Watering and Irrigation

Living with Mosquitos

by 505 Outside | Jun 30, 2026 | Do It Yourself (DIY), Home Page, Outdoor Living, Pollinators and Wildlife, Rainwater Harvesting, Spring, Summer, Watering and Irrigation

Mosquitoes have been so very prominent here in the Albuquerque area over the last five years, and we’ve been learning a lot about how to live with them in our yards. Fortunately, Bernalillo County and the City of Albuquerque have been studying mosquito lifecycles, treatment and abatement for years.

There are three types of mosquitoes found in our area, including the Aedes vexans (floodwater mosquito) and the Culex quinquefasciatus (southern house mosquito). Additionally, the Aedes aegypti (yellow fever mosquito) has become firmly established in the Albuquerque area in recent years.

All these species are well adapted to the local environment, but they differ significantly in behavior, feeding habits and the types of risks they pose. Southern house mosquitoes primarily feed on birds but will bite humans and domestic animals. They are active at night and during dawn and dusk.

Floodwater mosquitoes prefer to host on humans, livestock and pets. They are highly aggressive and notorious for biting during the evening and nighttime hours. Floodwater mosquitoes are a nuisance because of their painful and frequent bites but not commonly associated with disease.

Floodwater Mosquito

Yellow fever mosquitoes are specifically human-focused biters that actively hunt during the daytime. They are easily recognized by the distinct white, violin-shaped markings on their back and striped bands on their legs. They are the primary transmitters of critical mosquito-borne diseases, such as Zika, dengue fever and yellow fever. These diseases have not been found in the greater Albuquerque area and City-County prevention is underway to keep it that way. To learn more about the yellow fever mosquito, check out this useful flyer.

Yellow Fever Mosquito

Local mosquito control is conducted as a combined city-county effort. Mosquitoes are controlled at all life stages through a variety of methods, following the principles of integrated pest management. The goal is effective and efficient control designed to minimize the amount of pesticide released in the environment and to prevent pesticide resistance. Protecting public health and ensuring that outdoor activities can be enjoyed safely and comfortably is the City-County partnerships underlying mission.

Albuquerque and Bernalillo County residents can report mosquito issues by calling 311.

Residents who don't wish to have their property sprayed can register on the No-Spray List by calling 311.

The most important things you can do are reducing mosquito breeding habitat and preventing mosquito bites as per City of Albuquerque Environmental Health Department.

What you can do

Prevent mosquito breeding on your property

Dump standing water found in trays beneath potted plants; used tires; trash, discarded buckets and other containers; children’s toys; and other places.
Store containers that could hold water upside down.
Keep your property uncluttered — mosquitoes can breed in the smallest pools of water even as small as a bottle cap.
Clean pet water dishes regularly by emptying, scrubbing and replacing the water.
Replace bird bath water regularly.
Cover rain barrels with a fine mesh and treat with mosquito dunks. Mosquito dunks contain bacteria called Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti). Bti is a naturally occurring bacterium found in soils. It contains spores that produce toxins that specifically target the larvae of the mosquito. Bti has no toxicity to people and is approved for pest control in organic farming operations. It has been well tested and based on the studies EPA has concluded that Bti does not pose a risk to humans. The Bti mosquito dunks are sold at hardware, home improvement, and feed supply stores. They can be placed in standing water, and the bacteria will kill mosquito larvae.
Treat pools with chlorine. If not in use, keep empty or treat with mosquito dunks
Reduce moist collection areas in your grass lawn as mosquitos like to bread in these small moist spaces. Aim to space your sprinkler watering out so the wet areas dry up between irrigation days.
Add mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis, to ponds and small water features (available free from the City of Albuquerque by calling 311).
Check flat roofs for pockets of water in shaded areas and clogged rain gutters.

Prevent mosquitoes from entering your home

Keep door and window screens in good condition.
Check window screens and doors for holes and repair any holes with sticky screen tape.

Protect yourself when outdoors

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved insect repellents include those containing DEET, picaridin and oil of lemon eucalyptus.
Follow the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Wear long sleeves and long pants, especially at dusk and dawn.

