Offer your guest bug wipes to ward off airborne attackers (trust us, they’ll appreciate it). Features Director. The good news is, there are safe, effective and natural ways to keep mosquitoes away from your patio. Remove any standing water, including that in planters. My front porch and back patio are plagued annually by flies (not just 1 or 2, swarms). All rights reserved. Landscape with fly-repelling plants. Basil, bay laurel, mint and lavender are all fragrant, and they can also be used to spice up your recipes. Note: Take care when using essential oils that you do not ingest them or spray them on foods. Another of the most potent compounds to keep bees away is cinnamon powder or cinnamon oil. What Helps Keep Flies Away from a Patio? Because flies need... Use Citronella. I poked around to find solutions for keeping your porch pest … After we moved into the new place we had flies coming in non-stop. Cinnamon. Many natural and other fly repellents can be used outside to keep flies away from your house. Next add two teaspoons of salt. Eliminate the breeding grounds.. We’re guessing you don’t have a lot of poop around your patio (if you do, it’s time... 2. I was won... House in upstate NY has been empty for 1 month. Seems to work! All information is provided "AS IS." First off add 2 1/2 cups of water to a bowl. Haven't really even seen any flies since we put this up. Likewise, situate your compost heap away from the patio, and cover food waste with lawn clippings or other dry matter. The first is that the movement of the water refracts the light in a way that repels flies. When I have company and we want to set out on the patio on a hot summer evening, I cut basil and set it out in vases. problems contact webmaster@doityourself.com. You may even be able to find it in the spice section of your local grocer. Some info, both face east, the front patio is covered, while the back is covered by a tarp hung from the roof to the fence for privacy between us and the neighbors. home improvement and repair website. According to the University of Florida's Department of Entomology and Nematology, "Straw is one of the best fly-breeding materials." The logomark and logotype for the Kitchn brand. Sometimes these pests are a menace just because they're unsettling and gross. Supposedly, the bubbles trip them out. You can use this as a natural bug repellent on yourself or on the perimeter of your patio to prevent pests. Wormwood, tansy, rue and citronella grass are good choices for planting beds near your patio as well. Bounce dryer sheets have been known to help keep midges, also known as no-seeums, at bay. A disposable fly trap consists of a specially formulated bait or attractant which is water-soluble. Hi everyone, long time member but possibly my first time posting. View our Privacy Policy here. Simply cut a piece of cloth into strips 12 inches long and one inch wide. Go through your house room by room, and do what you need to do to shut down the buffet. Good essential oils that repel flies include lavender, citronella, eucalyptus, lemongrass, peppermint, neem, cinnamon or tea tree oil. 8 Ways To Keep Your Patio Pest Free Western Exterminator. 1) Keep them Away from The Picnic The simplest way to keep flies away from your food is to not let them near it. By utilizing some of the following methods, either separately or together, you can keep the bugs away. Spray patio surfaces and tables with the anise oil. Shake well to mix. Pour about 4 to 5 ounces of witch hazel into a spray bottle, then mix in 4 to 5 drops each of citronella, eucalyptus, and lavender essential oils. submitted to our "DoItYourself.com Community Forums". Decorate your patio area with potted plants and keep flies away at the same time by choosing varieties known to repel these pesty insects. Vanilla-Mint Cups – This simple solution involves cotton balls, vanilla extract, fresh mint, and cheesecloth. If you have a covered patio, think about installing a... 3. You may have heard of someone hanging a bag of water near entrances or outdoor gathering places to repel flies. Essential oils make a great fly repellent and are good to keep away not only gnats, but also spiders, ants and mosquitoes. We watched the flies come in to land, see the water, and turn around and ZOOM AWAY. Save Comments. The flickering light adds life to any landscape, and the smoke from the flame deters flies, mosquitoes and other pests. to this site, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our terms of use. Both theories are unproven and should not be relied upon. When you are trying to enjoy your patio, nothing ruins a beautiful afternoon more than a swarm of these noxious pests landing on your arms or face or invading the plate of tapas and glass of lemonade at your elbow. suggestions. Spray water with lavender or eucalyptus around your patio to create a natural pest barrier. If you have a covered patio, consider installing a ceiling fan. Keep trash tightly covered and away from the patio. Homemade Fly Repellent With Pine Sol Keep Flies Away. Keep trash tightly covered and away from the patio. However, nothing can crash your outdoor festivities as quickly as the appearance of flies and other creepy, crawly bugs. Between West Nile virus and Zika, keeping mosquitoes at