Summer backyard BBQs have a way of attracting unwanted guests, and we’re not talking about the folks you didn’t invite. Mosquitoes, bees, and wasps have a knack for knowing when we’re enjoying delicious food with friends and family outdoors, and they definitely want in on the action. Use the following 5 tips to enjoy bug-free backyard BBQs this summer.
1. Landscape With Natural Bug Repellents
Some plants are fantastic natural bug repellents, while others attract insects that eat bugs that can be pests at your backyard BBQs in summer, such as mosquitoes, wasps, and bees. Landscape with those plants around your BBQ and outdoor dining area to repel those unwelcome guests to other parts of your garden where they won’t be a nuisance. Some of those bugs may even go in search of food elsewhere. Marigolds repel all sorts of insects, bees among them. Petunias also repel a wide range of insects. Basil, citronella, lavender, and rosemary are known to repel mosquitoes, while chrysanthemums repel pests such as roaches and ticks. The flowers of basil, broccoli, lettuce, and parsley plants attract insects that eat the bugs you don’t want to hang around your BBQ. You can also plant mint plants to mask the fragrance of flowers that attract insects such as bees.
2. Remove Wet Areas To Get Rid Of Mosquitoes
Water collection areas and other damp places with stagnant water are ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes. Walk around your yard and look for puddles, poorly installed gutters, leaking faucets, a pond with still water, or a birdbath that hasn’t been cleaned. Children’s toys that are left outside can also collect water, so always ensure that you tip them up to dry them out after any rainfall. Fix or get rid of what you can to prevent mosquitoes from breeding there. If you have a garden pond, install a small water feature or fountain to keep the water moving, as mosquitoes prefer still water.3. Set Up Your Picnic Food Carefully
Set up your BBQ food in a way that helps keep your summer outdoor event bug-free. Decorate the tables with dried cloves, fresh mint leaves, and marigold flowers to repel bees and wasps from the serving and eating areas. Place citronella or geraniol candles or incense sticks around the area to repel mosquitoes. Place the food table and the trash can away from where your guests will sit and eat, as bugs will be attracted by the aroma of the food and the smell of the trash.
4. Distract And Repel Bugs To Prevent Bites And Stings
Sweet smells are especially attractive to bees and wasps. If you’ve ever enjoyed a glass of fruit juice or soda at a backyard BBQ in summer, you know exactly how both types of insects try to get a few sips of their own. Distract them by placing a cup of sweet non-carbonated fruit juice, sugar water, or another liquid a good distance away from your BBQ cooking, serving, and seating/eating areas before you start cooking. As mentioned above, you can also repel any bees and wasps that do manage to find your BBQ area by placing fresh marigold flowers and mint leaves, as well as dried cloves, on the table. Citronella and geraniol incense sticks and candles are effective mosquito repellents. If you really want to ramp up your preventative measures, use a product such as Off!’s Backyard Pretreat the night before your summer backyard BBQ. The product will have repelled unwanted bugs by the time you’re ready to start BBQing, and it will keep them away during your event.5. Ask Pest Control Professionals For Help
Sometimes a pest control situation in your backyard can be so severe that even the above tips won’t make much of a difference. For example, you might have a colony of bees or a wasp nest in a hollow in a tree, which exponentially increases the chances of stings. Bees have a pheromone in their stinger venom that alerts other bees to the presence of a threat. If someone at your BBQ gets stung when there’s a beehive somewhere on your property, other bees may be alerted, which could lead to a dangerous situation. This could have disastrous consequences for anyone who is allergic to bees. Trying to remove a beehive or wasp nest by yourself is not recommended. In fact, it’s downright dangerous. If you’re struggling with a backyard pest control situation, call the professionals to help you deal with it. Contact Twin Boro Termite and Pest Control for a free inspection. Our pest control professional will take a look at your property and recommend the best solutions to get the situation under control. And, if you want to enjoy a pest-free backyard all summer long, our seasonal monthly Yard Protection Plan is ideal for keeping ticks and mosquitos at bay during the warmer months!
Enjoy A Bug-Free Backyard This Summer
Put yourself well on the way to enjoying bug-free backyard BBQs and other outdoor activities this summer by following all the pest control tips described above. Your preparations, with a little help from Mother Nature and Twin Boro Termite and Pest Control, will make a big difference when it comes to who or what enjoys the tastiest meals at your BBQs.
