It’s summer in the south and that means a lot of things – hot days, humidity, and unfortunately, insects and pests invading your porches, patios and decks. You want to be able to fully enjoy your outdoor living spaces without being feasted upon like a Thanksgiving turkey, but you likely also don’t want to be constantly spraying noxious fumes into these spaces in the form of insect repellants and bug sprays. While regular pest control is always recommended, there are additional steps you can take to discourage these pests from making their home in yours.
Inspect Your Plants and Planters
The decorative planters that hold your beloved patio plants may be providing the perfect space for insects to thrive. Each potted plant and flowering shrub is its own miniature ecosystem for insects and pests. As much as you may love the look of a dense rainforest in your sunroom or patio, try to limit the number of plants and flowers to discourage pests. Also, resist the urge to over-water your potted plants, even during our hot Georgia summers. The more moisture, the more bugs, say experts. You should try to keep these plants away from doors and windows, so that the bugs that do show up don’t have such each access to entering your home.
You can also make your plants work with you to help you get rid of unwanted pests. Some herbs are natural insect repellants, such as garlic, rosemary, chive and lemongrass. Planting a small amount of any of these and mixing them in with the decorative plants on your patio or deck can help keep biting insects at bay. Marigolds are another natural insect repellent, and their colorful blooms will add color and depth to your plant collection. Another similar option are chrysanthemums, which experts say will keep roaches, ants, ticks, fleas, and bedbugs away,
Update Your Lighting
Most of us understand that flying insects are attracted to light, and the more light you use after dark on your porch or deck, the more flying friends you will have around. If you want to get rid of the pests without sacrificing the light you need to enjoy your space, consider switching to LED lights for all of your outdoor bulbs. Studies have shown that LED lights attract significantly fewer insects. They also generate less heat, which helps repel insects that are more attracted to a heat source than lights. Turn off all lighting before you go to bed at night, and avoid UV lighting completely in your outdoor spaces.
Another thing to keep in mind is the color of your lighting. Bugs have eyesight that helps them naturally see shorter wavelengths of light best, such as blues and purples. On the other hand, their visual range does not include longer light wavelengths, like red, orange, and yellow. If you want to keep bugs away from a patio at night, try swapping out cooler bulbs for warmer ones. Many insects that are attracted to white light will not be as interested in lights that glow with an orange or yellow hue. Bulb type is also important – fluorescent, halogen and sodium vapor bulbs will attract fewer pests.
Please steer clear of the old fashioned bug zappers though, the ones that tend to glow with a purple or blue hue. These lights indiscriminately kill good insects along with the bad ones, and you don’t want to accidentally zap a honeybee, butterfly or other helpful pollinator.
Inspect Wood Regularly
If you have a wooden porch or deck, you need to inspect it occasionally and look for pests such as carpenter bees and carpenter ants, both of which are often found in food here in the south. Wasps also are known to build nests in wood, often on the underside of a deck. Keep all wood structures sealed and/or painted to make the wood less attractive for these types of pests. If you find any pieces of wood to be in a state of decay, these should be replaced immediately to discourage insect nesting. Decaying wood is an ideal nesting material for carpenter ants and other pests attracted to moisture.
Circulate the Air
If you don’t already have them, installing outdoor ceiling fans can also help you enjoy any covered outdoor areas without the menace of biting insects. Because of their increasing popularity, these fans are now available in a wide variety of colors and styles. While they are valuable for keeping us cooler while we enjoy the great outdoors, the circulating air is also a deterrent to many bugs. This works especially well when it comes to flies and mosquitoes, since neither is well-equipped to stand up to strong winds. If the outdoor area you are trying to protect is not covered, an indoor/outdoor oscillating fan will also do the trick.
Citronella To the Rescue
If what you need is relief from mosquitos specifically, consider adding citronella candles around your outdoor living area, or if you use tiki style torches, use oil that has been infused with citronella. This works great as a mosquito repellant, though ants and spiders likely won’t be swayed. When placing candles, consider this – for citronella to be effective, it needs to be located close to the people wishing to not get bit. Place candles as close to seating areas as possible, such as on end tables or in the center of outdoor dining tables.
Natural Insect Repellants
In addition to citronella, there are a few other natural insect repellants you can use while you are enjoying time outdoors and you’d like to avoid bug bites. For example, several essential oils can be used to repel insects. You can either add a diffuser to your outdoor living space or spritz the air occasionally with an essential oil spritzer. The best essential oils to use for repelling unwanted bugs and insects are eucalyptus, peppermint, sweet orange and lavender. Other household items that can be used to keep bugs away include mint flavored mouthwashes and hydrogen peroxide. Transfer to a spray bottle and dilute each with an equal amount of water. Spray on tables, chairs and around the perimeter of your outdoor space.
Clean Your Gutters
Your gutters help your home in more ways than you might realize. Regularly clearing the leaves and small sticks that gather in your gutters does more than just make sure they move rainwater from your roof appropriately. Cleaning up this detritus also removes the food and water source that many bugs and pests live off of. Insects such as mosquitoes, ants and earwigs are attracted to the small pockets of standing water found in clogged gutters, and will easily fly into your patio and deck areas as well. By keeping your gutters clean, you remove these pests’ comfortable accommodations.
Don’t Let Water Stand
Stagnant water is like a playground for unwanted insects and pets. A frisbee abandoned by the kids or an empty clay pot filled with rainwater may look innocent, but these items can attract mosquitos who will lay eggs, creating an ongoing problem. Check your outdoor areas regularly for any items that may allow water to pool up, and remove any standing water immediately. If your outdoor scapes include water features such as bird baths and fountains, make sure the water is changed out regularly, especially if it does not circulate. Still water that is not being circulated should be changed out every few days.
Clean or Relocate Grills and Garbage Cans
Nothing attracts pest like food, so reducing the amount of food you have in or around your outdoor living areas will naturally decrease the number of bugs and insects you have to deal with. Flies in particular feed on organic matter, and they are experts at finding these food sources. When you are cooking outdoors, whether grilling or smoking, be sure to keep all food inside until you are ready to cook it. Clean your grill or smoker completely after use, being sure to empty and remove any grease traps. Garbage cans are also a major source of unwanted insects. If possible, locate your trash can somewhere far from any porches, decks and patios. Also, be mindful of crumbs when you dine outside. Clean your patio and deck tables thoroughly after every outdoor meal so that nothing is left behind to attract unwanted pests.
Install a Bat House
A what? Yes you read that correctly, a bat house. There are 16 species of bats that are native to Georgia, so if you are lucky enough to have witnessed them in your neighborhood, installing a bat house on your property could attract a small colony. These winged mammals are excellent mosquito eaters and can be a lot of fun to watch as they dart around, hunting their dinner. Bats make little squeaking noises as they use sonar to find their way around, and one bat can eat up to 1,000 insects in a single hour. Ordinarily, bats stay away from humans and make for great partners in pest control.