There are many reasons why you could suddenly have a fly infestation in your backyard. However, usually it is because you or the forces of nature have somehow provided them with the perfect habitat in which to thrive and multiply.
Flies are obnoxious creatures that carry diseases. They infest rotten food matter, stagnant water and the bodies of dead animals.
Swarms of black flies can ruin an outdoor gathering with the sound of their buzzing. According to an article by University of Minnesota experts, black flies are most active at dusk and at dawn.
Black flies are more than an annoyance. They can deliver a painful bite to both humans and animals; another reason to do all that you can to keep them out of your backyard.
Pesticides are not really the answer to treating a backyard fly infestation because the area is too open to the air. A successful fumigation requires more of an indoor setting, where the toxic pesticide fumes can be contained long enough to actually kill the bugs.
Continue reading to discover the five best ways to get rid of flies in your backyard without resorting to toxic pesticides.
5 Best Ways To Keep Flies Out of Your Backyard
Here are five preventative home remedies that may help to keep flies out of your backyard.
1. Keep Your Bushes Trimmed To Minimize Shade
Flies are attracted to shade so it is a good idea to keep your backyard area as sunny as possible. Cut back any thick shrubs that might be harboring flies. Long evergreen tree branches that cast a lot of shade can also attract black flies so be sure to keep them trimmed back.
2. Mow Your Lawn Often
A backyard with long tall grass creates cool damp habitats that can hide swarms of flies. Cutting your grass as short as possible exposes these areas to the sun, and \ discourages them from breeding in patches of dew in the morning.
3. Eliminate Pools of Stagnant Water
Stagnant water could be pooling anywhere in your backyard, in your driveway, the eavestroughs, and even in your birdbaths. The answer to eliminating stagnant water is to empty all hoses, watering cans and other places that flies could breed after every use. To keep the water in your birdbath from stagnating, replace it every day.
Standing water can also be found in the dips and valleys left by bare patches in your lawn. To remedy this, consider having your lawn landscaped to make it more level,
You can create more drainage so that water does not create pools on your lawn. Train water to trickle away from shallow areas in your garden or lawn by building an open drain with PVC pipe and pebbles.
Yet another way to make sure that stagnant pools of water don’t gather is to clear leaves and other debris away from drains, sewers and eavestroughs. That way water does not back up and create a breeding place for flies.
4. Reduce Odors From Compost, Garbage, Pets and Entertaining
Strong odors are an attractant for flies, so it helps to minimize them at their source by practicing a few hygienic good habits.
Bundle up your garbage well and try not to store it in your backyard. If you don’t have a choice, then buy plastic bins or wood bins with secure lids and store it there to minimize smells.
It is also a huge mistake to leave any leftover foods or liquids outside overnight as you are simply creating a feast for the flies. This includes beer bottles, food containers and anything else that creates odor.
You must also always pick up after your pets, as odors from their feces can attract flies. If you find any feces from wild animals or dead animal bodies, you must also remove them as quickly as possible to avoid a fly infestation.
It can be difficult to control odors from a compost, soocate your compost area as far away from as possible from backyard areas where you socialize. Dead plant matter also emits a smell that attracts flies, so be sure to keep your garden well-maintained and regularly remove any yellow or brown vegetation or dead plants.
If your outdoor fly problem is really bad, you might want to consider storing your garbage in a dry place indoors until garbage day. Just make sure that it is not located in a damp area in your basement, or you could risk attracting the fly infestation into your home.
5. Regularly Turn Your Compost Over
Flies are also attracted to compost heaps, especially if they are located in a damp, shady place in your backyard. The problem is that most compost heaps are located behind sheds or in dark places in your backyard.
The key to prevent your compog from getting too moist. Constantly turning the compost over creates a chemical reaction in the decaying garbage that causes an internal heat. This makes your compost heap too hot of an environment to support the development of fly larvae.
Tips On How to Avoid Black Flies
If you can’t get rid of the black flies, you can still do some things to deter them from swarming and biting you.
- Flies are attracted to dark colors like navy blue or black, so it may help to wear bright colors to discourage them from landing on you.
- Wear clothing that covers your arms, legs and head to protect yourself from bites.
- Don’t situate outdoor areas where you socialize in areas next to shady bushes.
- Always clean up after your dog or cat, as flies breed on animal feces.
Final Thoughts
Perhaps the best way to avoid swarms of flies from seeking your backyard out is to practice basic sanitation. Quite simply, don’t feed the flies, or give them a home to breed in..
Don’t let standing pools of water sit in your grass, or leave garbage or leftover food on tables. Clean up after your dog, and make sure your yard is not infested with mice or other vermin that might attract flies.
The fact is that it is much easier to practice preventative measures, then it is to get rid of hordes of flies that may decide to settle down and call your backyard home.
