How Your Landscaping Can Reduce Summer Bugs

If there’s one thing about summer that really puts a damper on all the fun it’s definitely all the bugs. From ticks and mosquitoes to flies and bees, summer is infamous for more than warm weather. Believe it or not, there are things you can do besides citronella and bug spray to keep the bugs away. Here are some landscaping tips to keep the pesky summer pests from being such a bother:

Landscaping Elements to Avoid:

• Mulch—it definitely looks nice and can fill some of that empty space in your gardens and amongst your shrubs. Unfortunately, termites and carpenter ants are attracted to the wood in the mulch. Those pests can cause thousands of dollars in damage. Rubber mulch is just as effective in weed control and it’s also a really green alternative to wood mulch because it’s made from recycled tires. Plus, rubber mulch lasts up to 10 years.
• Plants close together—plants provide food and shelter to bugs. When you have a bunch of plants close together it gives the pests plenty of room to hide. Keep them about 18 inches apart.
• Lots of flowers—we know it’s not a pleasant thing to hear but flowers have nectar and mosquitoes, bees, and plenty of other bugs are attracted to nectar. Lilies and other watery plants attract mosquitoes as well.

Landscaping Elements to Add:

There are several plants that actually repel mosquitoes and other annoying summer bugs. Here are a few options you’ll want to include in your landscaping in order to keep the bugs away:

• Basil—repels house flies and mosquitoes
• Lavender—repels moths, fleas, flies, and mosquitoes
• Lemongrass—it’s like nature’s citronella candle. Plus it looks pretty and adds dimension to any garden.
• Chrysanthemums—repel roaches, Japanese beetles, ticks, bedbugs, and lice just to name a few.
• Garlic—it might not repel vampires but it does actually repel mosquitoes!

There are also carnivorous plants that will actually eat the bugs. Whatever you decide, if you want to make a backyard oasis, it’s not a bad idea to incorporate some of these tips to keep the bugs at bay.