Report standing water and high adult populations to 311

Other home strategies

Set out mosquito traps to reduce the number of mosquitoes in your yard or home. BG-sentinel traps use dry ice (which can be bought at a grocery store) and/or a scent bait to attract mosquitoes and are very effective. The City uses BG-Sentinel traps when conducting mosquito surveillance. Ovitraps can be used to attract females that are ready to lay their eggs. It is important to maintain ovitraps by adding a mosquito dunk or they will become breeding habitat.
Repel mosquitoes with smell: Mosquitoes rely heavily on their sense of smell to locate their next meal. They are attracted to certain odors, such as carbon dioxide from our breath and lactic acid from our skin. Mosquitoes hate strong, pungent and herbaceous scents that mask the carbon dioxide and lactic acid humans emit. These can be distributed as sprays, diffused as essential oils or the plants can be crushed and rubbed onto your skin for a natural repellent. The smells they don’t like include:
- Lemon eucalyptus: Approved by CDC and World Health Organization, it is recognized as one of the most effective natural deterrents. It contains PMD(p-menthane-3,8-diol) which is extracted from the leaves of a lemon eucalyptus tree. This scent is known to block mosquitoes from detecting you.
- Citronella: The classic lemon-grass scent disrupts a mosquito's ability to find hosts.
- Peppermint and menthol: The intense smell of mint can overpower their sensory receptors.
- Lavender: Contains compounds like linalool that deter pests.
- Citrus: Citrus smells, such as those from lemons, oranges and grapefruits, are highly effective at repelling mosquitoes. You could place citrus peels in strategic locations to deter mosquitoes from coming too close.
- Rosemary: Rosemary is another herb that mosquitoes dislike. Plant rosemary bushes near outdoor seating areas then crush the leaves to release the smells and oils.
- Basil: Crush fresh basil leaves to release their scent.
- Garlic: Create a garlic spray by mixing crushed garlic cloves with water.
- Lemon balm: Rub crushed lemon balm leaves on your skin for added protection.
- Catnip: Catnip contains a compound called nepetalactone, which is highly effective at repelling mosquitoes. Plant catnip in pots or in your garden or crush the leaves and rub them on your skin for a natural repellent.
Create DIY sprays: One of the easiest ways to use essential oils for mosquito control is by creating a DIY spray.
- Combine:
- 2 ounces of distilled water
- 1.5 ounces of witch hazel
- 30-40 drops of essential oils (Mix and match based on your preferences; effective options include citronella, lavender, peppermint, eucalyptus, lemongrass and tea tree.)

Repel mosquitos with smoke: Incense sticks and smudge sticks have been used around town by local restaurants and in yards with some success.
Repel mosquitos with a fan. The breeze of an outdoor fan can make it harder to trace the scents and harder for them to fly near the fan.
Schedule a yard audit: According to a recent KRQE interview with City of Albuquerque Urban Biology Division Manager Nick Pederson, the city can help residents reduce mosquitoes on private property by performing an inspection. “We like to offer what we call a yard audit or a yard inspection where we’ll come out and actually look at a person’s yard with them and see if we can identify possible sources of mosquito issues,” Pederson said, explaining that these inspections can be requested by contacting 311.

Resources and Photography for this article:

https://www.krqe.com/news/community/dealing-with-mosquitoes-the-city-of-albuquerque-will-give-you-free-fish-to-help/

https://kentuckypest.com/blog/smells-mosquitoes-hate

https://www.cabq.gov/environmentalhealth/urban-biology/mosquitoes/what-you-can-do

https://www.cabq.gov/environmentalhealth/urban-biology/pest-management/integrated-pest-management

https://www.bernco.gov/planning/consumer-health-protection/mosquito-control/

https://www.epa.gov/mosquitocontrol/bti-mosquito-control##1

Learn More Here:

How to DIY a Mosquito bucket trap

Yellow Mosquito Flyer

City Of Albuquerque Mosquito Tips

Have a question about the article or anything else? AskAnExpert@abcwua.org

2025 Desert Friendly Webinars

by Shannon Whitehead | Jun 25, 2026 | 505 Categories, Do It Yourself (DIY), Uncategorized, Water Conservation, Watering and Irrigation, Xeriscape

Set up a hose irrigation system for great benefits at a reduced cost

by 505 Outside | Jun 1, 2026 | Do It Yourself (DIY), Watering and Irrigation

Set up a hose irrigation system for great benefits at a reduced cost

The most efficient way to water your yard is by using an automatic irrigation system with underground valves. Hand watering can be problematic because it can lead to inconsistent watering, causing you to overwater, underwater or forget to water altogether.

However, these systems can be expensive to install, with costs sometimes ranging from $800 to $2,000, depending on the number of valves. If you are ready to install a more efficient irrigation system but aren’t ready for the cost of an inground system, consider starting with a hose timer system that can be easily converted to an inground system later on.

A hose timer system is an inexpensive way to get your plants on automatic irrigation, allowing you to water your yard on a specific day of the week, time of the day and for a set number of minutes. You can put it together yourself for under $100.

The hose timer attaches to high-quality irrigation ¾” Polyline with drip emitters or professional landscape dripline. The dripline can stay in the ground year-round and be later connected to future valves of an automatic in-ground irrigation system.

There are a variety of products you can use, including smart controllers, easy twist-and-turn controllers, multi-valve controllers, and more. We offer a rebate on ones that adjust to our weather and your plants’ water needs (referred to as ‘smart controllers’).

Check out our how-to installation video to learn how to get started.

Learn more by checking out these other useful irrigation articles:

Yes, You Can Afford an Irrigation System

Best Practices for Watering Your Plants With a Hose or Drip System.

