Summer is the perfect time to take advantage of the warm weather and spend quality time with friends and family. However, many common pests agree that this is also their busiest time.
A persistent ant colony or a constantly growing swarm of mosquitoes could quickly transform an entire summer into a three-month war against intruders who aren’t yours.
Preventing common pests such as insects, mosquitoes, rodents, flies, and wasps from encroaching on your property and garden is vital to having a pleasant and well-groomed summer.
Learn how to avoid common bugs in the summer to ensure you get home again!
Spiders
Although many indigenous spider species help keep your property and garden free of bugs, only some are keen on inviting spiders into their homes.
Spiders are typically found in dark, quiet places inside and outside your home, where they will easily weave their webs and create an ideal home.
Here are some natural methods to keep spiders out at home:
- Fill a spray container with vinegar and spray all over your home.
- Use a spray bottle to fill it with peppermint essential oil and spray your home with it.
- Keep your home clean without dust and webs.
- Keep boxes, leaves, wood, and other spider-related items away from your house.
House Flies
House flies are a significant nuisance because the heat that prevails in the summer months causes food items left out to go bad faster and attract more flies to their food sources.
To keep house flies out of your home, put screens on your windows and doors and ensure your home is safe even if you want to enjoy a breeze.
To avoid this, you must store food in airtight containers or in the refrigerator to prevent unwanted guests.
Home Maintenance
One of the perfect methods to keep the summer bugs is to maintain your house in good shape. It is possible to do the following to keep unwanted guests from encroaching on your summertime home:
- Seal Cracks and Gaps. It is vital to eliminate gaps and cracks in interior and exterior walls and doors. Tiny pests often see cracks as golden entryways.
- Dispose of Waste Properly. Storing your garbage outside and consistently emptying garbage bins can cause pests, too. Waste bins that are full and overflowing deliver great food sources for tiny, hungry insects.
- Clean Regularly. Regular cleaning helps keep pests away. Washing the kitchen counters, dishes, and floors can deter rodents and bugs from using your house as their home.
Stinging Insects
Bees, hornets, and wasps – my goodness! While they are not just annoying, these insects are powerful and hazardous for people with allergies. To avoid getting a painful sting, inspect drinks and soda containers before you drink from them.
Many bugs sting because they are attracted by the sweets inside. Additionally, search for and stay clear of nests and hives that typically are constructed in warm areas that are not disturbed.
Eliminate Any Standing Water
The next step to keeping summer pests out is to remove any standing water from your property. Standing water could be a breeding place for mosquitoes and make it difficult to venture outdoors into your backyard.
First, ensure there aren’t any areas where water gathers or pools, including birdbaths, outdoor furniture or play equipment, sports equipment, and other toys. If they cause spots that collect water, bring things indoors.
Sometimes, a home’s design makes it more likely to be surrounded by standing water. Get a professional to resolve your property’s drainage issues or fix low-lying spots in your backyard.
Stinging Insects
Bees, hornets, and wasps – my goodness! While they are not just annoying, these insects are powerful and hazardous for people with allergies.
To avoid a painful sting, inspect drinks and soda containers before you drink from them. Many bugs sting because they are attracted by the sweets inside. Additionally, search for and stay clear of nests and hives, which are typically constructed in warm areas that are not disturbed.
Eliminate Any Standing Water
The next step to keeping summer pests out is to remove any standing water from your property. Standing water could be a breeding place for mosquitoes and make it difficult to venture outdoors into your backyard.
First, ensure there aren’t any areas where water gathers or pools, including birdbaths, outdoor furniture or play equipment, sports equipment, and other toys. If they cause spots that collect water, bring things indoors.
Sometimes, a home’s design makes it more likely to be surrounded by standing water. Get a professional to resolve your property’s drainage issues or fix low-lying spots in your backyard.
Mosquitoes
If stepping outside for the summer season leaves you with red bumps and itches, it’s not a problem for everyone.
Mosquitoes pose a significant issue for residents. In addition to giving you painful bites, they often carry ailments such as:
- West Nile Virus
- Yellow Fever
- La Crosse
- And many more.
To keep these pests out, ensure there is no standing water where mosquitoes can reproduce in your home, and apply lavender oil or citronella to ward off mosquitoes.
Inspect Outdoor Furniture
Furniture in the backyard is also an area where bugs could try to build a nest. Certain pests like to bury themselves in popular patio furniture options, such as wicker, to create nests.
Wasps and spiders can utilize pieces of furniture as hiding places, so it is essential to be cautious to prevent unpleasant surprises when you take a seat.
One area to pay particular attention to is the cloth padding for your furniture outside. Benches, chairs, and outdoor couches could contain cloth pieces that the elements and hot summer sun can abuse.
The tiny bugs could find a home in or under the furniture pads. Keep them out by removing the fabric and washing it clean every week. Also, clean the rest of the furniture to eliminate debris and other things that may be magnets for insects.
Another method to safeguard your furniture is by using sprays or an insect repellent product on your furniture to repel any pests.
Peppermint oil has proved to be a powerful deterrent. Selecting outdoor furniture that is easy and manageable can also benefit. Simple designs offer few places to hide, for insects are tiny.
