Sitting outside is a great way to get fresh air and connect with nature. When you go out to enjoy your patio, pests are generally not invited to the party. Since they live outside, it can be difficult to avoid seeing them at all, but you can avoid attracting them to the area. Here are steps you can take to keep pests away from your patio space:

Upgrade Your Space

There are several places in the patio where a refresh can aid with pest control. For example, adding fans can blow away mosquitoes while creating comfort for you and your guests. Changing out white bulbs for yellow ones can attract fewer pests. Painting your patio area a lighter color can also repel pests in the same way as wearing lighter clothing. These are just a few upgrades that can help with pest prevention.

Deter Pests with Plants

Biting insects don’t like garlic and rosemary, and herbs like basil and lemon thyme scare away flies and mosquitoes. Lavender, catnip and chrysanthemums scare away several types of bugs, so these are other plants to consider having around. Just make sure to prune and maintain your plants, or they may start having the opposite effect. 

Tidy Up Your Yard

Overgrown plants are the perfect places for pests to hide. Take care to keep overgrowth to a minimum, especially around the exterior of your house, outdoor decks and fences. The more regularly you mow your lawn and prune your plants, the better protected you’ll be from pests. Plus, your yard will be more appealing to your friends and neighbors when you invite them over. 

Remove Standing Water

Mosquitoes love standing water, and water gathers in a few different ways. Gutters and spouts need to be cleaned out regularly to avoid collecting water. Other places to look are kiddie pools, watering cans and buckets. Make sure you’re not collecting rainwater for mosquitoes to nest in. Also, if you have a birdbath or potted plants, make sure to change out the water often. 

Clean Up Messes

Pests are most often attracted to what humans leave behind. Your discarded food can be a welcome gift to ants and other pests. Spilled drinks can leave sticky messes, which are annoying to people but beloved by pests. Even spilled water can attract mosquitoes if it stays in one place for too long. 

If your patio is being taken over by pests, Pro-Staff can help. Our Des Moines pest control company will remove pests so you can enjoy the outdoors once again. Give us a call at 515-279-7378 or contact us online.