Dealing with flies in your backyard can be quite a nuisance. These pests not only carry germs and invade your living space but also disrupt outdoor gatherings and compromise food sources by buzzing around garbage cans. While commercial insecticides and repellents are commonly used to combat flies, they often contain harsh and potentially harmful chemicals that may not be suitable for use around your family or pets. Fortunately, natural alternatives, such as specific herbs, can effectively repel flies, offering a safer and more eco-friendly solution for your outdoor environment. Keep reading to learn how to get rid of flies in your backyard.

Rosemary Is A Good Idea

This herb grows as a shrub and has branches with needles resembling a pine tree. Rosemary also has a fragrance similar to that of pine trees. This herb repels house flies, mosquitoes, and cats from your outdoor area, living spaces, or gardens. Plant rosemary in the ground or containers around any location to repel pesky flies, like your kitchen, patio, or grilling areas. You may even snip off a sprig or two for flavoring during cooking or grilling.

Lavender For Natural Fly Repellants

Lavender is an attractive addition to any garden. It is suitable for growing in containers or directly in the ground and is helpful in recipes, beverages, and herbal remedies. This herb repels flies, mosquitoes, fleas, and moths. You can plant it around areas you want to keep flies away from or clip off a few sprigs and make a bundle to hang up in places where flies are a problem.

Basil To Repel The Fly Population

Basil is the ultimate hot-weather, strong-scent plant, as it thrives on heat and sunlight. Have an abundant supply of basil on hand throughout the warmer months when flies are the biggest problem. Plant this herb around areas where these pesky insects frequent. Give the leaves and stems of the plant a gentle rub occasionally to stir up the common housefly-repelling oils. Dry some leaves and sprinkle them around fly-infested areas as an effective fly repellent.

Mint For Outdoor Fly Infestation

Mint, famous for cooking or tea, is also an effective insect repellent. The smell of mint, which people often find appealing, is repulsive to flies, ants, mice, and fleas. Pennyroyal, a type of mint, is particularly effective against flies. However, Pennyroyal is not recommended for those with small children or pets, as it is toxic if consumed in large amounts.

Bay Is One Of The Most Effective Ways

Bay leaves are more effective in repelling flies than flies. This herb's leaves are dried and slipped into bags or containers of grain, rice, and pasta to repel mealy bugs, weevils, and moths. Similarly, when placed on pantry shelves, the dried leaves repel all those insects, plus mice. Bay leaves, either fresh or dried, have a fragrance that keeps your fly problem away and a flavor that enhances soups, stews, and main courses.

How To Get Rid Of Flies For Your Outdoor Activities

Flies buzzing around your food when trying to have a picnic kill the mood and can be a health hazard. Many products on the market claim to get rid of flies, but sprays and chemicals that kill flies can be hazardous to people and pets. To keep picnic food safe, you can use natural methods to keep flies away or to draw them into a nearby trap. Many spices, plants, and formulas repel flies, while others attract them. Keep flies away from your picnic by placing natural repellents on or near your picnic table and putting attractants in fly strips near the picnic area.

Things You'll Need For Fly Control To Get Rid Of Flies In Your Backyard

Here are a few materials you'll need for fly control:

• Empty spray bottle
• 1 cup of water
• 1 cup Avon Skin So Soft Bath aromatic oil
• 2 cups apple cider vinegar
• 1 tbs. eucalyptus oil
• Dry rag
• Pennyroyal leaves
• Basil
• Mint
• Cloves
• Shallow plate
• 1 egg yolk
• 1 tbs. molasses
• 1 tbs. ground black pepper
• 2-liter plastic soda bottles
• Heavy scissors
• 24″ lengths of string
• Hole punch
• Piece of fruit

Here are a few of your options:

• To make homemade fly repellent, mix 1 cup Avon Skin So Soft Bath Oil, 1 cup water, 2 cups vinegar, and 1 tbsp eucalyptus oil in an empty spray bottle. Spray the mixture on the surface of the picnic table and wipe it with a dry rag.

• Mix one egg yolk, 1 tbsp. molasses, and 1 tbsp. ground black pepper together. Place the mixture on a shallow plate. Set the plate on the end of your picnic table. The mixture will draw the flies and kill them.

• Set a fresh basil plant, mint, and crushed pennyroyal leaves in tiny decorative containers on the picnic table to repel flies. Wrap crushed mint, sweet basil, or cloves in cheesecloth or dampen a piece of absorbent cloth with pure eucalyptus oil and hang them on a fence or in a tree near the picnic table.

• Make a fly trap. Remove the label from an empty 2-liter soda bottle and rinse it out. Cut the bottle in half and place the top half upside down in the bottom half. Punch a hole on each side of the bottle and lace a 24-inch length of string through the holes, tying the ends together. Drop a piece of fruit into the bottle and hang it near the picnic table.

• Boil equal parts of sugar, corn syrup, and water, and place the mixture on a brown paper bag to make your fly paper. Hang it near your picnic table to keep flies away from your food.

Tips & Warnings For Different Types Of Flies

Spray the natural fly repellent on your skin to keep flies from landing on you.

Be careful when emptying homemade fly traps to avoid stung if a bee has been caught in the sticky traps.

Light traps are an easy and effective solution if you are looking for a great way to eliminate backyard flies. These traps emit light to attract flies and successfully trap and eliminate flies from your outdoor space.

One of the advantages of using light traps is that they offer a non-chemical and non-toxic approach to controlling the fly population. This makes it a safe and environmentally-friendly option for dealing with flies. Additionally, light traps are simple to set up and maintain, making them a convenient choice for homeowners.

Another way to trap flies and reduce their numbers is by minimizing their sources of attraction. Flies are attracted to animal waste and strong smells, so it is essential to properly dispose of and clean up any animal waste in your backyard. Keeping outdoor areas clean and free from food scraps can also prevent flies from being attracted to your patio area.

Various factors, including the specific species of flies in your area, can influence the presence of flies in your backyard. Understanding the behavior and habits of these flies can help you eliminate them. Different fly species may be attracted to different baits or trapping methods, so it is essential to identify the type of flies you are dealing with.