When the weather becomes warmer, outside living spaces are favorite places to gather and relax. Long, sunny days attract people, but they also bring out insects in droves. In particular, Maryland has mosquitoes, ticks, cicadas and many other pests that can be a nuisance. Mosquitoes, fleas and ticks also spread illnesses such as Lyme disease and the Zika virus, making them a health hazard.
How can you enjoy your time outdoors without worrying about annoying insects spoiling your relaxation? Read on for our top tips.
Most Common Bugs in Maryland
Several Maryland insects make their appearance around the house and on outside living areas. These pests can become a problem, be dangerous or ruin otherwise pleasant time spent in your outdoor living space.
- Ants
- Bees
- Beetles
- Chiggers
- Cicadas
- Flies
- Mosquitoes
- Spiders
- Stink bugs
- Termites
- Ticks
- Wasps
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17 Tips for Keeping Insects off Your Patio
Learn how to keep flies and mosquitoes away from your patio with this handy advice.
1. Clean Often
If you love to eat meals outside on your patio or host gatherings that involve food, you’ll probably drop some crumbs that attract insects. Sweeping up food scraps and wiping spilled liquids can help eliminate insects like ants. Getting rid of food crumbs can also help keep bugs off your patio furniture. Keeping your porch, deck or patio clean and uncluttered will prevent bugs from breeding as well.
2. Drain Standing Water
Removing water sources can help reduce the mosquito population in your outside living space. Watering cans, birdbaths, gutters, buckets and anything else that can hold rainwater represent water sources for mosquitoes. Keeping these empty when they are not in use decreases the chance you will have a problem with mosquitoes breeding and then swarming your outside living areas.
3. Add Lighting Strategically
The brighter the light, the more insects you’ll attract. White lights create blue wavelengths that are like a homing beacon to bugs. Installing warmer-toned lights that emit longer wavelengths will keep bugs away from your porch light when the sun goes down.
4. Light Citronella Candles and Torches
Citronella plants produce an oil that serves as a natural insect repellent. You can light citronella candles or torches to keep bugs away from your patio. The pleasant, citrusy aroma masks scents that attract insects, making it harder for them to find food sources. This patio bug repellent drives off mosquitoes and other pests without harmful chemicals.
5. Use Essential Oils
Essential oils are another excellent, all-natural way to keep flies and mosquitoes away from the patio. You can combine essential oils in a clean spray bottle for a safe and reliable insect repellent. Besides citronella, a few oils you can use to create a bug-repellent barrier are peppermint, tea tree, lavender and eucalyptus. Not only do these oils help eliminate bugs surrounding your outside living area, but they are also ideal for relaxing aromatherapy.
6. Plant Pest-Deterrent Flowers, Plants and Herbs
You have several options for deck plants to keep bugs away. Besides telling insects to back off, these plants provide beautiful greenery while spicing up your favorite dishes. Herb plants such as rosemary, garlic, chive and mint can help keep bugs away from your patio, deck or porch.
7. Spray Mint-Flavored Mouthwash
While mint makes a delightful addition to warm-weather favorites like iced tea, it’s not a bug’s best friend. If you don’t have citronella or other essential oils, another natural hack is to use mouthwash as a repellent. Pour some of your mouthwash in a spray bottle and use it on your patio and deck surfaces. Try to avoid spraying colored mouthwash on light patio furniture fabrics.
8. Try Hydrogen Peroxide
Another quick and affordable hack is to use hydrogen peroxide as a bug repellent. Spraying your patio furniture and outdoor plants with hydrogen peroxide keeps adult bugs away and can also eliminate any insect eggs before they hatch.
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9. Install a Patio Fan
A patio fan is an investment that does double duty by preventing bugs from bothering you and keeping you and your family cooler during the hot summer months. The fan creates a welcome breeze on days where the mercury rises above 90 degrees, while blowing away flying insects.
10. Don’t Mulch
Mulch provides a hideaway and breeding ground for insects. While it may look aesthetically pleasing, this moist environment can cause insects to appear frequently and could also be a reason bugs are getting inside your home. There are other mulch alternatives to use for landscaping while not attracting bugs.
11. Keep Your Yard Trimmed
If you want to protect your family from ticks, cutting your grass is essential. Tall grass creates an ideal hideout for ticks. When you have an unkempt yard, ticks can surround your outdoor living area. Nothing spoils a relaxing day spent on your patio quite like finding a tick buried in your skin. Ticks also pose a threat to your family’s four-legged members by transmitting diseases like Rocky Mountain spotted fever, which presents a health hazard to humans and non-human animals.
12. Paint Your Home a Light Color
If you want to spruce up your exterior with a fresh coat of paint, here is another reason to make that change happen. Black attracts flying insects such as mosquitoes because darker shades are easier for them to spot. However, you don’t have to paint your entire house to get rid of bugs. Painting your trim, window seals and doors can help. For example, if your porch door is black or dark brown, replacing it with a lighter one might be worth adding to your to-do list.
13. Clean Your Gutters
Your gutters can provide food and shelter to insects. Especially in the fall, leaves and twigs can accumulate in your gutters, causing clogs and attracting bugs such as mosquitoes. Clearing out your clogged gutters will make your whole home healthier.
14. Add a Patio Enclosure
Noisy cicadas are becoming more prevalent in Maryland. Enclosing your patio provides a barrier between you and insects by blocking the bugs from entering. Make your deck or patio area a bug-free haven by turning it into a beautiful sunroom you and your family can enjoy all year long.
15. Dryer Sheets
Besides keeping your laundry fresh, dryer sheets can ward off bugs. If you rub a dryer sheet over your patio furniture and clothes, you can prevent unpleasant shocks from static electricity while helping eliminate insects.
16. Bug Traps and Zappers
If you are having trouble getting rid of bugs outside at night, purchasing traps or zappers may be the best option. The zapper’s blue light attracts insects and kills them once they get close enough. Today, you can get bug zappers in more stylish looks that blend in with the decor on your porch, patio or deck.
17. Commercial Insect Repellents
Using store-bought insect repellent can help eliminate bugs, but some may be unhealthy for pets or cause problems if you get them on your clothes or skin. Read the label carefully to assess your family’s possible health risks.
Enclosing Your Patio Area Can Be the Ultimate Bug Repellent Solution
Investing in a patio enclosure will beautify your Maryland home, create year-round enjoyment, repel bugs and increase resale appeal if you choose to put your house on the market. At Maryland Sunrooms, we have more than a century of combined experience designing and installing gorgeous sunroom enclosures. To learn more about your options for improving your home’s curb appeal with an all-season sunroom in Maryland, fill out a design and consultation form.
Julie Shetter is the Marketing Director at Maryland Sunrooms. She has over a decade of experience in the home improvement and sunroom industry.