How to keep the bugs off your outdoor deck?

An outdoor deck is a private space for relaxation and a great area for you to entertain friends and family. You can choose to host a family gathering on your outdoor space deck for a barbecue or a drink and a chat. Or you can choose to read stories to your children in the evening under the lights. What a wonderful outdoor space life!

When relaxing outdoors, there can be quite a few worries. For example, pesky insects start to appear. In summer, outdoor activities can attract mosquito bites. Food scraps can attract ants or other unwanted visitors. Lights at night can attract moths and other bugs. So what can we do to avoid this annoying thing? There are some simple ways to keep the summer bugs off your patio and help you enjoy the outdoors without any unpleasant distractions.

Repel pesky insects with plants

Insects mostly distinguish information based on scent, and this chemical-free repellent can emit different scents to repel insects. Of course, there is no one perfect solution to repel all insects. Depending on the pests you need to repel, you can use specific garden plants to repel bugs. For example, use chrysanthemums to repel ants, basil to repel flies, and moths that don’t like lavender. To repel mosquitoes, you can use plants such as rosemary, marigold, and lavender.

Repel pests with plants that can be used not only to decorate your outdoor deck space but also to fresh scents in your yard. Remember that while lemon scent will repel mosquitoes, it may attract bees.

Use Essential Oils

If you find it cumbersome and limiting to use plants to repel other insects, you can use essential oils instead. To use them, spray the essential oil mixture evenly around your space to keep as many insects off your patio.

So how do you make insect repellent to repel insects? Mix one part witch hazel with one part of water. Add a tablespoon of topical alcohol and a few dozen drops of essential oil.

As for the choice of essential oil, you can use lavender, rosemary, lemon thyme, or basil. These scents mimic the scent of the plant they are named after and allow you to combine multiple protective measures into one solution.

Drain the deck of standing water

We have a variety of ways to remove various flying insects from your deck, but we also need to focus on addressing the root cause of the flying insect problem. Standing water on the deck can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes. If possible, keep your deck drains, downspouts, sinks, and other areas free of standing water.

Spraying mouthwash

If you don’t have essential oils to prevent bugs, spraying alcohol-based mouthwash around your deck is another effective way to get rid of deck bugs. Simply fill a spray bottle with some mouthwash and spray around your deck or even on your outdoor furniture. Although alcohol-based mouthwash will repel other pests, the rapid evaporation of the alcohol means you will need to spray regularly.

Change your deck lighting

Bugs have a visual system that helps them see shorter wavelengths of light, such as blue and purple, better. But their visual system cannot see warm lights, such as red or orange.

The commonly used white light bulbs contain a high concentration of blue light, so the light at night attracts many mosquitoes. If you want to keep bugs off your outdoor deck at night, try replacing cooler bulbs with warmer tones, especially yellow or sodium vapor bulbs. This will prevent the lights from attracting more mosquitoes.

Keep your backyard deck tidy and clean

A messy backyard provides a great home for bugs. Ticks like to hide in tall grass and overgrown bushes can make it easier for pests to get in. Keeping your yard tidy is not just a matter of appearance; it reduces the amount of living space for bugs away from your patio. So, whether it’s for aesthetic reasons or the idea of reducing bugs, try to keep your outdoor deck as clean and tidy as possible.

Following these simple tips can help you make your backyard deck a bug-free place to enjoy better relaxation time outdoors with friends and family.