Porch Life: Banish the Bugs
Don't let insects be the bane of your sweet tea and swing time. These screening and product ideas will help keep bugs at bay on the porch
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
Let's face it, the sound of a bug zapper is rather gruesome, and that blue glow is just plain weird; the whole thing is downright tacky. Surely there must be better ways to keep the bugs away than the insect equivalent of the electric chair. I poked around to find solutions for keeping your porch pest free, ranging from the very effective to the potential myths.
Haint Blue ceilings. The blue ceiling is a bit of a rural myth; the thought behind it was that bugs would get confused and think the porch ceiling was the sky. It was also said to ward off ghosts, and Sherwin-Williams' Haint Blue paint is named after the ghosts of the Afro-Caribbean legends. Whether it works or not, it's a charming antique touch to add to your porch and an interesting conversation starter.
It's kind of funny how viral this blue ceiling story is. After my friend Suzannah explained to me why her porch ceiling was blue, I had mine painted blue. Then my brother saw it and had his painted blue, and the whole thing went full circle a few years later when the painter came back for other work and told me the story of blue ceilings. I had to remind him that I was the one who originally told him the story, and he said he'd painted dozens of ceilings blue after repeating the story to his clients. It's an irresistible design move.
It's kind of funny how viral this blue ceiling story is. After my friend Suzannah explained to me why her porch ceiling was blue, I had mine painted blue. Then my brother saw it and had his painted blue, and the whole thing went full circle a few years later when the painter came back for other work and told me the story of blue ceilings. I had to remind him that I was the one who originally told him the story, and he said he'd painted dozens of ceilings blue after repeating the story to his clients. It's an irresistible design move.
Bat houses. This solution is not for everyone, but bats are incredibly good for your gardens and outdoor areas, because they feast on bugs.
by Brookstone
»
Bird feeders. Much like bats, birds like to feast on bugs as well. Attract them to your yard by hanging several bird feeders.
Browse bird feeders
Browse bird feeders
| |
| Screens. Alright, this one is a no-brainer. One tip that's not so obvious: Screen underneath the porch as well, so the little buggers won't crawl up from underneath. There are several different options for screens. The most common way to screen is shown on this porch: The screens are stapled on and then the edges are covered with wood (see a close-up of this type of screen). The biggest drawback to stapled screens is replacing them if damage occurs. Browse screened-in porches |
| |
| The best option for talented DIYers is a system like Screen Tight. Screen Tight is a method of spline screening that adapts to wooden frame porches like this one. In other words, separate screen panels are installed inside each one of the wooden frames you see above. This kind of system is less labor intensive and uses fewer materials, and if you damage a screen, it can be replaced with ease. |
| |
| On this type of porch, strips of wood can be installed inside the windows and removable screens can be attached. In the off-season, these can be replaced with storm windows to transform the screened-in porch into a Florida room. |
| |
| The most high-tech option will let you screen when you need to and keep things open when you don't. These screens are motorized and hide in the ceiling when not in use. A lower-tech version of this is a Roll Away screen, which is custom made and rolls into its own housing unit, much like a window shade rolls up. Roll Away screen doors roll into the sides of the doorway. |
Get rid of the still water. Make sure you don't have any standing water around your yard, be it a still pond, puddle, birdbath or that garbage can lid you forgot was there months ago. If you have a fountain or another source of water, make sure it's always moving. This will keep mosquitos from breeding.
Citronella candles. Citronella oil is extracted from Cymbopogon nardus, a grass. The citronella scent is a natural way to repel the bugs. Buy several to put around the perimeter of your porch. Be sure to keep the wick trimmed and the candles covered when not in use.
by Anthropologie
»
Food covers. When dining al fresco, prevent the bugs from joining you for dinner. Keep your potato salad and pie covered up with a netted food cover.
A breeze. Keep the bugs away with the breeze provided by this stylish outdoor fan tower. Ceiling fans also can help with the problem.
by Crate&Barrel
»
Insect traps. This trap is the pretty, noiseless version of the bug zapper.
Mosquito traps. I have seen one of these in action, and it did a really good job of keeping the mosquitos away without making that awful zapping noise. We did not test to see if it could cover the 1-acre area it claims to, but it took care of the postage-stamp-size backyard.
Fly swatter. This is the old-fashioned way to get rid of a pesky fly with one fell swoop.
Tell us: How do you keep the bugs away? Please share you tips in the Comments section.
More:
Wraparound Porches Have Curb Appeal Covered
Porch Chat: Sleeping Porches
Porch Life: Modern Porches Step It Up
Tell us: How do you keep the bugs away? Please share you tips in the Comments section.
More:
Wraparound Porches Have Curb Appeal Covered
Porch Chat: Sleeping Porches
Porch Life: Modern Porches Step It Up
Ideabook published on May 1, 2012.
What are you working on?
News From Our Partners
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
I don't quite recall where I read it last year, but was more than willing to try adding the scent of cloves to my cobblestone patio. Since I needed to re-sand in between the stones anyway, I decided to try mixing several jars of ground cloves into the sand and swept it into all of the crevices. I also added whole cloves to my living/candle centerpieces. Whether it worked, I can't say for sure, but it certainly smelled wonderful out there!
The next one was from one of the many seemingly sourceless tidbits I so often find forwarded to me by my Dad's wife -- use Listerine as a spray. I picked some up, along with some spray bottles that I could live with the looks of, and was chatting with the checkout person about my plans, and she told me that her mother had heard the same thing, sprayed her patio area, and it became sticky and eventually moldy. Anyone in the market for a second hand bottle of Listerine? I'm back to my cloves!
I'm loving all of these tips, please keep them coming!
Dresser, I think some friends of mine had some luck with some sort of product after struggling with carpenter bees; I'll reach out and see if I can find out what worked for them. I have a feeling it was not organic.
"It's called permethrine. It's mixed with water and can be sprayed on. I have lots of it. Amazon even sells it.
It is so inert that they use it to spray on animals for pest control. It is highly toxic to bees. Exterminators use some sort of powder that they mist into the holes they make, then plug the holes. I'm not sure what it is called, but can find out."
Bats are great for diminishing bugs--I think people need to get over their superstitions about bats. We don't seem to mind butterflies and birds swooping around.
Here's to summer!
We burn pinon wood in a chiminea on our deck, which works really well and we use a fogging pesticide when we are having a lot of people over in our yard.
I wanted bat houses until I discovered that where I live, bats are the only animal in the county who have tested positive for rabies. No thanks!