A few summers ago, most Charleston homeowners thought of mosquitoes as a nuisance. Today, they are considered a health hazard. When you look at the numbers and mosquito and tick control has moved from a “nice to have” patio upgrade to a regular line item in the household budget, the reasons are easy to see.

In 2023, the CDC reports a jump in Lyme disease cases to over 89,000, almost twice the average of the four years before. The American Medical Association said cases of West Nile virus jumped 42% in 2025, while deaths rose 32% from the previous year. When the pests start making the local news, homeowners start picking up the phone.

In this post, we’ll take a look at what’s causing the shift, what professional tick and mosquito control actually entails in 2026, and how families in Charleston are using it to take back their yards.

The Backyard Threat Is Different

If you think mosquito season is longer than it used to be, you’re not hallucinating. Along the Southeast coast, warmer, wetter weather has moved breeding seasons to earlier in the spring and later in the fall. Standing water from afternoon storms, salt marsh humidity and thick Lowcountry vegetation provide cover for mosquitoes and ticks to thrive.

Tick numbers are booming

CDC research indicates that approximately 31 million Americans are bitten by a tick annually, and an estimated 476,000 people are diagnosed and treated for Lyme disease annually in the United States. Lyme is only the tip of the iceberg. In our area, ticks can also carry Ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and alpha-gal syndrome, the red meat allergy now linked to Lone Star tick bites.

The math is not subtle, especially for families with kids, pets, and large wooded lots. A single bite from an infected tick can mean a course of months-long antibiotics, lost work, and lingering symptoms.

Story of mosquito-borne illness no longer a rare event

As of mid-September 2025, 771 human West Nile cases have been reported in 39 states, 490 of which were neuroinvasive. Eastern Equine Encephalitis is less common but is fatal in about 33% of patients who develop severe symptoms. Heartworm is a serious disease that mosquitoes pass to dogs and cats, and costs pet owners thousands of dollars to treat. It’s much cheaper to prevent than to cure.
The CDC says cases of disease from mosquito, tick, and flea bites have tripled in the United States from 2004 to 2016. Since then, the trend line has continued to move in the same direction.


Why Charleston Homeowners Feel It First

Charleston is at the nexus of just about every condition mosquitoes and ticks love:

  • Long warm season, often March-November
  • High humidity prevents drying of larvae
  • Tidal creeks, ponds, and storm drains with standing water
  • Mature tree canopies and pluff mud concealing ticks and pest harborage
  • Outdoor lifestyle, from backyard oyster roasts to morning dog walks
  • Those are the same things that make the Lowcountry beautiful.

That’s also why a laid-back approach to backyard pest control usually doesn’t work here. July yard bites won’t be deterred by citronella candles and tiki torches. Homeowners are catching on, and the residential pest control market is growing.


5 Reasons Why More Homeowners Are Turning to Professional Mosquito and Tick Control

This is not anecdotal growth. Industry data shows Americans spend about $6.5 billion a year on pest control services, and the residential segment has a 52% share of the U.S. mosquito control market in 2025. Here’s what’s really driving that spending at the household level.

  1. Safeguarding children, pets, and elderly parents

Most of the calls we get start with one sentence: “My kids can’t play in the yard.” Bites are worse in kids, and pets can’t tell you when something is wrong. Tick and mosquito control lets families enjoy a controlled outdoor environment without having to spray a toddler with repellent every fifteen minutes.

  1. Put the backyard to work for you

A screened porch, outdoor kitchen, or pool in the Charleston area is a good, worthwhile investment. If you find pests keeping you inside after 5 p.m., that investment is wasted. Homeowners who install a mosquito misting system often say it pays for itself the first time they actually get to finish a meal outdoors.

  1. Climate has killed the off-season

Fewer hard freezes mean warmer winters. Fewer hard freezes mean that mosquito and tick populations carry over from one year to the next, rather than being knocked back. Protection was not mandatory all year. For many neighbourhoods in Charleston, that’s the new baseline.

  1. DIY products hitting the ceiling

Sprays from hardware stores cover small areas and break down fast in the sun and rain. Foggers have a longer range but only last for hours. Granular tick treatments must be used carefully, and reapplied on a schedule most homeowners can’t maintain. In professional services, you’ll see commercial products, calibrated equipment, and timed applications that match the actual life cycle of the pest.

  1. Lifestyle and value of property

Mosquito systems are becoming a selling point for real estate agents in the Charleston market, much like landscape lighting or irrigation. A property that can host a sunset cocktail hour without a swarm of mosquitoes has a different perceived value.

What Does Modern Tick and Mosquito Control Entail

There is not one right answer. The best plan depends on lot size, tree cover, water features, pets, and family use of the yard. Most properties end up with some mix of the following.

