We love spending time out on our decks and patios when the weather is nice. Unfortunately, so do insects. Your idea of a good time outdoors probably doesn’t involve gnats flying up your nose, mosquitoes biting or flies swarming your food. Here are a few tips to keep some of the most common bugs away.
1)Keep your deck clean and free of food – Sweep off your deck regularly and do not leave food or drinks outside.
2)Install patio fans or bring a fan outdoors with you – Mosquitoes and flies don’t like wind speeds over 10 mph. A fan will increase movement enough to keep them away.
3)Avoid standing water - Mosquitoes and gnats breed in standing water. Keep gutters cleaned out. Empty buckets and other water sources when not in use. Avoid having a bird bath if possible. If a bird bath is a must-have for your yard, get one that has moving water to avoid the possibility of breeding.
4)Avoid using too much mulch - Roaches and ants love much! Instead, use an alternative such as rock or gravel. If you must use an organic mulch, keep it at least 12 inches away from your house and deck.
5)Avoid having a large, bare ground area – this invites yellow jackets to tunnel.
6)Mow regularly and avoid very tall grasses or weeds - Ticks and other insects love hiding in tall grass.
7)Use your garden to help repel undesirable insects - Basil and rosemary help to repel flies and mosquitoes. Lavender help with moths, fleas, flies & mosquitos.
Check out this link for other plants that repel insects: https://www.mnn.com/your-home/organic-farming-gardening/stories/12-plants-that-repel-unwanted-insects
8)Use fire to repel bugs - Flies will avoid extreme heat. Light a fire or use a propane fueled fire table to keep the flies away. Smoke is also a natural inspect repellent. You can add some of the same herbs from your garden to the fire for an added repellent. Lavender, sage, mint, and lemon balm are all great for adding.
9)Use citronella – candles, spray, and plants. Citronella is one of the most popular mosquito deterrents. It certainly won’t hurt to have some around.
10)Use neem oil on your plants – If you have plants on or near your deck area, spray them with a neem oil mix. Some flies and other insects will use your plants as a place to lay their eggs. Neem oil kills larvae and deters insects from coming back to lay.