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How to keep flies away outside

Getting rid of house flies that infect indoor spaces is one thing, but it can be next to impossible to keep them away from the outside of your home. These pesky insects can make any form of outdoor activity unpleasant, and fly infestations outdoors can be a terrible problem to manage in certain climates. It can also be a nasty thing to manage in homes with dog kennels, chicken coops, or homes located near meadows and pastures.

So, when is this a big problem? Well, in North America, houseflies tend to be active from spring through fall, generally reaching peak activity during the summer months. Besides being a nuisance, flies carry a variety of germs. This can include things such as the bacteria that cause anthrax, typhoid, stomach ulcers, cholera, and dysentery. Nasty right? They tend to deposit this bacterium wherever they land—including the food you eat, the places you sit, and the areas your children play in.

In our opinion, flies are the most annoying thing to show up in our households. Given the fact they can spread germs, and their overall appearance is unbearable, it’s not long before you become overwhelmed with flies at your home. 

Luckily, we have some solutions. We hope the tips below help eliminate pesky flies from your property. Alternatively, if you'd like to know how to keep flies away from specifically your porch, read what our experts had to say in this article!

Get rid of flies by minimizing your home’s fly appeal

Firstly, and most importantly, it's critical to mention that the most effective way to keep flies away is to ensure your home isn’t set up to attract them. This means deep cleans and measures put in place in the areas you want to protect. 

Citronella candles are a great fly repellent. However, they only work effectively in a small area for each candle. Therefore, the number of candles it would take to be effective would be so costly that it isn’t a viable option for large-scale problems. 

Fly traps are a more sustainable and effective option. This may sound strange, but since fly traps attract flies, the best way to use a fly trap is to place them as far away from where you don’t want the flies as possible. Does that make sense? Try making a mix of sugar water to get a few flies to the trap. Apple cider vinegar is also a winner. Once the flies become trapped and die, the dead flies will start to become an attractant to the live flies. Nasty but super effective. This means you can set up a hot zone towards the bottom of your garden, meaning the flies will move there and away from your home. WINNER. 

Install Yellow Light Bulbs to Keep Flies Away

Various studies show that yellow is the number one color that repels and deters flies. Similarly, with the candles, you would need to surround your home with yellow light bulbs for it to have any real effect. However, if you don’t mind your house looking like a Christmas tree all year round, then place them near windows and doors to protect your house from fly entry. 

Invest in plants that repel flies naturally

Finding plants that can help is a natural and humane way to deal with the problem. Although, if we’re being honest, there aren’t many plants that are able to repel flies properly, but there are some that could help in time. Most of us may have some in our garden beds already! If not, you should consider placing some there. Not only are they lovely to have around in the battle to deter flies, but they are pretty and add to the appearance of your garden too. 

Glossy bay leaves from the bay laurel have been used as an aromatic in cooking for centuries. But we’ve also placed them within cupboards to keep insects away. The strong and pungent scent is useful when both fresh and dried, and can even be hung at entryways during the fly season as well. 

Similarly, with basil, both fresh and dried, the scent given off by basil deters flies effectively. Adding some to your flower arrangements near areas of home entry can help keep the worst of your flies away. This can also be doubled up in vegetable patches to protect your produce from any unwanted guests!

Finally, we have lavender. Lavender thrives in well-drained, hot, and sunny climates. Both the foliage and blooms are fragrant and fend off many types of insects, flies included. Try placing some in closets, drawers, and cupboards to keep flies away. It will not only deter these pesky characters, but it will keep your clothes smelling delightful too. 

A different perspective

As we mentioned at the beginning of this blog, it’s not only important to trap and remove the flies, but it’s equally important to ensure they never arrive in the first place. Therefore, once you’ve given these pests the full works of treatment we’ve mentioned above, you should then turn your efforts to discourage their re-entry. We’ve compiled some smart ideas below. 

Keep your home clean! We can’t stress this enough. Flies love garbage, trash cans, compost bins, and general waste. So, make sure outdoor parties and other outdoor activities are managed so that waste is minimized and disposed of properly. It’s also important to manage pet waste. If your family dog does his usual business in the garden, then clean up and remove this as fast as possible. This will help to manage the problem and minimize the arrival of new waves of flies. 

It’s also important to watch out for water. Try to avoid the build-up of pools of water that stagnate around your property. Flies need water to survive. Therefore, they are drawn to puddles, birdbaths, and other soggy areas in homes across the globe. 

It’s often fun to spectate as flies eat fruit on birdfeeders. However, this will quickly become a hot zone and large groups of flies will soon arrive. A beacon for fly feeding is something nobody wants on their property, so stop it from happening! As soon as the birds have had their tasty food, remove the remains so flies don’t get the wrong impression.

How to keep flies away for good

Ultimately, if you’re going to keep flies away for good, a change in attitude is needed. Flies may be a small nuisance to some, but they can become a big problem very quickly. The negative experiences they bring to homes is something that can be managed, so why not make the effort? It’s easy to underestimate the issue, hoping it will pass. But trust us, if you don’t make the effort to transform your home into a ‘no-fly zone’, then you WILL suffer the consequences…