Don’t let pesky insects ruin your outdoor parties
June 9, 2006
Summer evenings are enticing. The sun dips below the horizon, and temperatures cool down as the moon rises in the starlit sky. If you are like many of us, you will find yourself enjoying beautiful summer evenings sitting on the patio sipping a cool drink with friends, watching a baseball game at the stadium, or taking in a concert. Summer evenings draw us outdoors.
Nothing can ruin a wonderfully planned evening like a plague of vicious, buzzing, bloodthirsty insects. Mosquitoes, chiggers, fleas, ticks, and their lasting impressions of itching, red bumps are enough to chase many of us back to the safety of our homes.
Is there anything a person can do?
Controls such as Citronella candles can add ambiance and repel mosquitoes. Mosquito repellant products that contain DEET also provide effective protection, although it may seem tacky asking guests to spray a repellant product before entering a garden party.
Ryan Lawn & Tree horticulturalist Peter Orwig offers tips to protect homeowners from irritating insects. The first is to remove breeding spots, typically any standing water. Empty bird baths daily and empty wading pools after use. Treat fountains with a mosquito control product and make sure a clogged rain gutter is not collecting water, providing a hidden mosquito source.
Additionally, there are wonderful products available that will control fleas and ticks for one to two months. This will give guests strolling through your landscape protection from insects hiding in the grass. Apply a control product several days before your event and you can create a comfortable and safe outdoor environment.
Visit www.enchantedlearning.com for more information.