We are all looking forward to the good weather to be able to take advantage of that terrace or garden that we have put so much care into and spend time outdoors eating or hanging out alone or with family and friends. However, some of the least desired guests but that always come to our homes at this time of year are the mosquitoes and flies that, with their uncomfortable bites and buzzing, can end up spoiling the evening and, sometimes, cause worse problems, like the dreaded plagues. Over the years, dozens of increasingly proven and perfected methods have been developed to eliminate these obnoxious insects once and for all in our outdoor areas.
That is why, in this oneHOWTO article we are going to give you several options and some tips to know how to eliminate flies and mosquitoes from the garden and to be able to forget the rest of the summer of the annoying bites.
Chemical insecticide
If what you want is to be able to nip the problem at the root and quickly, the best thing you can do is buy some type of chemical insecticide that, today, is in various formats on the market.
For one thing, you can try to place strips with pyrethrin adhesive, capable of quickly and rapidly eliminating mosquitoes and other flying insects. However, if you want something a little more “aesthetic” you can get some repellent or electric insecticide which, with the help of energy, distributes an odorless substance that scares or kills, depending on the product, any type of fly or mosquito.
Eucalyptus
However, if what you want is a more natural remedy that, although it takes longer to see results, respects the environment and does not require harmful chemicals, eucalyptus is one of the more repellent plants for flies and mosquitoes.
To do this, we need to extract the components of its leaves, so we will have to boil them for a while and, the resulting liquid, place it in small jars around the garden, accompanied by a few drops of lemon that will increase its effect. You can also place bouquets and eucalyptus balls distributed in strategic areas of the garden, for example on the tables. You can also use the eucalyptus essential oil to add to other remedies or to place wet cotton in it in some corners of the garden.
Incense
Frankincense is another of the best natural allies to repel mosquitoes and flies in the garden. It is enough to light a stick or a spiral of incense, if possible lemon or citronella, and let the aroma and smoke spread through the environment. The insects will not want to get close to that aroma or the smoke and you will thus create a layer of protection in your garden or terrace.
Here you can learn how to light incense.
Lavender
Another of the home remedies for flies and mosquitoes it’s lavender. This aromatic plant is one of the best to keep insects at bay. Its intense smell is the perfect natural repellent. If your problem with mosquitoes is already quite high, it is best to place bottles with lavender essential oil, as in the case of eucalyptus. If you still consider it a slight problem, as long as you have one or two lavender plants on your terrace or garden you will notice the difference.
In this other article you can read about How to care for lavender.
Traps with natural products
Other natural remedies that we can use would consist, instead of repelling flies and mosquitoes, attracting them to a trap through natural ingredients, this is really effective in cases where there is a plague. Some of the most effective traps are:
- Soap and vinegar.
- Water and sugar
- Honey, flour and water.
You can choose one of these three mixes and place it in bottles with a wide mouth and without a cap or, if you prefer, directly in plates or bowls, where insects can easily access to get there attracted by the sweetness and are trapped by the liquid and the sugar.
Here you can find out more about How to make homemade fly traps and How to repel mosquitoes with vinegar.
Cleaning
None of the home or industrial remedies mentioned above will make any sense if the issue of cleanliness is not kept in mind. The insects, in this case flying, will tend to approach and perch on places where they can find a lot of moisture and food debris.
If we want to prevent mosquitoes and flies from appearing, or if we want them to leave because they have already appeared and there are starting to be enough, it is essential to have a clean, dry and careful environment. avoiding leaving food scraps in sight and avoiding humid environments and condensates. For example, immediately clear the table when you eat or have dinner out and remove all traces of water accumulated from watering the plants.
Warm and cold lights
Another tip to keep in mind when keeping flies or mosquitoes out of the garden is the type of environment you have at home and in open spaces. Although we have repellent or essential oils, the type of light with which we illuminate ourselves is very important to repel insects. In this sense, the warm and yellowish lights have a great power of attraction for flies and mosquitoes that are going to try to reach that light source. Instead, you can opt for some kind of cold light or, failing that, place the light source somewhat far away of the place where you are going to be so that the insects go in another direction.
You can learn some more tips in these other oneHOWTO post about Home Remedies against Mosquitoes and How to Eliminate Flies with Home Remedies.