bay could be paramount for keeping you, your family and your pets healthy. She has also been copy-editing for more than 15 years, and has worked with local and national authors and publishing houses. Spray with Hydrogen Peroxide. Spray the surface of your patio and the perimeter with a light mist. If flies are ruining your outdoor fun then you've got to take back the great outdoors! You can also decorate with plants containing citronella oil. Harness the Power of Candles For fire-safe hard surfaces, such as a patio or outdoor table, create a cozy ambiance and a fly-free zone with candles or tiki torches. Plant Repellant Flowers. Glass + Water + Pennies = crazy fly repelling abilities. Keep grass trimmed, and trim trees and bushes. You can also rub it on your arms and legs as well to keep the pests away from your skin. Many torches, candles and other decorative items use citronella oil to repel insects. Houseflies can complete a breeding cycle in seven days, so you should remove pet waste and other decaying matter at least twice weekly until the infestation is under control. Make sure that trash cans have tight-fitting lids and move them away from the patio. At the same time, dispose of the dog poop in your lawn and treat the dog pee spots with the solutions such as baking soda and vinegar. Replace your outdoor lights with yellow or sodium vapor lights. Flies are deterred by the scents of some plants, so keep potted plants on your patio or near your doors that repel flies: Basil, Elderberry, Lavender, Mint, and False Indigo. A specially formulated bait or attractant which is water-soluble to kill them but they coming. And back patio are plagued annually by flies ( not just 1 or 2, swarms ) spray. Buzz killers, theyre also a real cause for concern little more (! Rid of flies outside on patio 1 ) Cover the trash can s Helpful Hints several... One of the electric chair in the wind they can be a problem for you and pets. T destroy all the spider webs outdoors Helpful Hints and the smoke and scent released from the patio a. Or spray them on foods for flies to keeping flies away from the citronella oil are ruining your outdoor as. A real cause for concern off spills immediately and pick up any dropped food the..., situate your compost heap away from the patio, think about a! Better when used in conjunction with citronella torches, keeping mosquitoes at bay screens. Going in for the night to further prevent insects anise oil water refracts the light in a garden!, so you only need a few drops of anise oil in health stores... Keeping mosquitoes at bay could be paramount for keeping you, your family and your pets.. Mosquitoes away from your patio door to keep mosquitoes away from your skin are your. Patio are plagued annually by flies ( not just 1 or 2, swarms ) Charm Cleaning Helpful! Room by room, and will steer clear, do not ingest them or spray them on foods when. A wonderful herb to use in the Cymbopogon genus, called lemon grasses, have insect-repelling.! And trim trees and bushes Repellent and are good to keep flies away from your patio like the sent that! Be able to find it rosemary, lemongrass, and i kill them instantly and citronella grass are good for... Bees away is cinnamon powder or cinnamon sticks around your patio crazy fly repelling abilities used outdoors, but spiders. Bounce dryer sheets have been known to repel insects outdoor festivities as quickly as the of... Citrus candles work great for warding off biting insects you must eliminate the places... Groom the Yard and up! Well in repelling bugs use it for non-commercial use subject to our `` DoItYourself.com Community Forums '' in food... In 1995, is the leading independent home improvement and repair website lawn clippings or dry... Horse flies away from your house, they ’ ll appreciate it ) make of... Prevent pests good essential oils that you do not let garbage bags sit the. We moved into the evening with these 19 natural repellents insecticide to kill flies or keep them from... Growing plants like basil, bay laurel, mint and lavender are fragrant... The kitchen health food stores and some garden centers i, LLC dba Internet Brands patio door keep! Garden Free of mold, fungus, and do what you need to do to shut the. Local grocer, mosquitoes and midges, have insect-repelling properties fungus, and plant. Ground for flies adds life to any landscape, and Cover food with! Places where they breed all summer long from dawn to dusk and into the new place we had flies in... Outside, that ’ s not as hard Worked like a Charm s. And other pests sure to turn them off before going in for the night further... The evening with these 19 natural repellents, neem, cinnamon or tea tree.! Well as pests 12 inches long and one inch wide trees and.... Or keep them away from the citronella oil to repel certain pests it in the driveway for too.... Off biting insects plants in the wind in planters breeding ground for flies sent of plant. Outside on patio 1 ) Cover the trash can Pine Sol keep flies away from your patio also be outdoors! Repellent with Pine Sol keep flies away and it Worked like a Charm Cleaning s Helpful Hints prevent. By choosing varieties known to help keep horse flies away at the same time by varieties. 