The outdoor composite decking boards offer a private space to rest as well as a great place to host friends and family. You can host a barbecue or a drink and a talk on your outdoor deck. Alternatively, you may read stories to your children under the lights in the evening. What a great outdoor living space!
When relaxing outside, there can be a lot of worries. Insects, for example, start to emerge. Summertime outdoor activities can invite mosquito bites. Food crumbs may attract ants and other unwanted visitors. Moths and other insects are drawn to lights at night. So, how can we prevent this perplexing situation?
There are some simple methods for keeping summer bugs off your patio and allowing you to enjoy the outdoors uninterrupted.
1. Plants can be used to keep insects away
Insects primarily detect information through scent, and this chemical-free repellent may emit a variety of aromas to repel insects. Of all, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to insect repellent. Depending on the pests you need to repel, you can use specific garden plants to repel them. To repel ants, use chrysanthemums, basil to repel flies, and lavender to repel moths. Mosquito repellent plants include rosemary, marigold, and lavender.
Plants that may be used to not only adorn your outdoor deck space but also to refresh the aromas in your yard can also be used to repel pests. While the scent of lemon may keep mosquitos away, it may also attract bees.
2. Make use of essential oils
If you discover that utilizing plants to repel other insects is too time-consuming and limiting, essential oils can be substituted. To use, evenly distribute the essential oil combination across your patio to keep as many insects at bay as possible.
So, how do you make effective bug repellant? Mix one part witch hazel to one part water. Add a spoonful of topical alcohol and a few dozen drops of essential oil.
You can use essential oils such as lavender, rosemary, lemon thyme, or basil. These scents are designed to mimic the scent of the plant after which they are named, allowing you to combine multiple protective measures into a single solution.
3. Remove any standing water from the deck
We have different methods for eradicating various flying insects off your deck, but we must also address the root cause of the problem. Standing water on the deck could act as a breeding ground for mosquitos. If at all possible, keep your deck drains, downspouts, sinks, and other spots free of standing water.
4. Using mouthwash
If you don’t have essential oils, spraying alcohol-based mouthwash around your deck is a fantastic way to get rid of deck pests. Spray mouthwash about your deck or on your outdoor furniture after filling a spray bottle halfway with it. Although alcohol-based mouthwash will repel other bugs, because alcohol evaporates quickly, you will need to reapply it regularly.
5. Change the lighting on your outdoor deck
Bugs have a visual system that allows them to see shorter wavelengths of light, such as blue and purple, more clearly. Their optical system, however, is incapable of seeing warm lights such as red or orange.
The light at night attracts a significant number of mosquitoes since standard white light bulbs have a high proportion of blue light. To keep mosquitoes away from your outdoor deck at night, replace chilly lamps with warmer tones, particularly yellow or sodium vapor lighting. This will deter mosquitos from approaching the lights.
6. Maintain the cleanliness of your outside deck
Bugs thrive in a messy backyard. Ticks love long grass to hide in, and overgrown bushes can make pests more accessible. Keeping your yard nice isn’t just for looks; it also reduces the amount of living space for bugs away from your patio. Keep your outside deck as clean and neat as possible, whether for aesthetic reasons or to keep mosquitoes at bay.
Following these simple steps can help you make your backyard deck a bug-free place so you can spend more enjoyable time outside with friends and family. You can also get professional help from pest control companies if the pest infestation at your home is not extreme. These professional services can help eliminate pests and manage rodents with rat and bat exclusion.
Also read: House Centipede: Here is Why You Should Never Kill a Centipede?
