Whether they’re eating your plants or biting and stinging you, insects in your yard can be a nuisance. While all outdoor areas will always have insects in them somewhere, there are steps you can take to reduce the annoying pests and keep your yard area bug-free. Keep reading to learn both prevention and control techniques you can use on your property to enjoy being outside again.

1

Monitor your yard and identify which pests you have.

  1. Experts stress the importance of finding out which specific pest you have. Pest management is very broad, and sometimes, specific pests require very specific treatment methods. First, try looking up invasive pests in your area and what signs to watch out for. Then, take a look at the plants in your garden for signs of damage. Usually, you can tell what kind of bugs are in your yard by what they’re doing to your plants.[1]
    • For example, if you find small holes in your tree bark, you might be dealing with an emerald ash borer beetle.[2]
    • If you notice brown, fibrous egg masses that look like wet paper on plant leaves, you might be dealing with Gypsy moths.[3]
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2

Mow your lawn often.

  1. Insects love to hide in tall grass and weeds. If you have a lot of grass in your yard, be sure to mow it at least once a week to keep it short and trimmed. Bag the clippings and dispose of them off your property to get rid of any pests that may be lurking. You may also want to take a weed whacker to any tall weeds or shrubs in your yard, since those can attract bugs, too. This is a great way to keep ticks out of your yard, since they love to climb up tall blades of grass.[4]
    • Try to remove weeds from your garden often, too. Pests are attracted to weeds, so your garden will look less inviting if it’s freshly manicured.[5]
4

Get rid of standing water.

  1. Standing water is a breeding ground for insects, including mosquitoes. If you have any pools of standing water in your yard, dig a trench that leads downhill and line it with peat moss. You can add a french drain to the trench if you need to, or you can simply let the water drain out and into the ground. You can still keep bird baths or kiddie pools in your yard, but try to drain and refill them at least once a week to avoid creating a habitat for insects.[7]
    • The same goes for running water, too. If you have any leaks outside, try to stop them so that insects don’t flock there for drinking water.
    • If there’s a pool or hot tub in your yard, make sure to treat it with chemicals often to discourage pests.
5

Remove clutter from your yard and garden.

  1. Piles of wood and debris make perfect homes for insects. Go through your yard and clear out any large piles of garbage or wood if you can. Things like magazines, cardboard, and newspapers are perfect homes for bugs, so be sure to throw those away first. If you need to stack firewood outside, keep it far away from your home or your deck so that the insects don’t bother you.[8]
    • Insects like termites, spiders, and beetles often live in large piles of clutter outside.
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7

Burn citronella candles.

  1. These candles are natural insect repellants, especially for mosquitoes. If you’re outside and you notice a lot of bugs flying around, try lighting a candle that contains citronella oil. The smoke combined with the natural smell will repel bugs, and you may notice that they avoid the area with the candles.[10]
    • Smaller candles are great for porches and patios with smooth, flat surfaces to balance on. If you’d like to arrange candles on a grassy lawn, buy some backyard torches.
    • If you have a large yard, you might need more than one candle to be effective.
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9

Set up pest traps.

12

Release parasitic nematodes in your garden.

13

Spray leafy plants with neem oil.

  1. Neem oil is a natural pest repellent that also discourages fungus. Pick up a bottle of neem oil from your local hardware store and follow the dilution instructions on the back of the bottle. Use your neem oil spray on plants with big green leaves to repel and kill garden pests.[16]
    • Neem oil is safe to use around animals and children, and you can even spray it on edible plants.
    • However, neem oil is slightly toxic to birds and fish. Try not to spray neem oil right before it rains, as that can wash it into the waterways and harm aquatic animals.[17]
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15

Grow plants that will thrive in your yard.

  1. Unhealthy plants attract pests. Spend a little time figuring out which plants do best in your yard and what they need to survive. For instance, some plants need full sun for 8 hours a day, while others prefer partial shade. Some plants need to be watered every day, while other plants can go without for a week or more. The more you take care of the plants in your yard, the less bugs you’ll find overall.[19]
    • The same goes if you’re growing an edible garden, too. Be sure that you’re planting crops at the right time, and get rid of anything that’s rotting or gone bad.
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18

Spray pesticides as a last resort.

  1. These harsh chemicals will kill any pests in your yard. However, pesticides can also harm the good insects, and they can even be dangerous to use around animals and small children. If you’d like to use a pesticide in your yard, be sure to follow all safety instructions on the container, and only spray them where you’ve noticed the pests.[22]
    • If you are spraying pesticides yourself, wear gloves, long sleeves, and safety goggles for protection. Don’t spray on a windy or rainy day, as that can blow pesticides into other yards or back onto yourself.
    • You can also hire a professional to spray your yard with pesticides.

About This Article

Elmer Bensinger
Co-authored by:
Pest Control Specialist
This article was co-authored by Elmer Bensinger and by wikiHow staff writer, Hannah Madden. Elmer Bensinger is a Pest Control Specialist with Eden Advanced Pest Technologies in Spokane, Washington. With over 20 years of experience, Elmer specializes in integrated pest management and products such as insecticides and rodenticides. He studied business at South Puget Sound Community College. This article has been viewed 9,077 times.
8 votes - 100%
Co-authors: 4
Updated: September 13, 2021
Views: 9,077
Categories: Pest Control
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