When warm weather arrives, spending time outside becomes a regular activity. Your deck is likely one of your go-to entertaining and relaxing spots. Unfortunately, bugs can also find this space enjoyable. Thankfully, there are things you can do to keep pests from interrupting your fun. Check out a few tips to help keep bugs away from your deck.
Keep Your Deck Clean
To avoid attracting bugs to your deck, you’ll want to keep the space clean. Wipe up spills and sweep away crumbs left behind after enjoying a meal outside. Remove trash and make sure your trash bin has a tight-fitting lid. It’s also important to maintain the space underneath your deck. This area is a great hiding spot for mosquitoes because it is cool and shaded. Make the space less welcoming by trimming any vegetation and removing debris.
Add & Maintain Screens
Enclosing your deck with a screen can help to keep unwanted pests away. If you have a screen installed, you’ll want to make sure the holes are smaller than 1 mm to help ensure pests can’t squeeze through them. If you already have a screen, regularly check it for holes or tears. Repair any you find to keep bugs from slipping through the holes.
Keep Your Yard Clean
If bugs are attracted to your yard, they will likely make their way to your deck. Making your yard as unwelcoming as possible can help to deter pests. Mow your lawn regularly and keep your plants and shrubs trimmed to reduce harboring sites. Remove any trash or yard debris, such as leaves or weeds, that can attract bugs.
Minimize Standing Water
Many pests, like mosquitoes, are attracted to standing water. Minimizing moisture build-up near your deck and in your yard can help to keep your space bug free. Make sure your gutters are clean and working correctly. Empty and remove items where water can collect like buckets and watering cans. Replace the water in pet bowls regularly to prevent the water from becoming stagnant.
Change Your Lighting
Having lights around your deck can help you enjoy your outdoor space in the evening, but it can also attract some bugs. White lights are most attractive to pests like flies. Swapping your white light bulbs for yellow or warm-hued light bulbs can make your space less attractive. When you aren’t spending time outside, keeping your lights off or installing motion detector lights can help to discourage pest activity.
Add Bug-Repelling Plants
Plants are great decorations for your deck and outdoor space, and they can also help to keep pests from bugging you. Bugs aren’t a fan of all plant fragrances, so placing a few bug-repelling plants on your deck can help to keep bugs away. Lavender, rosemary, thyme, peppermint, marigolds, and chrysanthemums are a few plants that are known to help repel bugs.
Use Plant-Based Insecticides
Plant-based insecticides can also help to protect your deck from pesky bugs. Our Yard Bug Spray kills pests and provides residual repellency protection, helping to keep pests from invading your yard. If you’re dealing with mosquitoes, our Mosquito Fogger can be sprayed near your deck to kill mosquitoes and create a repellent zone that lasts up to 7 days. Our ‘Skeet-R-Shield Mosquito Repellent Canister can also provide protection from mosquitoes. One can will protect an area up to 250 sq ft.
It's hard to enjoy time outside if pests are bugging you. Taking the time to remove attractants and treating your space can help to keep these pests away. If you’re dealing with a pest problem, we have your back! For a more environmentally and family-friendly solution, check out our Maggie’s Farm Simply Effective™ Pest Control products.