Flies won't come near you outside if you place 1 object they hate on garden tables
Flies can become something of a nuisance when you're enjoying a meal outside-but there are ways to keep them away from your food.
We all know that feeling of enjoying a pleasant meal in the garden, only for it to be ruined when flies begin to invade. While these may feel like a problem you'll just have to put up with when dining al fresco, there are actually a number of things you can do to deter these pests from your garden.
Gardening expert James Higgins at Grass247 has shared some tips on keeping flies out of your garden, while still attracting other beneficial insects, including bees and butterflies. His first tip is to use essential oils and candles when sitting outside. He said: "One of the best ways to deter flies when you’re outside is to use essential oil candles to mask any food smells.
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"Flies hate citronella, so placing a citronella candle on any garden dining tables or around seating areas can be a great way to keep any flies away."
Pine and lavender-scented candles will also help deter flies and leave your garden smelling lovely. However, pet owners should be careful, as pine essential oil is toxic to several animals.
Another way to make your garden unappealing to flies is to attract pollinators. James explains: "Flies will avoid bees, so planting bee-friendly plants will not only help your garden’s ecosystem, but will also keep any flies out of your garden.
"Bees can see purple flowers better than any others, so plants like lavender, verbena and catmint can be a great way to attract bees."
Introducing more plant life into your garden may also attract frogs and spiders, both of which eat flies, and will therefore keep their population low.
James's final tip is to use fly traps and tape. Just place these in areas of your garden that have high amounts of fly activity.