Use Drip Irrigation for Your Trees and Shrubs

How to Build a Hose Irrigation System for Trees

Author: Have a question about the article or anything else? AskAnExpert@abcwua.org

Water by the Seasons

by 505 Outside | Apr 14, 2026 | Blog, Fall, Planting, Spring, Summer, Watering and Irrigation, Winter

Smart Irrigation Controllers

by 505 Outside | Apr 1, 2026 | Blog, Water Conservation, Watering and Irrigation

Most Albuquerque homes have an irrigation box below ground in the yard that contains automatic valves, pressure reducers, and filters with backflow preventers next to the box. The automatic valves are wired to an irrigation controller that’s often in the garage, laundry room or an outside wall. Different variations of these controllers have been around since the 1960s and allow homeowners to adjust when and how long to water different zones. However in the early 2000s the proliferation of wireless technology and the internet ushered in the ‘Smart’ controller.

Smart controllers use WiFi and connect wirelessly to the local weather station. They will not water on days when it’s too windy or it has already rained. Most will also determine what your landscape’s water needs are and create a schedule based on data added during setup plus the information it receives from local weather stations. They connect to your smartphone or tablet so you have easy control over your system no matter where you are. Irrigation Designer Richard Perce says, “A smart controller adjusts your watering based on the local weather conditions which saves you money and water. But what I love the most is that you can turn your system on and off from the phone as you walk the line to find leaks. No more needing to run back and forth to the garage."

Smart Controllers allow you to turn your system on and off without running back to the irrigation controller in the garage.

What is a smart irrigation controller?

Smart controllers use current and/or historic weather data to create a custom irrigation schedule.
Our study shows residents with traditional landscaping saved about $150 per year, or about 20% in landscape irrigation costs by installing a smart irrigation controller.
Popular models cost around $150, and with a 25% rebate on qualifying models, your investment pays for itself in less than a year-thanks to water savings alone!
Nearly all smart controllers use an intuitive phone app, making it easier for you to set up and to check for issues - no back & forth to your garage!

The Water Authority’s offers a smart controller rebate. The rebate is a 25% rebate, up to $100.00 and includes the purchase and professional installation of a smart controller. Installing a Smart controller provides the following benefits:

A healthy, beautiful landscape: Smart controllers help landscapes flourish and remain healthy by providing the right amount of water for each plant zone. Underwatered or overwatered landscapes can be unhealthy, unattractive and wasteful.

Savings of both water and money: These controllers help eliminate overwatering, so they may lower water-use expenses and conserve water particularly for high water users.

Convenience: Properly programmed smart controllers save end-users the time required to continuously monitor and adjust irrigation schedules in response to changing weather and seasons (If you’re installing your new smart controller in an outbuilding or detached garage you may need to verify that your wi-fi signals are strong enough to reach the smart controller.)

BESTSELLING SMART IRRIGATION CONTROLLERS, ABQ METRO AREA (2025)

Rachio 3 Smart Sprinkler Controller

Features: 8 and 16 zones options, inexpensive, connects to local weather stations, works with all modems, easy to use, robust water schedules based on plant type, soil type, sun exposure; and rebates are available. This controller must be controlled by an smartphone since it does not come with a screen on the controller itself. Costs around $200-$250) Integrates with Amazon Alexa and other smart home devices. Supports dual-band Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz & 5 GHz)

Orbit B-hyve Smart Indoor/Outdoor Irrigation controller Models 57995 or 57950

Features: 6 and 12 zone options, inexpensive, connects to local weather stations, easily controlled via your smartphone, can be mounted indoors or outdoors, works with all internet modems (2.4gh and 5gh), long-range Bluetooth radio, can adjust both at the controller and on your phone, easy to use, rebates available. Costs around ($125-$200) Integrates with Amazon Alexa. Model 57950 has a screen, dial and physical buttons you can use to adjust the settings (in addition to the smartphone app). Model 57995 does show the date time and weather you’ll need to use your smartphone to adjust the settings.

Hunter X2 with wand:

Features: If you have an existing Hunter X2 controller you can add WAND. It is a simple plug-in Wi-Fi option for any X2 controller model for online irrigation management from anywhere with an internet connection. Costs about $100 for the wand on your existing controller (costs between $80-$150), connects to local weather stations, easily controlled via your smartphone, can be mounted indoors or outdoors, works with only (2.4gh) internet modem, can adjust both at the controller and on your phone, easy to use, rebates available. Compatable with amazon alexa, control4 and homeseer home automation technology.

Hunter HPC400:

Features: 4 station base model but HPCs can go up to 23 zones, runs about $200, connects to local weather stations, easily controlled via your smartphone, can be mounted indoors or outdoors, works with only (2.4gh) internet modem, can adjust both at the controller and on your phone, easy to use, rebates available.

The Water Authority offers residential rebates of 25% up to $100, and commercial rebates of 25% up to $500, for Smart Controllers. The rebate can be used for both purchase of the controller and the cost of professional installation. Installation is quite easy and is a great weekend DIY project with a high return of investment. Before purchasing your new controller, make sure to visit the list of qualified WaterSense controllers located in the rebate section.