Picnics are a fun pastime when the weather is nice. Unfortunately, some pests may want to invite themselves to your meal. Taking a few precautionary measures can help to keep pests from bugging you and your family. We’ve made a list of tips to help keep your picnic free of pesky bugs.
1. Choose the Right Location
Before you head outdoors, you’ll want to think about the location of your picnic. It’s best to avoid setting up near standing water to help keep mosquitoes away. These bugs are attracted to sources of stagnant water such as puddles, ponds, lakes, birdbaths, and pet water bowls. Sticking to an open area, away from dense vegetation is also ideal because many pests like to hide in overgrown plants and tall grass. Check for any anthills or wasp nests and avoid setting up near them.
2. Prepare Your Backyard
If you choose your backyard as the venue for your picnic, you’ll want to make your space unwelcoming to bugs. Mow your lawn and trim your vegetation to reduce potential hiding spots. Minimize standing water to avoid attracting mosquitoes. During your picnic, consider using a portable or outdoor fan. Bugs struggle to fly in the currents, helping to keep them away from you. You can also treat your space before the picnic with a plant-based insecticide spray. Our Yard Bug Spray kills common outdoor pests and provides residual repellency protection.
3. Keep Food & Drinks Covered
Hungry bugs will stop by your picnic blanket, looking for something to eat. Ants, flies, and wasps are likely to hang around exposed food and drinks, especially if something sweet is on the menu. Keeping your food covered with the container’s lid or plastic wrap can help to deter pests. Don’t forget to leave the lid on drinks too. This will help to keep bugs from getting into them. Make sure to pick up trash as you go, and clean up any spills or crumbs that could attract pests.
4. Pick the Right Outfit
Choosing the right outfit can help to reduce your chances of running into bugs. Mosquitoes are attracted to darker colors, so plan on wearing lighter shades. Covering as much skin as possible can help to prevent mosquito and tick bites. You’ll also want to be careful when choosing your perfume or cologne. Strong fragrances, particularly sweet and floral scents, are attractive to bugs because they remind them of their food source. If possible, use unscented hygiene products the day of your picnic.
5. Create a Mosquito Repellent Zone
Mosquito bites can make it difficult to enjoy your time outside. Creating a repellent zone can help to keep these bugs away. Our ‘Skeet-R-Shield Mosquito Repellent Canister contains granules formulated with plant essential oils. Simply remove the lid from the canister to start repelling mosquitoes from your picnic site. You can also use our plant-based Mosquito Fogger to kill and repel mosquitoes and flies. Spray surfaces and vegetation in areas where mosquitoes are likely to harbor. Our Mosquito Fogger provides up to 7 days of repellent zone residual protection.
6. Use a Plant-Based Bug Spray
Using a bug repellent can help to keep pests away from you. Our Natural Insect Repellent is formulated with plant essential oils as the active ingredients. It will help to protect against mosquitoes, ticks, and flies. Before heading outdoors, you can apply it to your skin. For maximum protection, spread with your hand after spraying it. You can reapply every two hours or as needed. When used as directed, our Natural Insect Repellent is safe for the entire family.
Whether you’re heading to a park or setting up in your backyard, you’ll want to take steps to keep bugs away from your picnic. Implementing a few preventative measures and using the right pest control products can help. If you’re dealing with a bug problem, we’re here to help! Check out our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective™ Pest Control products for a more environmentally and family-friendly solution when used as directed.