It’s not just us humans that tend to be more active when the weather is nice; bugs make the most of the warmth too. This is why your home and garden can quickly become a haven for bugs in summer. You need to take action to ensure that the presence of these interlopers does not interfere with your fun in the sunshine.
One of the best ways to do this is to have a pest inspection carried out in the spring; click here for more information. This does not mean you will be able to get rid of all the bugs around your property, but it does mean that you can identify any full-blown infestations, before they take hold. There are also several actions you can take to make sure that bugs do not cause you too many problems during the summer months.
Use screens on windows that are open
If it’s the middle of summer, you may want to have the windows of your home open. The problem is that this can provide access for flies. This is why you should install fly screens on all of your windows.
Create your own fly and bug traps
Fly sprays are great for immediate and fast action, and you should probably always have some in your home. However, you can create your own traps to catch them when you’re not around. Cut a plastic bottle in half and fill the bottom with a sugar and water solution. Place the top half back on inverted. Bugs will be attracted into the bottle and will not be able to escape. You can also make your own affordable flypaper using brown paper, sugar and water.
Use vinegar and water to deal with ants
Ants can seem as though they get everywhere. If you see several ants inside your home, you may want to think about getting help from an exterminator as you could be at risk of an infestation. However, if you are simply entertaining in your garden, and there are ants about, you can spray them with a solution of half white vinegar and half water, to deter them or kill them.
Plant herbs and lavender
Herbs like basil and mint, and lavender plants, are excellent bug repellents. When you are designing your garden, make room for these plants, preferably situated close to any outside entertaining space that you have.
Spread Diatomaceous earth to deter bugs
Diatomaceous earth is not just an excellent health supplement; it can also help with killing bugs. Spread it in areas where the bugs are expected to be and it will cause them to dehydrate and die, when they come into contact with it.
Cut back bushes and mow your lawn
Bugs love overgrown gardens in which they can hide out. The same applies to the rodent population of the area. You do not want to come into contact with either of these groups of pests if you can help it. This is why it makes sense to keep the bushes, shrubs and grass in your garden tidy.
You are highly likely to come into contact with some sort of bug when the sun is out, but you can use any of these tips to help make such encounters less frequent.