if you live (or weekend) on the water.
Why Lake Martin is worse
Mosquitoes need standing water to breed. Lake Martin doesn't have standing water — it's a massive flowing reservoir. But the lake itself is irrelevant. What matters is:
- Tree holes in mature hardwoods around your lot — they hold water for weeks.
- Boat covers and tarps that collect a half-inch of rainwater.
- Decorative containers, kayak hulls, dog bowls.
- Clogged gutters. Probably the #1 source we find.
- Stagnant cove edges where the lake's main flow doesn't reach — algae mats become breeding grounds.
A mosquito only needs a bottle cap of water and seven days to go from egg to biting adult. One stagnant boat cover can produce thousands of mosquitoes per week.
What we do — 30-day yard barrier
We treat the perimeter of your property and the harborage zones — the shaded undersides of decks, the boathouse rafters, the hedge lines, the tree canopy up to about 20 feet. The product binds to leaf surfaces and kills mosquitoes that land. After 21 days, UV breakdown degrades it and we come back.
March through November. 9 treatments per season. $45/visit, or add tick (chiggers covered) in the Mosquito + Tick plan at $65/visitnth.
What we DON'T recommend
Bug zappers. They're great at killing moths and harmless beetles. Studies have shown bug zappers kill mosquitoes at a rate of about 0.13% of their total catch. They are a moth-frying machine and that's it.
Citronella candles. Effective in a 2-foot radius if there's no wind. On a dock with a lake breeze, useless.
Ultrasonic repellents. Don't work. The FTC has actually taken multiple manufacturers to court over false claims. Mosquitoes do not navigate by sound.
Bat houses. We love bats. Bats love bats. Mosquitoes are about 1% of a bat's diet. A single bat eats maybe 4–8 mosquitoes per night while eating thousands of moths and beetles. Worth installing for the ecosystem; don't expect a mosquito-free lakefront.
What you can do yourself, between our visits
- Walk the property every week and dump anything holding water. Pay attention to tarps, kid toys, kayaks turned upright.
- Clean gutters in early April and again in late August.
- Treat tree holes with a copper sulfate tablet or fill with expanding foam.
- Run a box fan on the dock. Mosquitoes are weak fliers — a moderate breeze blows them away. Cheap and effective.
- For body protection, picaridin lotion is as effective as DEET and doesn't melt your sunglasses.
Tick and flea bundle
If you're on the lake, you also have ticks. Every wooded lot in Tallapoosa County has Lone Star ticks and Dog ticks. Our standard recommendation for lake homes is the Outdoor Bundle: mosquito + tick yard treatment with chigger coverage, $65/visitnth, March through November.
Call our Alex City / Lake Martin office: (256) 234-6162.
Ready to Schedule?
Call the EnviroCare office nearest you.