Insects are not a bad thing. Some are predators for smaller bugs and creatures, while others are fuel for birds, snakes and lizards. While you may prefer to not have any of the above while enjoying your patio cover, there are natural, green things that you can do to discourage these visitors. Natural insect control is much safer and can be more effective if used properly, and avoids exposing your family to harmful chemicals. The fumes of an insect spray may disappear within minutes, but the toxic effect of the minute droplets landing on the furniture; patio and surrounding grass can be picked up and transferred into the house with human foot traffic and pets.
General pest prevention
As with the interior of your home, a clean, dry patio will not draw insects to feel comfortable staying with you. Food and water are appealing to all sorts of bugs including ants, cockroaches and other bugs. Be sure to put food away, wipe the table and sweep the patio floor after enjoying a meal outdoors. Clear away any partially full glasses, and possibly move the cat or dog food bowls away from the door and further away from the patio cover. Don’t leave a half-full open garbage can on the patio either, as it will attract insects. Use a closed receptacle, empty it regularly or place food items directly in the garbage cans. If it rains, be sure to pour out any leftover rainwater if its there for more than a day or so.
Keeping flies away from your patio cover
If you’ve ever noticed plastic bags filled with water at outdoor restaurants or other venues, they do have a purpose. Those bags can detract flies. The theory is that because flies have 3,000 to 6,000 eyes that cannot specifically focus, the refracted sunlight from the water bags causes them to fly away. A housefly bases its sense of direction on the origin of sunlight, and with the way the sunlight is altered with the bags causes it to be confused and not go in that direction.
Of course, some flies may still be present, but many people insist that this is the most natural, effective way to control fly population. A simple Ziploc bag filled with water, tied at the top and affixed to your patio cover, possibly one bag every four feet, should be effective. Some people like to increase the light refraction by adding a penny, while others insist on adding pieces of tin foil. “Professional fly bags” exist as well.
Distracting mosquitoes from your backyard
Mosquitoes love standing water and will breed in any non-moving body of water. Make sure to turn over any empty flower pots or trays, especially during the warmer months. When mosquitoes are in the area, either from neighbors or a nearby standing body of water, keep them away by burning citronella candles, using a citronella spray, or rubbing lavender or lemongrass essential oil on the skin.
Get rid of annoying ants
Those tiny ants can be oh so bothersome! The natural solutions for resisting ants are multiple, and work for other insects too. Washing your deck and patio cover with a bucket of water and some castile soap is excellent insect prevention and cleans your patio at the same time! Diatomaceous earth and Borax are also safe substances to sprinkle around the patio to keep away ants, roaches and fleas. It will need to be re-applied once it rains.
Whether you are entertaining guest or simply getting pleasure from an afternoon or evening under your patio cover, insects can be annoying. These simple methods will distract and keep them away, in a healthy environmental way.
