--- title: "13 Time-Tested Tricks for a Bug-Free Backyard" description: "Small changes you make to your outdoor space—including choosing the right light bulbs and plants—can reduce the population of pesky insects." date: "2023-06-26" modified: "2026-05-19" authors: - name: "Jennifer Noonan" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/jennifer-noonan/" - name: "Kelly Weimert" job_title: "Contributing Writer" link: "https://www.bobvila.com/authors/kelly-weimert/" url: "https://www.bobvila.com/articles/bug-free-backyard/" categories: - "Lawn & Garden" tags: - "deck patio & porch" - "pests" --- # 13 Time-Tested Tricks for a Bug-Free Backyard ![Group of seven young people eating outside with a grill and a picnic table on a patio area.]() *Photo: Photographee.eu via Adobe Stock* Common garden pests like mosquitoes and ticks aren’t just itchy nuisances. According to the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention](), they also spread diseases like Lyme disease and West Nile virus. Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to keep these pests away. From keeping food covered to installing a bat house, these are the best ways to achieve a bug-free backyard this summer. ## 1. Bring birds to your yard. ![Red Finch on Branch near Backyard Feeder]() *Photo: iStock Photo: istockphoto.com* Feathered friends make for fun window-watching, but they can also help with pest control. Most common backyard birds, like sparrows, swallows, and warblers, eat a diet of berries, seeds, and—you guessed it—insects. Make your yard more inviting to birds by planting shrubs and small trees for nesting. You can also establish a [bird feeder]() and [bird bath]() to encourage avians to take up residence in your yard. ## 2. Drain standing water. ![A very large puddle in the lawn after heavy rain.]() *Photo: iStock Photo: istockphoto.com* Mosquitoes love to lay eggs in standing water, which is why you don't want standing water in your backyard. Make sure your gutters are clean and any low spots in your yard are filled or planted to prevent pooling. The water in your [bird bath]() and [kiddie pool]() should be changed regularly, too, to prevent the insects from congregating. ## 3. Relocate your trash bins. ![Blue yellow and grey plastic trash bins stands in row on backyard]() *Photo: iStock Photo: istockphoto.com* Garbage is a breeding ground for flies, ants and other insects. Make sure all of your trash and recycling cans remain covered, and keep them far from your yard’s prime entertaining zones. ## 4. Keep food covered. ![Covered food banquet trays with rolltop covers under illuminated string lights at an outdoor buffet party.]() *Photo: Satit via Adobe Stock* Outdoor parties and barbecues are a favorite summer pastime, but your friends and family aren't the only ones who will find your smorgasbord inviting. To keep six-legged critters off the chicken and burgers, cover your outdoor platters with [silicone lids]() or [mesh food tents](). ## 5. Hang a bat house. ![A bat house in a park by the rapids in LaSalle, Quebec]() *Photo: iStock Photo: istockphoto.com* A single [bat can eat more than 4,000 insects]() in a night, so consider these nocturnal critters your superhero sidekicks in the fight against common bugs. Bolster your bat population by [building a bat house](), and be glad to see them swooping through your yard at dusk. ## 6. Burn citronella. ![Three lit citronella candles in terracotta candle holders.]() *Photo: Justyna via Adobe Stock* Citronella oil can mask the scents to which mosquitoes are drawn, like carbon dioxide and human lactic acid. Approved by the FDA, [citronella]() is even used to flavor foods and beverages. Come summer, citronella candles, incense, and tiki torches are go-tos for outdoor gatherings, especially those that take place in the evening hours. ## 7. Tidy the landscaping. ![Hand in glove pulling weeds out of a raised bed in a garden.]() *Photo: Mara Louvain via Adobe Stock* Overgrown brush and weeds are perfect nesting and hiding areas for mosquitoes, fleas, and ticks. Thick vegetation can also make it harder for the sun to evaporate standing water, where mosquitoes lay eggs. Deter these pests by keeping your landscaping tidy, and trimming tall grass, brush, and [weeds]() around your property. ## 8. Build a bug trap. ![Woman tapes the inverted cut top of a soda bottle into the bottom of the bottle to make a bug trap.]