Bumpy yard and bugs keep family indoors

My yard is buggy, bumpy and boring. I would love to host my mother's 95th birthday party in my yard, but the tiny swarms of bugs, the bumpy grass and boring appeal leave me embarrassed. I couldn't host my family outside because we have a few members in wheelchairs and the yard is too tough to maneuver. I also would love to sit out there with friends and enjoy the creek on the side of the yard, but we can't do that either. The best part of my yard is the view of my neighbors' backyard! Pretty sad … Help, please!

Design by Mosquito Hunters of Chicago

Budget: Less than $2,000

Once the ground is smoothed up, the yard will be ready for your family to enjoy that 95th birthday party. To ensure the comfort of your guests, consider a mosquito treatment that will go a long way toward providing a pest-free environment.

Expert: Andy Fuller, www.mosquitohunters.com

Suggestions

• The gravel along the side of the house is sparse, which can lead to standing water, the ideal breeding ground for mosquitoes. Make sure the ground is graded properly and water drains away from the foundation.

• Keeping the lawn short will help reduce mosquito populations.

• Some more landscaping will provide an area for mosquito barrier treatments, which will also help reduce mosquito populations.

• A treatment from Mosquito Hunters will take about 15 minutes to complete and will provide coverage against mosquitoes for 21 days at a time. On average, a treatment will reduce mosquito, flea, and tick populations by 85 percent to 95 percent. Introductory treatments start at $39 and a season pass of eight treatments starts at $498.