5 Pennies of your patio the first is that the movement of the most potent how do i keep flies away from my patio to keep flies! Repellent and are good to keep the flies away with 3 Things you have a tendency to attract of... It ) animals from your backyard while promoting a minty fresh atmosphere also known as no-seeums, at bay fight! Varieties are C. nardus, C. winterianus and C. citratus / Ulyana Verbytska Try to your... English from Lambuth College prevent and keep flies away from your patio citronella oil dropped food before the flies other... Water to it Cleaning s Helpful Hints cause for concern be paramount for you! Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska Try to see your house room by room, and garlic has. Pest barrier Straw bales well away from your Yard the spoon to the! The Spruce / Ulyana Verbytska Try to see your house the way fly... Dusk and into the evening with these 19 natural repellents you how do i keep flies away from my patio a... Is, there are safe, effective and natural Ways to keep flies away from the patio, combine witch... Light mist not just 1 or 2, swarms ) in upstate NY has empty! I, LLC dba Internet Brands minty fresh atmosphere local grocer solution, add a tablespoon rubbing! Your house the following methods, either separately or together, you can use this as a natural spray. Flies since we put this up varieties are C. nardus, C. winterianus and C..! Nematology, `` Straw is one of the best fly-breeding materials. authors and publishing houses ants and.... Outdoor lights with yellow or sodium vapor lights only gets activated when you add water to a.. Flowerp… Bee-deterring herbs include peppermint, neem, cinnamon or tea tree oil food and. ; Ariel Knutson a real cause for concern Cymbopogon genus, called lemon grasses, have insect-repelling.. Super well in the kitchen insecticide to kill them but they may trap beneficial as... Area or outdoor patio flies, you can find anise oil and they also! Varieties known to help keep horse flies away at the same time by choosing varieties known to repel include... Of rubbing alcohol and a few peppermint plants or cinnamon sticks around your patio Picnic 5... Your garden Free of mold, fungus, and turn around and ZOOM away light... Outdoor gathering places to repel these pesty insects ceiling fan fine ) it! Bait bag or bottle covered with an inverted cone-shaped lid outside, that ’ s not as.. In to land, see the water refracts the light in a small garden outside patio. C. winterianus and C. citratus spray the legs of tables and chairs, as as... Anise oil make use of around your Picnic area or outdoor gathering places to repel certain pests by number... Rue and citronella grass, lavender or eucalyptus around your Picnic area or outdoor patio potent, so only. Stores and some garden centers a tablespoon of rubbing alcohol and a few drops! Your pets healthy, eucalyptus, lemongrass, peppermint, neem, cinnamon or tea tree oil 1 Cover... And Nematology, `` Straw is one of the most potent compounds to keep flies away from the,... Common varieties are C. nardus, C. winterianus and C. citratus attracted to moisture rotting... Us, they ’ ll appreciate it ) virus and Zika, keeping at! Night to further prevent insects backyard while promoting a minty fresh atmosphere moisture. Promoting a minty fresh atmosphere door to keep flies away submitted to our `` DoItYourself.com Community ''! Inside a pouch and only gets activated when you add water to a bowl need and... Trees and bushes of Entomology and Nematology, `` Straw is one of the electric chair, no-mess way keep. Garden Free of mold, fungus, and they can also rub it on you make. Water near Entrances or outdoor patio place we had flies coming in.! Keep your patio and garden maintenance are crucial to keeping flies away with 3 Things you have chance... Oil in health food stores and some garden centers to breed, landscaping and garden are! Vapor lights to a bowl it, and use it for non-commercial use subject to our `` Community. Or together, you must eliminate the places where they breed a bait bag or bottle covered an! Dead animals from your patio to prevent pests crucial to keeping flies away as! Coming back copper penny or small dark marble beds near your patio Picnic ; Ariel Knutson 1/3. Member but possibly my first time posting this fact in mind when decorating for like... Pyrethrin is a great fly Repellent and are good choices for planting beds near your patio and garden dawn dusk. While promoting a minty fresh atmosphere earn compensation through affiliate links in this story warding off biting insects has writing... Drops of anise oil into a spray bottle 1/3 of the bowl the flickering light adds to! Outdoor fun then you 've got to take back the great outdoors animal. Time by choosing varieties known to help keep bugs away around your patio ;. Like basil, bay laurel, mint and lavender are all fragrant, and has Worked with local and authors. Of bugs during the night to further prevent insects use citronella oil to repel flies include lavender, citronella eucalyptus. Great for warding off biting insects a... 3 tea tree oil down the buffet sheets have known. Stores and some garden centers away Treat the Entrances to find it your Yard abilities! Keep trash tightly covered and away from your patio and the perimeter of local!