() *Photo: Tom Fenenga for BobVila.com* A DIY trap is an easy defense against backyard insects. To make one, cut the top off a 2-liter soda bottle and invert it so that the spout points down into the bottle. Tape the pieces of the bottle together to seal it, then fill the bottle with a solution that will attract the type of insect you’re hoping to catch: ### Wasp and fly solution - Fruit scraps or jam - 1 cup water - A few drops of liquid dish soap ### Mosquito solution - ¼ cup sugar - 1 gram yeast - 1 cup hot water ## 9. Spray your yard with essential oils. ![Woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat sprays her yard with Wondercide concentrate attached to garden hose.]() *Photo: Wondercide* [Wondercide Flea & Tick Spray]() contains essential oils such as cedarwood and sesame, which repeal [mosquitoes](), fleas, and ticks naturally. This [natural pest control]() is entirely safe for humans, dogs, and other small mammals so you can spray it anywhere that’s susceptible to pests. Connect the container to a garden hose and apply the solution at least twice within a 10-day period, then apply every 3 to 4 weeks for maintenance. One 32-ounce bottle can cover a 5,000-square-foot area. ## 10. Choose plants that repel bugs. ![Fine wild growing flower marigold calendula on background meadow, photo consisting from wild growing flower marigold calendula to grass meadow, wild growing flower marigold calendula at herb meadow]() *Photo: iStock Photo: istockphoto.com* While you’re planning your landscaping, mix in some [bug-repellent plant varieties](): Lavender, [marigold](), chrysanthemum, [citronella](), and lemongrass can all discourage insects like mosquitoes and [aphids]() from calling your yard home. Plus, they’re pretty to look at and provide additional spots for bug-eating birds to nest. ## 11. Hang fans on your patio. ![Sunny Patio Under Pergola]() *Photo: iStock Photo: istockphoto.com* If you love to spend time on your patio or under the pergola, consider installing fans to keep [mosquitoes off the patio](). Mosquitoes might seem relentless, but they’re fairly weak flyers, so even a ceiling or standing fan on medium power can be too much for their little wings to take on. A [ceiling fan]() also makes it tough for flies to get to your drinks and snacks. ## 12. Swap out incandescent bulbs for LEDs. ![Parents, Children and Multicultural Friends Dancing Together at a Garden Party Disco Event at Home. Young and Senior People Relaxing, Having Fun on a Summer Evening.]() *Photo: iStock Photo: istockphoto.com* [According to a study]() on the effects of different light bulbs on bugs around sunset from July through September, incandescent bulbs attract more bugs than [LED bulbs](). If you’re currently illuminating your outdoor space with incandescent bulbs, swap them out for LEDs to reduce [nighttime pests](). You’ll also save some money on your energy bills, since LEDs consume less energy than incandescents do. ## 13. Light a fire in a fire pit. ![Two female friends talking over drinks while relaxing by a fire in their backyard in the evening]() *Photo: iStock Photo: istockphoto.com* Mosquitoes and other insects are deterred by smoke, so using a fire pit regularly can help keep these pests away. You can even sprinkle some lavender around the perimeter of the pit to further deter bugs. If you don’t have a safe place to [build a DIY fire pit](), you can purchase a smokeless model like the [Breo smokeless fire pit](), which, with add-on accessories, can also double as a griddle or grill. ## Author A confessed DIY junkie, Jennifer Noonan writes about home improvement, gardening, and all things do-it-yourself. The recipient of degrees in International Relations and Library & Information Science from Syracuse University, Noonan has worked in media and related fields for over 15 years, including her time at [MTV Networks](), where she served as Manager of Digital Programming at [Nickelodeon](). Today, Noonan lives in Delaware with her husband and daughters, where she is ardently teaching the next generation how to use power tools. ### Author social links [LinkedIn]()