How to Get Rid of Flies Outside: Your Ultimate Guide - Plant Care Guide

To effectively get rid of flies outside, the most crucial step is to eliminate their breeding grounds and food sources, combined with strategic deterrents and traps. A multi-pronged approach that focuses on sanitation, natural repellents, and targeted solutions will drastically reduce fly populations in your outdoor areas.

Why Are Flies So Persistent Outside?

Flies are incredibly adaptable creatures, and your outdoor space, with its various organic materials and moisture, often provides the perfect conditions for them to thrive. Understanding what attracts them is the first step in combating their presence.

What Attracts Flies to Your Outdoor Space?

Flies are primarily drawn to decaying organic matter, moisture, and warmth. If these elements are present, you're likely to have a fly problem.

• Food Sources:
  • Garbage: Open trash cans, overflowing bins, and unbagged waste are prime attractants.
  • Pet Waste: Animal feces is a significant breeding ground and food source for many fly species, especially house flies.
  • Compost Piles: Unless properly managed, compost can be a magnet for flies.
  • Spilled Food and Drinks: Residues from outdoor meals, BBQ grease, and sugary drinks left unattended.
  • Rotting Fruit/Vegetables: Fallen fruit from trees or neglected garden produce.
• Breeding Grounds:
  • Moist Organic Matter: Any damp, decaying material, including wet grass clippings, leaf piles, stagnant water, or uncleaned gutters.
  • Animal Waste: As mentioned, it's not just a food source but also a place for flies to lay eggs.
• Warmth and Shelter: Flies are cold-blooded and seek warmth. Sunny spots on patios or near structures provide ideal resting places.
• Standing Water: While often associated with mosquitoes, some flies can also be attracted to stagnant water for drinking or laying eggs.

How Can Sanitation Be Your First Line of Defense Against Flies?

The most effective way to control flies outside is to remove what attracts them in the first place. Excellent sanitation practices are foundational to any successful fly control strategy.

Essential Sanitation Practices to Reduce Flies

1. Manage Your Trash:
   • Use Lidded Bins: Always use garbage cans with tight-fitting lids.
   • Bag All Waste: Place all garbage in sealed plastic bags before putting it in the bin.
   • Regular Emptying: Empty outdoor trash cans frequently, especially after outdoor meals or if they contain food waste.
   • Clean Bins: Periodically wash out your trash cans with soap and water, or a disinfectant, to remove residual odors and organic matter.
2. Handle Pet Waste Properly:
   • Immediate Pickup: Pick up pet waste immediately after your pet goes to the bathroom.
   • Sealed Disposal: Dispose of pet waste in sealed bags in a lidded trash can or a designated pet waste disposal system.
   • Consider a Pet Waste Disposal System for easy management.
3. Maintain Your Compost Pile:
   • Proper Ratios: Ensure your compost pile has a good balance of "greens" (nitrogen-rich) and "browns" (carbon-rich).
   • Cover Fresh Scraps: Always bury new food scraps deep within the pile or cover them with a layer of "brown" material (leaves, wood chips).
   • Turn Regularly: Turning your compost pile frequently helps it break down faster and reduces fly access.
   • Use a Closed Bin: A sealed Compost Tumbler can significantly reduce fly attraction.
4. Clean Up Outdoor Dining Areas:
   • Immediate Cleanup: After outdoor meals, clear away all food scraps, plates, and utensils promptly.
   • Wipe Surfaces: Wipe down tables, grills, and other surfaces to remove sticky residues.
   • Sweep/Rake: Sweep or rake up any fallen food debris from patios or decks.
5. Address Decaying Organic Matter:
   • Fallen Fruit: Pick up any fallen fruit from trees or neglected vegetable plants immediately.
   • Wet Leaves/Grass Clippings: Don't leave large piles of wet leaves or grass clippings to decompose. Bag them or add them to a well-managed compost pile.
   • Stagnant Water: Eliminate any standing water, as it can attract some fly species for breeding. Check bird baths, old tires, clogged gutters, and pet water bowls.
6. Maintain Gutters and Drains:
   • Clear Debris: Regularly clear leaves and debris from gutters to prevent water from pooling and organic matter from decaying.
   • Clean Drains: Ensure outdoor drains are clear and free of blockages that could hold stagnant water or decaying material.