Mosquito Misting Systems

A misting system involves placing nozzles around the perimeter of your outdoor living space, often hidden in landscaping, soffits, or fence lines. The system releases a fine mist of a botanical or low-residual insecticide on a timer during the hours that mosquitoes are most active. Application is brief, targeted, and ongoing throughout the season.

Misting systems are good for:

  • Homes with pools, outdoor kitchens, or large entertaining areas
  • Families that want hands-off protection and use the yard every day
  • Properties where weekly fogging visits are insufficient
  • Check out our mosquito misting systems page to learn more about our approach.

Mosquito fogging services

Scheduled fogging is the workhorse of tick and mosquito control for homeowners not ready for a permanent system. A technician treats the property on a weekly or monthly basis, focusing on the undersides of leaves, shrub lines, fences, or other harbourage sites where adult mosquitoes rest during the day.

Fogging is often the right starting point because:

  • rapidly gets rid of the present adult population
  • Covers areas where ticks await a host, including edges of tall grass and pluff piles
  • Scales up or down based on weather and pest pressure
  • See seasonal options on our mosquito fogging page

Tick Remedies

Tick control and mosquito control are similar, but not the same thing. Ticks tend to live closer to the ground in leaf litter, mulch beds, woodlines, and where lawn meets shrubbery. Treatments often include a targeted barrier spray and habitat recommendations, including keeping grass trimmed, clearing leaf piles, and adding a gravel or mulch buffer between the lawn and any wooded area.

Integrated pest management

For households dealing with more than just biting insects, a broader pest control plan can combine mosquito and tick service with treatments for ants, roaches, spiders and rodents on the same visit schedule.


How to Choose a Tick and Mosquito Control Company

A good provider should be willing to walk on your property before quoting you. Here is what to look for.

What to look for Why it matters
Free on-site evaluation A real plan starts with seeing your specific yard, not a phone estimate.
Local experience Charleston pest pressure is different from Atlanta or Raleigh. Local knowledge of breeding sites, salt marsh tides, and microclimates matters.
Transparent pricing You should know exactly what is included before signing anything.
No long-term contracts Service should earn the next month. If it does not work, you should be able to stop.
Pet and family safety Ask what products are used, the re-entry time after application, and how the company handles pollinator-safe practices.
Real reviews and references Look for named testimonials, photos of installs, and a verifiable physical address.

At Knockout Mosquito, we have been doing this in Charleston since 2014. Owner Robert Weinschenk personally inspects most installs, and our team handles design, install, and ongoing service in house instead of subcontracting it out.


Frequently Asked Questions

Is tick and mosquito control safe for children and pets?

Yes (if used correctly). Most professional treatments use products that are labeled for home use and have a short re-entry window, usually 20 to 30 minutes after application. You can program mosquito misting systems to operate during early morning and late evening hours when children and pets are usually indoors.

How Long Does Mosquito Treatment Take?

A typical fogging treatment will kill adult mosquitoes for approximately 21 to 30 days under normal weather conditions. Heavy rain can cut the window short. Misting systems are timed systems for continuous treatment, so the protection doesn’t change as much with the weather.

When to begin tick and mosquito control in Charleston?

In our area, treatments should be started in early spring, usually by mid-March, and continued until the first hard freeze. One of the highest-ROI moves a homeowner can make is to start earlier than you think you need to — it suppresses the population before it explodes.

Can I use mosquito and tick treatments together?

If you have pets, children who play in the grass, or a yard that backs up to woods or marsh, the answer is usually yes. Mosquito and tick treatment cycles often coincide and can usually be handled during the same visits, so adding tick coverage usually doesn’t add a high cost.

How much to hire a professional tick and mosquito control service?

It depends on the size of the lot, the type of system, and the frequency of service. Fogging plans in Charleston typically run a few hundred dollars per season for a typical residential lot, and installed misting systems are a one-time install plus refills. The average American household spends about $575 a year on pest control, so most homeowners can find a plan that suits their needs within their existing budget.

Will mosquito control harm bees and butterflies?

One of the most common questions we get is about pollinator safety. A reputable provider will work at times of day when bees are not active, avoid flowering plants where possible, and use products with short residual activity. Ask your technician about pollinator-safe protocols prior to service.

Get Your Backyard Back This Time of Year

The increase in spending on tick and mosquito control isn’t a marketing story. It is a response to actual, measurable changes in disease pressure, climate, and how families use outdoor space. Charleston homeowners aren’t spending money on pest control because it’s trendy. They are investing because the yard they bought a house for is worth fighting for.”

Tired of citronella, bug spray, and writing off your patio by 6 p.m.? It’s worth a free evaluation. We’ll walk your property, identify breeding sites and harborage points, and develop a plan that fits the way your family actually uses the yard.

Call Knockout Mosquito at 843-270-1729 or request a free estimate to get started.