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It’s tempting to throw open the doors to your garden room and let the fresh air in as soon as the weather warms up. But the moment you do, in come the flies, like they own the place.
Summer should be about enjoying your garden, airing the space out, and not swatting at flies every five minutes. Had enough of them sneaking in and hanging about? Let’s go through some straightforward ways to keep the pesky insects out and take back your space.
Know Your Enemy: What Kind of Flies Are These?
The usual suspects are flies such as houseflies, fruit flies, and blowflies.
House flies are the worst for their irksome habit of landing on your food and surfaces, and they can spread germs, so keep an eye on them. Meanwhile, fruit flies love hanging around overripe fruit and seem to multiply out of nowhere.
Blowflies are drawn to anything rotting and can turn your shed into a mess. Their ceaseless buzzing and dirty habits are the last thing you want when trying to relax.
Knowing which flies you’re dealing with makes it easier to stop them in their tracks.
Cut Off What’s Tempting the Flies
To wage a successful battle against flies, eliminate the factors that beckon them. For one, the way you store food (say, you use your log cabin as a garden bar) and deal with bins.
Make sure all your food is packed away tightly in airtight containers. Clean up any spills or crumbs, even tiny bits, can attract flies. Flies love an easy meal, so don’t give them one. Also, don’t slack on your rubbish. Tie up bin bags, get them into the outside bin, and then shut it.
Otherwise, those buzzers will gather around leftovers, spills, and rubbish, quickly multiplying.
Simple Natural Ways to Make Flies Buzz Off
You’ve got some natural helpers, too! Essential oils like citronella, lavender, and eucalyptus do an excellent job of putting flies off—plus they make the place smell fresh.
Might as well consider growing your mini herb garden with mint, basil, and rosemary. They give off strong scents that flies don’t like. Or go for fly-repelling plants such as marigolds, chrysanthemums, or more lavender around your garden room.
Tips: Mix a few drops of essential oil with water in a spray bottle to make your own spray. Alternatively, hang small cloth pouches with dried herbs near your summer house windows or doors.
Block Their Entry Points
Seal any gaps, cracks, or openings around doors and windows. These small entry points can be the main way flies get in. Use weather stripping and a silicone gun with caulk.
Take it a step further by fitting screens over your windows and doors. Mesh screens or mosquito nets make a great physical barrier; they let fresh air in while keeping flies out.
More DIY Traps and Baits
When flies keep coming back despite your efforts, traps and baits can come to the rescue. Make a simple apple cider vinegar trap by filling a bowl with it. Cover it with cling film and poke holes in it. Flies will be drawn to the smell, fly in, and get stuck.
A sugar-water bait also works. Mix water, sugar, and a little washing-up liquid in a shallow container. The soap breaks the surface tension, so flies land and end up drowning.
If the problem won’t go away, call in a professional pest control service. They’ve got the right tools and know-how to sort out tougher infestations.
Round-up
Your garden room shouldn’t be spoilt by pesky flies. Knowing what they’re up to and taking simple steps can help you keep it comfortable and fly-free. And if the flies are really bad, don’t hesitate to call in the pros. Check out the British Pest Control Association to find a pest controller.
You might find this next read helpful, too: Rats in the Garden: Advice, Control and Elimination
