Serving Memphis, Cordova, Germantown & Collierville TN
Warm summer days invite you to spend the day outside on your patio. However, what should be an enjoyable moment can quickly turn when unexpected and uninvited guests arrive. Summertime pests in your backyard can not only make the patio unbearable, but they can sneak into your home in search of food, shelter, and water. Therefore, our Memphis pest control experts at AAA Termite and Pest Control share on the blog today ten ways to keep bugs away from your patio this summer, so you can enjoy the outdoors and not fear the pests.
- Use an Outdoor Fan
Outdoor fans, regardless of style, are an excellent way to stay cool during the summer heat and keep flying pests away. For example, fans are an effective method to ward off mosquitoes, flies, and small bees that don’t withstand strong winds during flight.
- Remove Standing Water
Standing water sources are a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Therefore, our Cordova pest control pros recommend that you change the water in birdbaths every few days, screen and cycle through rainwater barrels regularly, and check old flower pots, buckets, or wheelbarrows after rainy days.
- Tidy the Yard
Maintaining your lawn by cleaning the space of debris and cutting the grass can help deter summer pests. Tall grass harbors ticks that can attach to humans or pets, and tree limbs and bushes close to your house can provide easy passages to access points inside your home.
- Clean the Gutters
Keeping your home’s gutters clean can reduce the likelihood of pests making them their home. When the gutters are full or dirty, they assist pests in providing shelter, food, and water, which is inviting as they depend on them for survival. Therefore, our Memphis pest control pros recommend cleaning your gutters so that you don’t attract pests.
- Avoid Using Mulch
Mulch is a practical landscaping element that can boost your curb appeal and help tree growth. However, mulch can provide an ideal environment for many bugs. Therefore, homeowners who choose to use a mulch to accentuate their landscaping should maintain a 12-inch distance from the home’s foundation. Alternatively, considering other materials could reduce the attractiveness to pests yet remain aesthetically pleasing.
- Include Patio Plants
Placing plants or flowers around your patio can be a natural solution and add beauty to your outdoor space. However, our pest control specialists in Cordova explain that there are specific plants you should choose based on the pest you want to target. For example, rosemary and marigolds repel mosquitoes, while chrysanthemums can guard against ants, fleas, ticks, and roaches.
- Try Natural Bug Repellants
Natural bug repellents, like essential oils, can help keep insects away. For example, citronella, sweet orange, peppermint, cinnamon, lemongrass, lavender, or lemon eucalyptus essential oils can reduce pest presence. In addition, many ideas and recipes are available online for homemade yard sprays, bug repellents, diffuser blends, and candles that can be effective and add a decorative touch to your outdoor space.
- Keep the Patio Clean
Dinning on the patio in the summer months is a treat and can be an enjoyable outdoor experience. However, our Memphis pest control technicians recommend thoroughly cleaning the patio area by hosing off spills and sweeping crumbs that attract pests. Finally, avoid leaving empty food containers, dishes, or wrappers lying around on the patio to reduce attracting hornets and wasps to your dinner.
- Change the Lights
Bugs are naturally attracted to short wavelengths of light found in the colors blue and purple, which is why bug “zappers” have a glowing blue light. Therefore, choose patio lights in bright colors like orange, yellow, or red to provide a festive touch while keeping flying insects away.
- Get Year-Round Pest Control Treatment
Year-round pest control helps reduce the number of bugs and pests inside your home and helps reduce mosquitos on your property. This way, you can enjoy your patio or outdoor space this summer. Therefore, the best way to help reduce pests in and around your home is to get year-round pest control treatments from a qualified company like AAA Termite & Pest Control.
Pest Control Services in Cordova and Memphis, Tennessee
Taking extra steps to prepare your patio for summer activities can reduce pest presence. However, some homeowners may experience an infestation uncontrollable with basic prevention methods. Therefore, if you struggle with reducing pests on your property, it’s time to contact a reliable pest control company in Memphis to address the situation before irreversible damage occurs to your home or property. Please call AAA Termite and Pest Control at (901) 737-7378 or contact us online to schedule a free home inspection today!