How do I avoid too many bugs around my back door area?

Question

I've been gardening and do not want to plant or do anything that will increase the bugs around my back door area. We already have a flood light that attracts them.... I want some plants up around the steps. But I'm leary of what kind of bugs will show up next. Any thoughts?

Answer 1

Oh Brenda...I'm so sorry, but I got just the question part of this in e-mail and I could not help but laugh out loud. The question itself sounds REALLY funny/bad. ;-)

Unfortunately, bugs come in so many varieties...some that like light, some the like darkness. Not too many like really dry areas. So planting things around your back stoop will provide the moisture and shade many of them crave. I guess you just have to ask yourself what is the lesser of the evils and go with that solution.

Answer 2

Use a spray bottle (from the Dollar Store) fill 1/2 with bleach and the other half with water. Will kill a lot of bugs. Not all.  

Answer 3

Go to a local nursery & ask these important questions. They will be able to help you out if they're a reputable nursery.

Answer 4

I recommend using a solar powered bug killer, which will attract many of them and kill them with an electric charge, powered for free by the sun.  http://www.epestsupply.com/cgi-bin/shopp...

Also, remove any standing water that might be around, as this will attract mosquitoes to lay eggs, which will increase the swarms around.  If you have ponds, there's a product called pond dunk that releases a natural bacteria that stops mosquito larvae from becoming adults, and thus flying into the air.   These are fairly low cost, available from places like Home Depot.  http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/196...

Hope this helps.  Good luck!  Rob

Answer 5

Well 1st thing not all bugs are bad, actually most are good. They serve their purpose in life with minimal interaction with us.  As far as planting something that won't attract them? There are very few plants that will not attract insects. Not only do they use them as a food source, they also like to live under them since they are usually darker and damp.  The few plants that I know which have bug repelling qualities would be the marigold, the mum, and some of the plants in the nettle family such as lemon balm and your more citrus smelling types of mints.

If you are wanting something for your back door, then I would suggest at least taking away one of the things that would attract the bugs to the plant, the habitat aspect of it. Instead of having them grow in the ground, try some hanging baskets, and stay away from flowers, (bees)  

Answer 6

put a line of salt

salt kills bugs

Answer 7

use a product called seven it is not harmful to plants and after it drys it is not harmful to you works good

Answer 8

Change your flood light bulb to the kind that won't attract bugs. As long as the light is on the bugs will be there so get one of the yellowish type of bulbs. Any hardware store will know what you need.

Answer 9

First off, I would not advise using bleach or salt as they will

not be liked by any plants either. Good way to kill everything,

though!

Second,you could go to the local garden shop or any department

store such as Target, Longs, etc. and buy a 'bug' light which is

a yellow color),for your back light.

They even sell them as flood lights.

Plant some spider plants unless the area gets full sun, then you

may want to plant some sun loving plants. You did not mention

your location, so it is hard to suggest any specific plants as they

more or less go by zones.Also, you could get a sprayer and fill

with water plus the juice of 2-3 lemons, then spray the whole

area beforehand, or afterward, your choice.Also, seven dust

is a good product and a bag of cedar chips sold at garden shops

everywhere is an excellent mulch to put all around any plants you

use, as bugs hate cedar, but the smell is so pleasant to us!

What ever you may decide, hope this little bit helps!