What Are Effective Natural and DIY Fly Repellents?

Once sanitation is handled, you can introduce natural deterrents to make your outdoor space less appealing to flies. These methods are generally safe for pets and children.

Botanical and DIY Solutions to Keep Flies Away

• Planting Fly-Repelling Herbs:
  • Herbs: Flies dislike the scent of certain herbs. Plant them in pots around your patio or in garden beds near seating areas.
  • Effective Plants:
    • Basil: A strong scent that deters flies and mosquitoes.
    • Mint: Very aromatic, can deter flies and other insects.
    • Rosemary: Another pungent herb that flies avoid.
    • Lavender: Beautiful and fragrant for humans, but a turn-off for flies.
    • Marigolds: Their distinctive scent is a natural insect repellent.
  • A Herb Garden Starter Kit can get you started.
• Essential Oil Sprays:
  • Recipe: Mix 10-20 drops of fly-repelling essential oils (e.g., peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus, lemongrass, citronella) with 1 cup of water and a few drops of dish soap (as an emulsifier) in a spray bottle.
  • Application: Spray around patio areas, outdoor furniture, and doorways. Reapply frequently, especially after rain.
  • A Peppermint Essential Oil is a great repellent.
• Vinegar Traps:
  • Homemade: A simple and effective trap for fruit flies and some house flies.
  • Method: Pour apple cider vinegar into a shallow bowl, add a few drops of dish soap (breaks surface tension), and cover tightly with plastic wrap. Poke a few small holes in the plastic. Flies will be attracted to the vinegar, enter, and get trapped.
• Cloves and Citrus:
  • Method: Cut a lemon or orange in half and stick whole cloves into the cut surface. Place these "pomanders" around your outdoor seating areas. Flies dislike the scent combination.
• Hanging Water Bags with Pennies:
  • Theory: While debated, some believe clear plastic bags filled with water and a few pennies reflect light in a way that disorients flies due to their compound eyes.
  • Application: Hang these bags near doorways or patio areas.
• Dry Ice (Use with Caution):
  • Theory: The CO₂ released from dry ice attracts flies, drawing them away from your gathering.
  • Caution: Handle dry ice with extreme care (wear gloves, do not touch directly) and use in a well-ventilated area. Place it in a bucket a distance from your main gathering spot.

What Are the Best Traps and Baits for Outdoor Flies?

Sometimes, natural deterrents aren't enough, and you need more active measures to reduce fly populations. Traps and baits are excellent for this purpose.

Effective Trapping and Baiting Methods

• Disposable Fly Traps:
  • Function: These contain a bait that attracts flies. Once inside, they can't escape and drown in a liquid.
  • Pros: Highly effective for catching large numbers of flies.
  • Cons: Can be smelly; should be placed away from your main living areas.
  • Placement: Hang them on the perimeter of your yard, near garbage cans, or other fly hotspots.
  • A Rescue! Outdoor Fly Trap is a popular and effective option.
• UV Light Traps (Bug Zappers):
  • Function: Attracts flies (and other flying insects) with UV light, then zaps them with an electric grid.
  • Pros: Can cover a large area; provides audible satisfaction.
  • Cons: Can kill beneficial insects; often noisy; effectiveness for biting flies can vary. Best placed away from gathering areas to draw insects away.
  • Consider a Flowtron Electric Bug Zapper.
• Flypaper/Sticky Traps:
  • Function: Long strips or sheets of paper coated with a sticky substance that traps flies on contact.
  • Pros: Inexpensive, chemical-free.
  • Cons: Unsightly when full of flies; can be messy.
  • Placement: Hang in discreet, high-traffic fly areas, not where people will brush against them.
• Baited Fly Traps (Non-Disposable):
  • Function: Reusable traps that use a liquid bait to lure flies. You empty and re-bait them.
  • Pros: More sustainable than disposable traps.
  • Cons: Still require regular cleaning and re-baiting.
• Fly Baits (Granular/Liquid):
  • Function: Contains an attractant and an insecticide. Flies feed on it and die.
  • Pros: Can be very effective for high fly populations.
  • Cons: Contains pesticides; must be used according to label directions and kept away from children and pets.
  • Placement: Apply to surfaces where flies land (e.g., walls, fences, garbage bins) but not directly on food surfaces.

