Many of us love spending time in our outdoor spaces in the summer. Encountering a swarm of bugs around is an unsettling sight for any homeowner and a frustrating moment. More importantly, certain bugs like mosquitoes can pose a significant health risk, as a bite from one of these buzzing insects can transmit diseases and viruses like Dengue, Zika, and Malaria. Accordingly, driving these pests away from your front porch goes beyond eliminating the nuisance they cause and becomes crucial to protect your and your loved one’s health.
How To Keep Bugs Away From Front Porch
Luckily, there are several effective measures you can adopt to ward off bugs from your front porch and make the most of your space. Some of the most common ones include:
Switch to LED Lighting
Changing the lighting on your porch from incandescent to LED lights is among the easiest to prevent a bug infestation. Bugs are primarily drawn to light and heat. As LED lights do not produce high levels of heat and ultraviolet (UV) radiation, they are less attractive to bugs. While they do not repel bugs entirely, this type of lighting can help reduce their numbers substantially.
Place Bug Repellant Plants
Adding certain types of plants to or around your porch can be a natural way to combat bugs due to their fragrance. Planting insect repellant herbs and flowers like rosemary, marigold, garlic, citronella, lavender, oregano, and peppermint are all effective deterrents against common bugs like mosquitoes, flies, fleas, etc.
Use Essential Oils
As they imitate the scent of the plants they are derived from, essential oils can be a powerful natural remedy to prevent bugs from invading your porch. The strong aroma of oils like eucalyptus, citronella, lavender, basil, lemongrass, etc. can work wonders to keep these pesky creatures at bay. Create a mixture by combining the oil with soapy water and spray the solution around the perimeter, especially around the lights.
Burn Citronella Candles
Lighting some citronella candles can be an excellent short-term solution to ward off several bugs, especially mosquitoes, due to their powerful scent. This cost-effective method works best in combination with other bug repellant techniques.
Install a Bug Zapper
Bug zappers are a traditional yet successful technique to kill a lot of bugs in a short period. These devices work by emitting UV light that lures the bugs towards it, killing them by electrocution as they come near it. Strategically placing a bug zapper near your porch lights can help control bugs on your porch without much effort.
However, some downside of this low-cost solution is that the constant zap of electricity and smell of burnt bugs can be bothersome, nor is it a more humane method to prevent bugs, as compared to some natural remedies mentioned earlier.
Eliminate Standing Water
Stagnant water can become a breeding ground for insects like mosquitoes, who love to lay eggs on the water surface. Pooling water, birdbaths, pet water bowls, and pots and containers are common sources of water outdoors in many homes. Therefore, eliminating standing water can reduce the bug population by making your porch less appealing to these pests.
Practice Cleanliness
Keeping your porch neat and clean extends well beyond aesthetics. Dirty and messy outdoor spaces serve as an inviting sign for most pests, as they provide a safe hideout and a spot to nest. Get rid of clutter and other messes that might attract these creepy crawlies to your space.
Conclusion
Being surrounded by bugs when trying to enjoy your time outdoors with friends and family is a frustrating experience. However, using these simple yet viable strategies, ideally in conjunction with each other, will provide maximum protection from bugs on your front porch.
If all else fails, the best approach would be to call a pest extermination company that will identify the extent of the problem and suggest the best long-term solution!