Flies on the deck can ruin your time outside.
Flies on your deck can ruin outdoor entertaining and relaxation. At best, the insects annoy humans by landing on food, flying around their heads and buzzing audibly. At worst, they cause irritation and occasionally transmit disease through their bites. Long-term fly control requires good sanitation on the deck and in the surrounding yard. You can control flies in the short term with natural insect repellent products. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Eliminate insect breeding grounds in your yard. Mosquitoes, as well as sand flies, horseflies, black flies and deer flies, breed in stagnant water and piles of moist, rotting debris. Dump any containers with standing water, and regularly irrigate and rake your yard to eliminate puddles and soggy debris. Unclog your rain gutters and change the water in your pet bowls and birdbaths daily. If you have stables, clean them every day to eliminate manure, where stable flies breed.
2. Eliminate fly food sources on and around your deck. Keep trash and recycling indoors or secured in garbage cans or recycling bins with airtight lids. Keep your compost bin tightly lidded, and clean up and dispose of pet droppings as soon as possible. If you barbecue on your deck, clean the grill after use and keep a lid on it.
3. Light multiple citronella candles on every table on the deck. Citronella candles keep most flies and mosquitoes away. They are most effective when placed away from the wind and within several feet of humans.
4. Apply insect repellent on all exposed areas of skin when spending time outdoors. Use an insect repellent product made with natural essential oils, labeled for use against flies. Although DEET is an effective repellent, it is known to be toxic to young children.
Tags: insect repellent, deck ruin, flies breed, with natural, your deck, your yard