Awning's Out: Now That The Sun's Off, Will The Pests Come?
If you love the idea of having a retractable awning over your patio, but aren't sure if it will attract bees, wasps and other pests, the solution may be as simple as rearranging your flower beds and picking up after yourself. These quick tips can save you a sting or an itchy bite.
Tip 1: Rearrange Patio Flowers
Part of the appeal of sitting under a patio louver or awning is to sip your favorite beverage and gnosh on your favorite snack. It's nice to kick back and enjoy the yard with all its blooms and foliage. Watching the kids play in the yard with a nice drink makes for a sweet end to a hard day. But if you need to keep the bees, wasps, and mosquitoes at bay, you will need to reconfigure your landscaping a bit. Move those blooms away from the patio and further into the yard. Try planting some of these to deter the pollinators and the pests:
- Wormwood keeps wasps away. Geraniums and marigolds keep bees away as well as mosquitoes. Get the deep red hues for both geraniums and marigolds.
- Eucalyptus trees and bushes keep bees and pests away. They do not like the smell.
- Basil, mint, and pennyroyal repels the dreaded mosquitoes and keeps flies at a distance. Bees may also be deterred.
Tip 2: Eat, Then Retreat
If you eat outside under your awning, enjoy. Just take your plate and drink back to the kitchen. If you use an outside trash can, you might be surprised that bees get inside soda cans and disposable glassware to taste the sweet sugar left at the bottom. Even covering up your outdoor trash bin doesn't always keep them from sneaking inside. The more food and sweet drinks you leave outdoors, the more you will draw stinging insects and pests. Once you draw them to your awning, they may get the idea to stay and nest. The best rule is to eat, then retreat inside to pitch the trash.
Tip 3: Find A Nest?
No matter what you do to keep the bees and wasps from setting up shop in the crooks and crannies of your patio louver or awning, sometimes you'll have to deal with nests. If you're allergic, call a professional. If you can handle nest removal yourself, wait until dark when they are asleep before you spray the nest. Many bees and wasps don't return to old nests, so you can leave it up to show them that it is occupied or used, or take it down, whatever your pleasure. It's the season to be outdoors, and there's no reason to put off getting that awning for some cool fun under the sun.
For more help with retractable awnings, contact a company like Apollo Opening Roof.