Enjoying your garden shouldn’t be a hard thing to do, but when you’re plagued with bugs and can’t sit outside like you want to, it can be annoying, to say the least – what a waste of having a great outdoor space when you’re driven away by insects.
The good news is that you can save yourself from irritation and bites and take back your garden from the bugs with a few simple tricks and measures, so with that in mind, keep reading to find out what you can do.
Keep your garden tidy
One thing that can help keep the bugs away and also make it generally a nicer space to spend time in is keeping the place tidy.
When your garden is all messy and cluttered, you’re giving bugs the perfect place to live and hide out, and that means there will be more of them around.
That’s why it’s crucial to tidy up fallen leaves, weeds, and other debris to make sure there’s nowhere for the insects to be.
Prune overgrown plants
Something else that’s sure to help is if you prune overgrown and hanging plants.
These can give bugs somewhere to shelter, and if you prune them back, they’ll have to go somewhere else (like next door).
Plus, keeping your plants pruned is another way to enjoy your garden more as it will look better.
Plant the right herbs
Did you know that some herbs are natural insect repellents? Although you might assume that all plants are going to attract insects, the fact is that herbs like basil, mint, and rosemary will naturally deter a lot of them.
Plant them near the areas you don’t want the bugs to be, like your seating areas, and near your favourite plants, and you’ll find they go elsewhere. You can also use the herbs in your cooking, and they’ll make your garden smell lovely, so it’s a win-win.
Install patio blinds
Patio blinds have all kinds of different benefits in your garden, including shading you from the sun and giving you privacy.
However, they’re also great for keeping you protected from bugs as they are a literal barrier between you and them.
You can enjoy your garden more and for longer and not have to worry about insect bites or bugs on your food and in your drinks.
Fix your leaking tap
If you’ve got an outside tap where you can attach a hose to water the garden, you might also have the perfect place for some insects to gather and be attracted to – some of them love water.
If that tap happens to be leaking or even dripping just a little bit, you’ll have ‘standing water’ (puddles, in other words) that will attract bugs; by fixing that tiny leak, even if it might not seem important, could make a difference.
On a similar note, if you have a birdbath, make sure you change the water regularly because insects aren’t as interested in fresh water as they are in older, slightly more stagnant stuff.
Disclosure: this is a collaborative post