How Can Physical Barriers Help Control Flies?

Sometimes, preventing flies from even entering certain areas is the best strategy. Physical barriers are highly effective for this.

Utilizing Barriers to Keep Flies Out

• Screened Enclosures:
  • Effectiveness: The most effective way to create a fly-free zone.
  • Options: Screened porches, patios, or gazebos.
  • A Screened Gazebo offers an immediate solution for fly-free outdoor enjoyment.
• Outdoor Curtains or Netting:
  • Use: Can be hung around patio areas or pergolas to create a temporary barrier.
  • Materials: Look for tightly woven outdoor mesh or netting designed to keep insects out.
  • Consider: Patio Mosquito Netting for versatile use.
• Fans:
  • Mechanism: Flies are poor fliers in turbulent air. A strong fan creates an air current they struggle to navigate.
  • Placement: Position outdoor fans to blow across your seating or dining area.
  • Benefit: Also provides a cooling breeze.
• Door and Window Screens:
  • Importance: Ensure all screens on doors and windows leading to your house are intact and properly sealed to prevent flies from entering your home. Repair any tears.

When Should You Consider Chemical Treatments or Professional Help?

For severe or persistent fly problems, especially if they pose a health risk, you might need to consider stronger chemical treatments or professional pest control services.

Advanced Solutions for Stubborn Fly Infestations

• Residual Insecticides:
  • Application: Applied by professionals or careful DIYers to surfaces where flies rest (e.g., exterior walls, eaves, garbage areas). These provide long-lasting control.
  • Types: Look for products specifically labeled for outdoor fly control and follow all safety instructions.
  • Caution: Use only as directed. Keep pets and children away from treated areas until dry.
• Fly Baits with Insecticides:
  • Mechanism: Granular or liquid baits that attract and kill flies. Often contain active ingredients like muscalure (an attractant) and insecticides such as dinotefuran or methomyl.
  • Usage: Applied to non-food surfaces, away from direct human or pet contact.
  • Example: Starbar Golden Malrin Fly Bait is a well-known option, but use with extreme caution.
• Larvicides:
  • Target: Applied to known fly breeding sites (e.g., manure piles, compost bins) to kill fly larvae before they develop into adult flies.
  • Method: Prevents the next generation of flies from emerging.
  • Usage: Often a component of professional pest management.
• Professional Pest Control Services:
  • When to Call: If you have a massive, ongoing fly problem that DIY methods aren't solving, or if flies are associated with livestock or agricultural waste.
  • Benefits: Professionals can identify breeding sources, apply targeted treatments, and provide expert advice on long-term prevention. They have access to stronger, restricted-use pesticides and specialized equipment.
  • Comprehensive Approach: A good pest control service will combine chemical treatments with advice on sanitation and habitat modification.

How Can You Prevent Flies from Returning?

Achieving a fly-free outdoor space is an ongoing effort. Prevention is always better than cure, and consistent habits will keep fly populations at bay.

Long-Term Fly Prevention Strategies

• Routine Sanitation: This cannot be stressed enough. Make garbage management, pet waste cleanup, and general tidiness a consistent habit.
• Landscape Maintenance:
  • Clear Debris: Regularly remove fallen leaves, grass clippings, and other organic debris.
  • Trim Vegetation: Keep grass mowed and shrubs trimmed to reduce shady, damp hiding spots for flies.
  • Manage Standing Water: Be vigilant about eliminating any sources of standing water.
• Educate Others: If your fly problem is communal (e.g., from a neighbor's unmanaged compost or pet waste), polite communication and education can help address the root cause.
• Seasonal Awareness: Be extra diligent during warm, humid months when fly populations are highest.
• Integrated Pest Management (IPM): Combine multiple strategies – sanitation, natural deterrents, physical barriers, and targeted traps/baits – rather than relying on a single method. This holistic approach is the most sustainable and effective.
• Planting Strategy: Continue to cultivate fly-repelling plants around your outdoor living areas.
• Monitoring: Keep an eye out for initial signs of flies. Addressing small problems early can prevent them from becoming major infestations.

By consistently implementing these strategies, from meticulous sanitation to strategic deterrents and traps, you can significantly reduce and control fly populations outside your home, ensuring a more pleasant and hygienic outdoor environment.