Spending time outdoors is one of the best parts of having a patio, pergola, or gazebo, but dealing with pesky bugs can totally ruin the experience. Mosquitos, black flies, wasps, and other insects distract you from quality time with loved ones but also leave behind itchy welts and painful stings.
This post will cover the best ways to keep your outdoor spaces bug-free so you can enjoy them without the constant buzzing and biting. From all-natural methods to common sense suggestions for keeping bugs out of your home, you’ll be well-equipped to weather the swarm once nice weather arrives.
And while we’re talking about keeping your outdoor space in top shape, don’t forget about your roof! Roof Maxx can help extend the life of your shingles so that they remain durable and flexible—making it easier to protect your home’s entire exterior.
Screens are one of the easiest and best options for keeping bugs out of enclosed outdoor spaces. They keep insects out, but still allow fresh air in. You have two main options: retractable or permanent.
Retractable screens install permanently onto the hard sides of your pergola or gazebo, but they’re designed to retract back into housing along the sides of your space. They’re typically made from a combination of PVC coated fiberglass, polyester mesh and metal (usually aluminum).
If you’re looking for something simple but effective you don’t need to mess with much, retractable screens fit the bill nicely. They’re easy to take care of, too—just keep the tracks free of debris and apply a silicone-based lubricant if they lose their fluidity.
Permanent screens serve the same functional purpose as retractables, but they’re designed to remain in place 100% of the time once they’re installed—you can’t retract them. You’ll see these most often on wall-mounted sunrooms and enclosed patio spaces.
The main drawback? Permanent mesh screens are much harder to install on gazebos and pergolas that are already in place. They usually need to be custom-designed.
Sometimes, permanent solutions like retractable and mesh screens just aren’t the right fit. If you want the option to remove your bug protection completely, mosquito netting and outdoor curtains are a great fit.
Mosquito netting is so effective that the CDC actually recommends it for preventing malaria and other insect-borne diseases in some countries. Nets with a rating of around 800 holes per square inch will also keep out noseeums, gnats, and other very small insects (including seed ticks!).
As a side note, treating your mosquito netting with an insect-repellant spray makes it nearly twice as effective. It also helps to prevent bites through the mesh if you happen to lean up against it.
Outdoor curtains add style and draw attention to beautiful wood patios and gazebos, so they’re the ideal choice when aesthetics matter. Plus, they’re available in just about any color you can imagine!
Curtains do have one drawback: if they aren’t heavy enough or don’t secure to the floor of your gazebo, you won’t have full protection closer to the ground. That means you may deal with ants and other crawling insects in spite of having them in place.
Mother nature has a way of keeping things in balance—and that includes insects. Candles and torches that contain citronella and essential oil sprays contain plant-based ingredients bugs just don’t like.
Citronella candles and torches contain an oil that’s sourced from a species of tropical grass known as Cymbopogon. That’s the same lemongrass you’ll find in the produce section at your grocery store.
Citronella oil is practically non-toxic according to the National Pesticide Information Center, but the burning process isn’t. Use it with care around sensitive pets like cats, parrots or fish and young children.
While citronella is technically an essential oil, too, let’s talk about a few others that might help: lavender, eucalyptus, and peppermint. All of these have a natural ability to repel bugs, and assuming you buy the oil itself, don’t contain any harsh chemicals.
As with citronella, these products work best when paired with another protection method, and you should always carefully follow the instructions on the package.
Important Note: Most essential oils, including peppermint, eucalyptus, and ylang-ylang, are highly toxic to cats. They lack a liver enzyme needed to process them safely, so always check with your vet before using them.
The best way to manage pests is to stop them from entering your outdoor spaces in the first place. If you already have permanent solutions in place, sealing gaps and cracks or installing fans can help.
This one is great advice for your home, too—sealing gaps and cracks can help you avoid expensive roof leak repairs. But checking for gaps and cracks in your patio, pergola, or gazebo is also a great way to keep these areas free from pests. Bugs only need a microscopic amount of space to get in!
If you find a hole in your mesh, you can use a patch kit to cover it or replace the panel completely. You can also sew a patch down over it or weave fishing line through the gaps if you have the relevant skills—but this won’t be as easy or effective for very fine mesh.
Most flying insects aren’t very strong—even a moderate breeze will push them away and stop them from attaching to your body. Installing ceiling or standing fans can be helpful, but protection alone won’t be the only benefit.
The catch? Even though you can buy outdoor-safe ceiling fans, you’ll still need some kind of permanent, fixed overhead support to install them. If your patio doesn’t have one, you might need to sort that out first.
Most practical homeowner tips all track back to the same common-sense advice: keep your space in good condition and maintain it often, and you’ll have fewer problems. This is also true for insects—pests love rotting wood, holes, debris, and leaves and will actively seek them out.
Here are some tips for keeping the exterior of your property neat and clean:
Taking a top-down approach to maintenance is usually the best way to go, because problems like leaks and wood rot often start there first. If you have asphalt shingles on your home or your outbuildings, Roof Maxx can help keep them in top condition.
Our natural roof-rejuvenation solution is designed to be absorbed by the asphalt shingles on your roof, which replaces the natural oils they lose over time. This restores their flexibility, making them less likely to crack and break. As a result, your roof becomes less susceptible to the elements—and to pests that might use those cracks as an easy way into your home.
Roof Maxx can help extend the lifespan of shingles in good condition for up to 15 years, and costs up to 80% less than replacing your roof entirely. Watch a quick 1-minute video to see how it works.
From installing screens to using all-natural chemicals sourced from nature itself, you have plenty of options for keeping your patio, pergola, or gazebo free of bugs. Exploring and using a mix of the simple steps listed above will prevent bugs from invading the sanctuary of your favorite outdoor spaces.
And remember, maintaining your roof is just as important for your outdoor living areas. Roof Maxx can help protect shingles on your home and outbuildings, which helps prevent opportunistic pests from taking up residence in your roof structure or creating holes. Find a dealer in your area to get a free quote.
With our five-year, transferable warranty, you’ll enjoy the peace of mind that your roof and entire home are protected.
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