Bonfires are a fun summer activity until bugs start showing up. Any time you spend time outside, there’s a good chance you’ll run into a few pesky pests. Bugs, like mosquitoes and stinging insects, aren’t afraid to crash your outdoor celebration. We’ve made a list of tips to help keep your bonfire free of bugs.
1. Prepare Your Yard
A little bit of prep work can help deter pests. Mow your lawn and trim vegetation to reduce hiding spots for bugs. Remove yard debris including leaf litter, twigs, and grass clippings. Check your yard for standing water. Repair or replace leaky hoses and pipes. Remove objects that can collect water including unused flower pots. Making your yard less appealing to pests can prevent their arrival.
2. Add Herbs to the Fire
A bonfire is already a great way to repel pests. Bugs don’t like the smoke emitted from fires. Adding herbs to the fire can make it more effective at discouraging pest activity. Several plants have fragrances that bugs dislike and try to avoid. Sage, rosemary, thyme, and mint are a few herbs that can help keep pests from bugging you.
3. Cover Drinks & Food
It’s always nice to have food and drinks at an outdoor gathering. Unfortunately, some bugs will want to share your meal. Covering food and drinks can help you avoid attracting hungry bugs like stinging insects, flies, and ants. After you enjoy your food, be sure to clean up. Wipe up spills and throw trash away.
4. Choose the Right Outfit
Sometimes the right outfit can help keep bugs away. Wearing long sleeves and pants can make it harder for mosquitoes to bite you. You’ll also want to cover your ankles. Mosquitoes are attracted to darker colors. When picking out an outfit, opt for lighter shades if you’re going to be outside.
5. Use a Plant-Based Insecticide Spray
Treating your outdoor space with a plant-based insecticide can keep your bonfire bug-free. Our Yard Bug Spray kills pests on contact and has repellent properties. This residual repellency will create a protective barrier helping to keep bugs away. Spray your yard a few days before your outdoor gathering. You can also use our plant-based Natural Insect Repellent to help repel mosquitoes, ticks, and flies.
Pests may want to crash your outdoor fun, but that doesn’t mean you have to let them. A bug-free bonfire starts with making your outdoor space as unwelcoming as possible. If pests are bugging you, we have your back! Check out our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective™ Pest Control products for a more environmentally and family-friendly solution.