Outdoor fly repellent - for dining area?

Question

With the approaching summer months, I'm planning on eating outdoors a lot more on a large deck area. Does anyone know of an effective fly and mosquito repellent (or even just a fly repellent) for outdoor dining areas? Doesn't matter whether it's a bug zapper, commercial spray or organic solution - happy to try anything at this point, as long as it doesn't smell bad. Thanks, A.

Answer 1

To get rid of any flies that might be around,you can kill them with a Fly trap hidden in a decorative flower pot:

Fill a quart jar with this mixture.

3 cups of water

¼ (one quarter) cup sugar

¼ (one quarter) cup white vinegar

Mix, punch holes in the lid, and set it where needed.



You could just hang rosemary or place pots of them around where you sit, It will cool the walls of your house, too.

"Scents actually have a function ... as protection from insects in some plants or as protection from drought in hot, arid climates (the thick volatile compounds we smell provide a protective layer around leaves). The old English custom of covering brick walls with sprigs of rosemary for cooling has been supported by modern research, which shows rosemary has 74 times the cooling effect of fresh air (thyme has 68 times the cooling effect, lavender 60 times)."

http://www.uvm.edu/extension/publications/oh/oh66.htm



Mosquitos & flies don't like rosemary, thyme, lemon balm, garlic, citronella, the oil of lemon eucalyptus, or Tea Tree Oil.

Make a spray from one or several of those repelling herbs mosquitos don't like, such as mint or lemon balm & add a tablsp dish soap to a gallon of water & spray your bushes with it when you're outdoors.

Use those citronella torches &/or candles.

It's interesting to note that when golfing, some people would put a bounce dryer sheet in their pocket to repel insects.



Plant mint around your house & use cedar woodchips for your walkways & paths... or incorporate it into your decoration or plantings on your deck. Make sure there's no breeding areas for mosquitoes (piles of leaves, ditches, damp spots, etc.) around your yard. That's the biggest cause of mosquitoes hanging around.



This site has an interesting discussion about using Basil, among other things, to help them keep flies away:"I'll second the sweet basil...I have giant Jurrasic basil plants planted around my deck, and we never see flies anymore."

http://ask.metafilter.com/19342/flies



Good luck! Hope this is helpful.

Answer 2

Fly Repellent

Answer 3

Fly Deterrent

Answer 4

Best Fly Deterrent

Answer 5

I will share this with you,. you may think---no way!!1 but it does help. It doesn't totally get fid of flies but it certainly cuts them down significantly. take some brown paper lunch size bags & crumple them up, uncrumple them, repeat 3 or 4 times. blow them up to a round shape , tie them closed & tack or tape them up to about top of door level-- flies will think they are paper wasps nests( wasps eat flies) & they will avoid the area

Answer 6

check out mother earth news . you can build bat houses to mount around your property,they only come out at night &and they will eat all insects of any kind.its a natural way of ridding those little pests with no chemicals.if bats turn you off please excuse but where im at they are harmless to humans.

Answer 7

Wow! Thanks! just what I was searching for. I looked for the answer on the internet but I couldn't find them.